Page 19 of Dr. Baby Daddy

Oliver nods as I pull out my wallet to pay for the admission. He swats it away and pulls out his own, tapping his card against the pin pad. “Yeah. My dad is a corporate lawyer, and my mother is a fashion designer. It was easier to shove me off onto someone else while they went around living their lives like they didn’t have a kid.”

“Do you have any siblings?” I twirl the wristband around my wrist as we head outside.

“Only child.”

The corner of my mouth twitches as I look up at him. “You know, that explains a lot about you.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” His tone is teasing, which catches me off guard for just a moment.

“Well, you know.” I bump him with my hip before heading over to the first exhibit. “You’re just so charming and friendly to be around. Nobody ever would have guessed that you were an only child who didn’t learn how to get along with other people.”

Oliver rolls his eyes and looks down at the zookeepers entering the penguin exhibit. “I know how to get along with other people. I’m a surgeon.”

I lean forward against the railing as the zookeepers start the feeding show. “Minimal bedside manner required. You spend most of your time with the patient when they’re under anesthesia.”

Oliver bursts out laughing. “Yeah, I suppose you have a point about that.”

I tap the tip of my nose before glancing back at the penguins. “I have a way of knowing these things.”

“You mean that you’re annoyingly pushy and don’t stop until you get your way?” He leans against the railing beside me, his fingertips brushing against mine.

The slight touch is enough to send a shiver down my spine.

Friends, Izzy. All you’re going to be right now is friends.

I shift away from him as one of the penguins catches a fish in its mouth. “All right, so, how old are you?”

His lips press together. “Thirty-three.”

“Ancient. When should I start getting the funeral plans together?”

Oliver scoffs. “You’re making me sound like I’m on the brink of death.”

“You could be.” I grin and push away from the railing, walking along the path as birds chirp overhead. “Six years older than me definitely makes you closer to jumping into your grave.”

“You are a pain in the ass, you know that, right?” He can’t keep a straight face as he falls into step beside me.

I wink at him and lead the way to the next exhibit. “Sooner or later, you’ll start to like me, Oliver. Then you’ll spend your days wondering how you ever lived without me.”

His answering snort has me laughing as I make my way over to the harbor seals. Oliver presses close to me as kids shout and run over to the railing.

The heat of his body this close to mine reminds me of the way his body pressed against mine last night. I can still feel the way he shuddered beneath my tongue as I teased the toned planes of his stomach.

Just friends. All the two of you are going to be is friends.

If that. As we stand beside the railing, I don’t know if we’re ever going to reach the point of friendship.

And I doubt that it will ever be anything more than that, even if I want him more than I’ve wanted anyone else.

CHAPTER 9

OLIVER

Igroan as I take a seat in the cafeteria, the coffee in my hand lukewarm even though I just paid for it. Victor sits down across from me, eyeing the fried chicken on his plate like it’s the last thing he wants to be eating.

“It’s going to be a long night.” He picks up his fork from the corner of his tray and pokes at the creamy mash. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many incoming traumas in one afternoon.”

“Dinner, then back to saving lives.” I pick up half my ham sandwich and take a bite. “The afternoon was rough, but the night should be all right.”

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