Page 21 of Dr. Baby Daddy

I think she might be good for me too.

The nurse wanders down the hall while I make my way over to the entertainment room. Izzy is just sitting down behind the keyboard again when I enter.

“Look, everybody, it’s Doctor Oliver.” Izzy plays a quick tune on the piano as the kids look at me with wide eyes. “Doctor Oliver knows how to play the guitar. Maybe if you ask him nicely, he’ll play a song with me.”

My jaw drops before it snaps shut. “I don’t know if I have the time right now. Maybe another day. My dinner break ends soon, and I have to get back to work.”

Izzy’s gaze is challenging. She winks at me before turning her attention back to the kids. “I think we should get him to play, don’t you?”

The kids start shouting over each other, their words blending together as they cheer and shout out song requests. They nearly topple over each other to get to me.

I take a step back, reaching for the door. Even though performing for a group of kids is nothing compared to getting on stage, it still makes my stomach toss and turn. My pulse pounds in my ears as one of the older kids gets a guitar and brings it over to me.

Izzy smirks and plays the first notes of one of my favorite songs. “Come on, Doctor Oliver. One song isn’t going to hurt, and I could really use some help with it. I’m afraid the kids are going to get bored with my solo concert.”

I take a deep breath and sling the strap of the guitar over my body. After checking the tuning, I join in with her playing.

The smile I get from Izzy is enough to make some of the fear melt away. Her fingers move faster over the keys as I pluck the chords to the chorus. The kids dance around, laughing and smiling.

For a moment, it’s easy to forget that there are people watching me play. Izzy is the only one I really see.

When the song finishes and clapping erupts from the doorway, my heart leaps to my throat. I take off the guitar and set it back on the stand. When I turn around, several of the other doctors and nurses are gathered in the doorway.

Victor stands in the middle of it all, a broad smile on his face and his arms crossed over his chest.

Izzy laughs and launches herself across the room at me. She holds out her fist and takes mine, forcing me to give her a fist bump. The kids are giggling as she winks at them.

Does she always just walk into a room and manage to charm everyone in it?

Izzy leans closer to me. “Thank you for doing that. I know it’s hard to get up in front of everybody when you’re not ready, but it made the kids’ day.”

“I really do have to get back to work.” I shake my wrist out of her grip. “And a fist bump? Really?”

She shrugs, a teasing smile tugging the corner of her lips. “I wasn’t sure that you wouldn’t flip me over your shoulder if I tried to hug you.”

Victor bursts out laughing as the other doctors disperse. “I like her.”

Join the club.

I roll my eyes, but I feel better than I did this morning. Something about seeing Izzy makes a good day great.

It’s a dangerous feeling. Addictive. In the short time I’ve known her, she’s wormed her way into my life and sent me into a tailspin.

For the last few days, I’ve felt like a drowning man being dragged back to the surface. Izzy’s the fresh breath of air I need to bring me back to life, and it’s terrifying.

I’m in over my head when it comes to her, and I don’t have a clue what to do.

CHAPTER 10

IZZY

Pounding my fist on Oliver’s front door is the last thing I thought I would be doing on a Friday night, but at the same time it feels fitting. Our friendship started with banging on the door, so why shouldn’t it continue with it?

Oliver opens the door, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans as he towels off his damp hair. My gaze drags down his muscled torso before snapping back to his face.

“Done staring?” He tosses the towel to the side and holds the door open wider.

“No.” I wander into his apartment with my hands tucked in the pockets of my black slacks. “I thought that I could come over and spend the rest of my Friday night staring at you. Figure out how uncomfortable I can really make you.”

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