Page 58 of Hayes

"Just a second."

Putting the tea kettle on, he waited for the man to pick up.

"This is Dr. Glendon."

"You treated Simone Bledsoe."

"I confirmed her pregnancy, yes. Who is this?"

"It doesn't matter. Where did you go to medical school?"

"Pardon?"

"I need to verify your veracity. Where exactly did you go to medical school?"

"I resent–"

"My name is Hayes Marsden, and I am assuming you recognize who I am. I am going to ask the question again. Where did you go to medical school?"

"A university in China," the man said stiffly. "And I assure you that my degree is legitimate."

"We will see about that. I will be checking you out, Doctor, and if I find out that this is a ruse and you are colluding with Simone, there is no place you can go where I will not find you. Is that clear?"

"Of course. I have patients–"

Hayes hung up and went to get the poach to prepare the tea. The man sounded genuine, but he still believed the timing was off, that Simone was lying for some reason or the other. And he was going to get to the bottom of it.

"Took you long enough," she murmured as he approached with the steaming cup of tea on a tray. She was in bed, propped up on some pillows and feeling much better.

"Sorry."

"That wasn't a criticism." She watched him closely as he placed the tray over her lap. "What's wrong?"

"I want you to rest." Instead of climbing into bed with her, he went to sit on the sofa.

"I am not going to 'rest,' as you put it, until I know what's bugging you."

"Drink some of the tea," he urged.

"Hayes."

Propping his elbows on his knees, he dragged his hands over his face. "Simone asked to see me, and I suggested we meet at a restaurant."

"What did she want?"

This was even worse than he had anticipated, and he wished he was anywhere else or was being attacked at gunpoint than having to do this to her.

"At least take a few sips before it gets cold." He was stalling, and they both knew it.

Bringing the cup to her lips, she did as he urged and put the cup down, her brows arched as she waited.

Chapter 14

Taking a deep breath, he faced her squarely. "She says she is pregnant."

The silence following the statement was so loud it was as if they had both stopped breathing. Hayes rushed to fill it, desperate to clear things up and not cause her any pain.

He had been doing a lot of thinking. If only he had known that she had not deceived him, that she had kept herself pure, he could have done the same. "I always used protection with the women—with everyone except you. I am never without condoms. I cannot see how–"

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