Surprise Delivery Page 7

  He was touched she’d trust him to make decisions for her, but he knew that her parents wouldn’t easily accept a change of guardianship, especially when the guardian was a gay man. Things could get ugly before they resolved.

  “Of course, Livvie, but if your parents get more serious about dragging you home, I’m not sure I can stop them,” he said. “They could call the police and insist a court make the call on where you stay.”

  She nodded. “That’s why I want to do the paperwork now, so we’re prepared.”

  He tossed an arm over her shoulder and walked her out of the room. “That’s very smart,” he said. “You’re too young to be so mature.”

  She rolled her eyes. “If you say so.”

  Olivia must be stressed by all the change in her life, even if she hid it well. Eric really wanted to see her relax and act her age. “How about we go get ice cream?” he suggested.

  “Yes!” She pumped a fist in the air and did a dance. He laughed.

  Casper’s sense of spontaneity seemed to be rubbing off on him, even if he hadn’t fully broken his need to work overtime yet.

  Chapter Ten

  Eric threw himself into work, despite his body’s urges to spend his time working up a sweat with Casper. Paul’s dire pronouncement that his resignation could be coming was at the forefront of his mind as he analyzed the budget requests — and the actual budget he had to work with — frontwards and backwards. If he cut from surgery, he’d have more wiggle room, but that was the hospital board’s pet department. Nothing got a hospital more acclaim than performing successful surgeries or publishing research, but Ashe Medical Center was too small to be all that cutting edge. Still, adding Dr. Trent Cavendish to the roster had given them a prestige the board wanted to capitalize on, and they’d pushed for expansion in the hospital’s surgical wing the moment he came on board.

  Eric had played no small part in recruiting Dr. Cavendish to the surgical team. He knew how much a small town like Ashe could benefit from a reputable surgeon like Trent, but now he had to admit that the hospital had bigger fish to fry. People could go to the larger medical centers in Wichita for complicated surgical procedures. Emergency services didn’t have that luxury.

  He played with the numbers, talked to more department heads, grilling them this time about what was absolutely essential. He was no one’s friend these days, and some of the personnel turned around and went the other way when they saw him coming.

  Sadly, Casper didn’t call anyway — hadn’t called in nine days — and he figured he’d frightened him off with his over-the-top reaction to the kissing at his house. Eric could tell Casper was a fun guy, probably one who hooked up with plenty of people. Eric couldn’t be his only interest. That both frightened and excited him, the idea of being with a man so sexy that he could have anyone he wanted, man or woman. Perry had cheated on him, but they’d been married. How would he feel if Casper hadn’t called because he was sleeping with someone else?

  Envious, he thought. Not jealous of the faceless someone else, exactly. He and Casper were just beginning to get to know each other. But he’d wish he was the one under that hard body.

  There was a rap at the door, and then it swung open. “Uncle Eric?”

  He glanced up to see Olivia. He blinked away the image of Casper thrusting, his muscles rippling. God, he’d never even seen that, but he had a healthy imagination.

  “Livvie,” he said, still distracted by his thoughts. “What brings you here?”

  “Um, it’s baby class night,” she prompted uncertainly. “Unless you have to keep working?”

  He was suddenly aware of how much he’d neglected Olivia that week. He’d worked late into the night, giving up attempts to make it home for dinner. If he could just get this budget ironed out, figure out a way to soothe Paul’s concerns, then maybe he could get back on track with better hours. Or so he told himself. Hadn’t he done this exact same thing to Perry year after year?

  “I’m sorry,” he said, closing out of the accounting software on his laptop. “Of course, I can come to baby class. Wouldn’t want to miss that!”

  He overshot the mark on his false cheer, and Olivia rolled her eyes. That little gesture was starting to lose its charm.

  “Sure you do, Uncle Eric,” she said dryly. “Didn’t you just love the chat we had about couples massages last time? Or maybe all the talk about placentas and afterbirth?” She wrinkled her nose. “Having a baby is kind of gross.”

  He laughed as he packed up his things and joined her at the door. “I’m a doctor. I’ve seen it all before.”

  “Why do we even need to go then?” she asked, sounding as reluctant as he felt. They were an odd pair compared to the other couples in the room. Olivia’s age also set her apart. They had to field awkward questions in the first session about their situation, but at least that was over.

  “Because you need to know this stuff too,” he said. “Besides, eventually they’ll get into talking more about taking care of your baby, and I don’t know about you, but I still haven’t figured out how they do that baby bundle wrap magic.”

  She laughed as he intended, and he resolved to do a better job of checking in with her each day. Olivia was sixteen years old and living away from her parents for the first time. She probably wasn’t used to spending so much time alone in a big, empty house. Even with a part-time job, she had hours of free time.

  He had to find a balance — not just for the baby, but for the mother-to-be.

  “Come on. Let’s hit class, and then I’ll take you out for a nice dinner tonight.”

  Her eye brightened. “Really?”

  “Yeah, really. I’ve been working too much. Sorry.”

  Her smile dimmed. “It’s not your job to babysit me,” she said. “I crashed into your life—”

  “No, I welcomed you in,” he corrected gently. “It’s okay to tell me you need something from me, even if it’s that you need me to be home more, or to support you in a different way.”

  She stopped abruptly, and when he turned to ask why, she threw herself into his arms. The hug took him by surprise, but he squeezed her tightly as she buried her face in his shoulder.

  “Thank you,” she said, her voice muffled by his shirt. “It has been a little lonely. If you could come home, at least before I go to bed, I think I’d sleep easier.”

  Now, he really did feel like a selfish jerk. He kissed the crown of her head, resolving to do much better than that small request. “You got it.”

  ***

  Casper left the neonatal intensive unit and walked through the maternity ward on his way to the elevator. He was exhausted, but nothing like the young mother who was his patient, Sara Blake. She’d delivered early, too early, and it’d been a critical few days. He’d had to intubate baby Megan, whose lungs hadn’t fully developed before she was born. Though she was still on a respirator, Casper hoped to soon move to only supplemental oxygen through an oxygen hood. He didn’t want to keep her on the ventilator too long because that carried a whole other set of risks.

  He’d spent hours at the hospital, treating and evaluating the condition of both the baby and mother, who had come through the delivery in good health but was running herself down with worry and grief. She’d had dark circles under her eyes, and he’d spent fifteen minutes lecturing her boyfriend to take better care of her. He’d had a word with one of the nurses too, which had earned him a glare and chastisement from Nurse James that he wasn’t blind and was already on the case.

  Eric and Olivia stepped out of a room just on the other side of the elevators as he approached. He blinked, confused, before his tired mind remembered they’d been attending the neonatal prep classes he’d recommended.

  “I see you’re following doctor’s orders,” he said with a tired smile.

  Olivia smiled big. “Hi, Dr. Rollins! Did you just deliver a baby?”

  Casper faltered. He didn’t want to scare her with preemie health risks. New mothers were nervous enough about childbirth
without worst-case scenarios dancing in their heads.

  “Actually, I was just looking for Eric,” he lied. Eric looked surprised, then dismayed as Casper added, “Could I get a word with you in private?”

  Olivia looked between them with a smirk. “I’ll just head out then?”

  “Wait in my office?” Eric asked. “I still plan to take you to dinner.”

  “Deal,” she said, waving as she got into the elevator. They both stood quietly as the doors had closed and the elevator had begun its descent.

  “Why were you looking for me?” Eric asked guardedly.

  Casper wasn’t sure why the idea bothered Eric. He hoped Eric wasn’t beginning to think he really was a stalker for seeking him out at the hospital twice now.

  “To set up our next date,” Casper said cautiously. “If that’s still an option.”

  Eric visibly relaxed. “Sure. What did you have in mind?”

  “An adventure,” Casper said with a grin. “Meet me in the parking lot here at 5 o’clock sharp on Thursday.”

  Eric’s eyebrow went up. “I guess I didn’t bore you too much with the Amish market … or weird you out too much with my, um, excitement?”

  Eric’s cheeks filled with blood, turning his skin tone ruddy. Casper was tempted to laugh, but Eric’s insecurity was beginning to concern him.

  “Eric,” he said quietly, “your excitement, as you put it, is part of your appeal. Surely you realize that?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  Eric cleared his throat, glancing over his shoulder. When he looked at Casper again, he smiled. “Good.”

  Casper ran a finger down the inside of Eric’s arm, drawing a small shiver. “Don’t keep me waiting even a minute past five.”

  “I’ll be on time,” he promised.

  ***

  At exactly 5 p.m. Thursday, Eric hurried out of the hospital as promised. He’d had to throw around some death threats when the head of the surgical department tried to corner him, but he’d made it.

  Casper was waiting at the curb, and Eric slid into the passenger seat.

  “I didn’t take you for a Tesla driver,” he mused.

  Casper quirked a smile at him. “Why not?”

  “I figured you’d roll up on a motorcycle like a bad boy.” He paused thoughtfully. “Or maybe in a Jeep or truck that you take mudding. You strike me as the kind of guy who likes his toys.”

  He hadn’t intended that to have a sexual connotation, but as Casper laughed, he realized it had. “Oh, I do enjoy my toys,” he said with a wink.

  “I didn’t mean those toys,” Eric said, feeling himself blush. Why was he so bashful with this guy? It wasn’t like him to be shy, exactly. Conservative about his choices, yes. Responsible and respectable, yes. But not shy.

  Casper let him off the hook. “I know. To answer your question, I own a Tesla because it’s badass. I do have an ATV for fun, though.”

  “Of course you do.”

  Casper chuckled. “Seriously, though, Tesla is going to lead us into a future of self-driving cars, and then the number of fatalities caused by car accidents will go way down.”

  “So, you want to put the ER out of business then,” Eric said with a straight face.

  Casper did a double-take, then snorted. “Wouldn’t it be lovely?”

  “So lovely,” Eric agreed fervently. Every other department of the hospital could operate more effectively, with carefully scheduled procedures, if there was no emergency intake. Of course, even without car accidents, there would always be a need for an ER.

  Eric looked out the window as Casper turned onto the highway leading out of town. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “Of course it is,” Eric said dryly.

  Casper smiled at him, then rested his right hand on Eric’s thigh, kneading the muscle. “You’ll have fun. Just relax and let go for an afternoon.”

  “I’d love to let go,” he said in a low voice, letting the innuendo speak for itself.

  The few minutes they’d spent kissing in the nursery at his house had replayed in his mind every night since. For nearly two weeks, he’d closed his eyes at night, slid his hand down his boxer shorts and imagined it was Casper touching him. He hadn’t masturbated this much since he was in his twenties. Having passed forty, he’d assumed he was well past his sexual prime, but his desire for Casper was quickly disproving that idea. He wanted the man.

  While they drove, Casper filled him in on why he’d taken so long to get in touch. He’d had a delivery come ahead of schedule just before the weekend — a premature baby — and a host of complications to treat. He’d been working overtime ever since, including when Eric and Olivia bumped into him on the maternity floor. Finally, the babe was out of the woods, he said.

  He certainly didn’t look worse for wear. Despite his long hours, Casper was bright and smiling. He looked refreshing, if Eric had to pin it down to one word. He was dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, his hair still a bit damp from a shower, and his shampoo smelled like the earth after a fresh rain.

  Casper drove them to a secluded walking bridge that overlooked a small lake outside town. Kansas wasn’t known for its great bodies of water, but it was large enough for a bit of boating, fishing and swimming.

  Eric’s nervous tension eased. He’d half-expected Casper to ask him to climb another building. But there were few things as peaceful than the scenic view before him. White, puffy clouds drifted in a turquoise sky over dark but clear waters. Summer was in full swing, and the sun would be out for another few hours before dark.

  Casper had rolled down their windows favoring fresh air over the Tesla’s air-conditioning — such a small thing, and yet another demonstration of the way Casper took the time to really experience the world around him. Eric had yet to see him with his face buried in a screen, which was a nice change. Eric was too old-fashioned to really enjoy his smart phone the way he’d seen some of the younger generation do it. Paul Johnston’s young boyfriend, Zane, for example. He had his phone out at all times, photographing his meals, updating Paul on the latest funny meme or viral video, but — Eric had to admit — he was also the first to know of any breaking news. He stayed better informed than anyone in their circle of friends, although Zane was a journalist, so being a newshound came naturally to him.

  The quiet whisper of a slight breeze in the trees relaxed Eric further and he sighed.

  “You good?” Casper asked after he’d parked.

  “Yeah.” Eric smiled. “It’s so peaceful out here.”

  “Yeah.” Casper grinned and reached for the door handle. “Come on.”

  Eric followed him to the bank overlooking the water below. They were a solid ten feet above the surface. Leaning against the wooden safety railing in front of them, Casper gazed out over the rippling lake. The far shore had a beach, and Eric could see a dock with a couple of kids sitting on the end, two small boats and some swimmers in the shallows by the shore. It was far enough away, he couldn’t make out details, just the shapes of people.

  The little inlet directly below him and Casper was isolated.

  “I’m surprised no one’s over here,” Eric said.

  “It’s one of those well-kept secrets,” Casper said. “Access to the water from here is practically nonexistent, and the lake is more developed on the other side. I’ve been here a few times, but I’ve never run into anyone.”

  “Nice.”

  “You know what would be fun?” Casper asked with a mischievous look in his eye that Eric was just coming to recognize meant trouble.

  “What?”

  Casper pulled off his T-shirt and kicked off his shoes. “A nice, brisk swim.”

  Eric gaped. While he stared, at a loss for words at this latest insanity, Casper stripped off his shorts and tucked his thumbs under the waistband of his boxer briefs.

  “What do you think?”

  “I think you’re crazy,” Eric said with a laugh.

  And
gorgeous.

  Eric’s eyes were drawn again to the ink on Casper’s body. Still, even with that intriguing splash of color, Eric’s gaze drifted down. Casper’s stomach was hard with muscle, and his obliques were clearly defined, creating a drool-worthy V-line Eric couldn’t help following to the bulge in Casper’s boxer briefs.

  He kind of wanted to drop to his knees right there out in the open. That would be spontaneous, right?

  “Eric,” Casper said with a hint of amusement in his voice. “How about you get undressed too?”

  “No, thanks. I’m good.”

  Casper dropped his underwear, and Eric fought the good fight and lost. Casper didn’t give him much time to ogle his nicely cut body, though. He turned, giving Eric a flash of white ass, and went to the end of the railing. There was a gap where the barrier railing ended and the trees began, and Casper stepped up to the very edge of the bank. One hand was on the railing, and before him, nothing but the wide, blue of empty sky.

  Eric had visions of the dirt and grass crumbling away, and Casper falling, falling, falling.

  “That can’t be safe,” he said uneasily.

  “Come on, Eric. Live a little!”

  Casper grinned, his eyes bright, and with the flex of muscle that rippled through his whole body, he was gone. He’d jumped. The crazy man had flung himself over the edge when Eric was busy worrying he might fall.

  Casper shouted joyously on the way down. A splash followed.

  Eric ran to the spot Casper jumped from and gazed down, searching the water for signs of life. Anxiety clawed at his chest, making it hard to breathe.

  “Come on,” he whispered. “Casper, you idiot!”

  It wasn’t safe to jump in a lake like that. There could be a rock lurking beneath the surface. Casper could break his neck or hit his head and pass out underwater. He could be drowning right this moment—

  Casper burst through the surface, bellowing a loud laugh and slinging water from his hair as if he were a dog.