Page 6 of Dr. Baby Daddy

A black car pulls alongside the curb. I hop down from the planter and shrug. “I don’t know what the point would be. The apartment I have might not be the nicest out there, but it’s a good size and a good price.”

“And comes with a pretty, piano-playing neighbor.” Victor chuckles to himself. “Who knows, maybe if you stop being a jerk and actually have a conversation with this woman, you might get a date for once.”

As I open the back door to the car, I flip him off. “The last thing I need is another distraction in my life.”

I slide into the car before he can say anything else about starting to date someone. There isn’t enough time in a day to work, sleep, eat, and see someone. I barely even have enough time for sleep these days.

The car lurches forward as I lean back against the seat and close my eyes. It’s only a short drive down the road, and we reach my building in minutes. I sit up and toss some money over the seat before getting out and heading over to the staircase.

With each step I climb, the pit of dread grows. I know that when I get to the top of the stairs and walk onto my floor, I could have an awkward run-in with my neighbor.

I can’t handle another conversation with her tonight. Not after everything that happened at the hospital.

The hallway is quiet, no melodic notes to drive me further from sleep.

I hurry to my apartment, shedding my clothing the moment the door is closed behind me. A hot shower is calling my name.

I turn on a couple lamps as I make my way through the apartment, keeping the lights low. If I want to have any chance at sleeping without seeing that kid’s face tonight, then I need to keep everything as calm as possible.

Water cascades down my back a few moments later as I lather soap in my hands. The suds are just starting to glide down my body when there is a knock on my front door. I ignore it, rinsing away the rest of the soap.

Chances are that it’s nothing more than a salesperson in the hallway. None of my neighbors bother with me. I’ve been here years, and I don’t even know their names. There’s no use in getting to know them when I work nights more often than not.

The knocking doesn’t stop, growing louder as I turn off the water with a growl. I snag a towel off the bar by the shower and quickly wipe the water from my body.

I’m going to give whoever is on the other side of that door a piece of my mind.

Who the hell stands there banging on someone’s door at nine in the evening?

I sling the towel around my waist, making sure that it’s secure as I storm to the front door. As I yank it open, a small fist nearly collides with my face.

“Sorry,” the blonde from next door says. Her gaze drops to my bare chest, her cheeks turning a bright shade of pink before she looks back up at me. “I knew you were home, and I just wanted to come over and apologize for how things went yesterday.”

There is a bright yellow platter of chocolate chip cookies in her hand. She holds it out to me with a smile that could melt even the coldest man’s heart.

Her smile wavers. “I wanted to introduce myself properly since we’re going to be neighbors for the foreseeable future. I’m Izzy.”

I lean against the doorframe, crossing my arms and looking down at her. The top of her head barely comes to my chin. “What part of our conversation yesterday made you think that I wanted to get off on a good foot with you?”

She opens her mouth, about to say something else, as I step back into my apartment and slam the door shut.

Her muffled voice comes through the door as I slide the lock into place. “Guess New Yorkers are even ruder than I expected.”

CHAPTER 4

IZZY

Kate throws her head back and laughs, her green eyes nearly bulging out of her head. “There’s nowayyou said that to him.”

“Nottohim. Through the door after he slammed it in my face two days ago.” I wrinkle my nose and reach for the glass of white wine on my coffee table.

“I’ve got to tell you; I’ve lived on this floor for three years now and he’s never spoken to any of us. I don’t even know his name or what he does for a living. It’s like there’s a ghost that haunts that apartment.”

“It’s probably better that you haven’t met him.” I down half of the wine left in my glass before reaching for the bottle to top it up. “I wish that I hadn’t. I should have just ignored the door when he came pounding on it.”

Kate laughs and reaches for her stack of bills, flipping through them for the millionth time. “Mysterious neighbor gossip and paying bills. You sure know how to have a good night.”

I roll my eyes and glance at my own stack of bills. All of them are paid, but New York is already more expensive than I anticipated. Especially after getting to know Kate the last few days and finding out what to expect for a heating bill in the winter.

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