LITMIR.BIZ

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baby girl.”

      Kate cut her apple in half then in quarters. “Good APGAR?”

      APGAR, an acronym for activity, pulse, grimace, appearance and respiration, was the test designed to quickly evaluate a newborn’s physical condition post delivery. It was done at specific intervals.

      “The one-minute APGAR was eight. Not bad for a forty-year-old mother’s first baby.”

      “Any reason she waited so long?” Kate asked.

      “She didn’t want to go the single mother route, and it took her a while to find the right guy.” Her friend didn’t comment, and Rebecca noticed the pensive expression. “Speaking of babies, how’s your little guy?”

      “J.T. is perfect.” She smiled and the shadows in her eyes evaporated. “Getting too big too fast.”

      Rebecca didn’t believe she would ever experience those maternal feelings, and that made her a little sad. She believed that a child should have two parents in a committed relationship and since Rebecca wouldn’t commit again, she wasn’t likely to become a mother. She knew her friend was a single mother, but not much more than that. “What does J.T. stand for?”

      “Joseph Thomas. After his father.”

      “Joe—nice name,” Rebecca said. “What does he do?”

      “He’s a Marine Corps helicopter pilot.”

      “A dangerous job these days,” Rebecca commented.

      The shadows regrouped and gathered in Kate’s eyes again. “Yeah.”

      “Is he excited about being a father?” Rebecca asked.

      Kate stirred her coffee without looking up and finally said, “He never responded to my letter telling him about the baby, so I’d have to say he wasn’t happy.”

      “Is it possible he didn’t get the letter? Maybe—”

      “I don’t mean to be rude, Rebecca. But it’s not something I’m comfortable talking about.”

      “Of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be nosy. I just—I wish I could help.”

      “I know and I appreciate it. That’s just not a time in my life I want to dwell on. It’s taken a while, but I’m okay.” She shrugged, but the troubled look in her eyes belied the words. “I have a beautiful boy and will always be grateful to Joe Morgan—”

      “Morgan? His father’s last name?”

      She nodded and a smile curved up the corners of her mouth. “It’s who he is. With him around there’s never a dull moment.”

      Rebecca picked that moment to glance over her shoulder and saw Gabe Thorne in the doorway looking around the room as if searching for someone. “Speaking of dull moments—”

      “What?” Kate sat up straight to look over her shoulder. “Who’s that?”

      “Brother of one of my patients. President of T&O Enterprises.”

      “Isn’t that the company doing the hospital expansion?” At her nod, Kate continued, “He doesn’t look like a happy camper.”

      “No kidding.”

      Rebecca could count on one hand the times he didn’t look like he wanted to implode something. Right now wasn’t one of them. But the few times she’d seen him smile or grin were pretty unforgettable. Like three days ago when he’d been annoyed by her optimism. One minute his grin was a wicked challenge, the next it was replaced by sadness brimming in his eyes. The man definitely got to her and that was unacceptable. She hunched forward, hoping he wouldn’t notice her.

      “He’s a nice-looking man,” Kate observed.

      “Nice-looking? If there was an APGAR for guys, he’d score off the scale,” Rebecca said.

      “Oh, really.” Her friend’s voice dripped innuendo like a leaky paper cup.

      “What?” Rebecca stared at Kate. “I may be a brainer geek, but I know a good-looking man when I see one. But that’s all there is to it.”

      “If you say so.”

      “What does that mean?” Rebecca asked.

      “Nothing. But your body language is speaking volumes.”

      “No way.”

      “Oh, yeah,” Kate said, clearly enjoying this. “You could crawl under the table so he doesn’t see you. Oops, too late. He just glanced this way and is now striding purposefully in this direction.”

      The next moment Gabe stood beside their table. “Your answering service said I could find you here. Rebecca, I need to talk to you.”

      “I was just leaving.” Kate stood and picked up her tray.

      He seemed to realize his behavior was abrupt. “I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt. Miss—”

      “Carpenter. Kate,” she said.

      “Miss Carpenter.” He nodded. “Don’t leave on my account. I just need a minute—”

      “No problem. I have to pick up my little guy. Bye, Rebecca.”

      “See you later.” She watched her friend’s back for a few moments. Anything to put off the reaction she knew was coming, the reaction that always followed when she was this close to Gabe Thorne. She braced herself and met his gaze while the hum of attraction vibrated through her.

      Taking a deep breath, she said, “So, why did you want to talk to me?”

      “Have you seen or heard from Amy?”

      “No. Is something wrong?”

      “I hope not,” he said grimly. “I’m afraid she’s taken off again.”

      Chapter Four

      It was a long shot that Rebecca had seen Amy, but besides his partner Jack O’Neill, the doc was the only other person in Las Vegas his sister knew. It was the only reason he was here when he wanted to be anywhere but looking into warm-brown eyes that reminded him of hot cocoa, a hot fire and hotter kisses. And wasn’t it just more bad luck that those brown eyes belonged to a doctor. Doctors worked in hospitals. He hated hospitals. In fact, T&O would have passed on the Mercy Medical Center project if it hadn’t included building two more campuses. Businesswise, it was an opportunity that would have been stupid to pass up.

      “Are you sure Amy’s gone?” Rebecca asked.

      “She’s not at the house and her things are gone. What would be your guess?”

      Worry slid into those warm-brown eyes. “Did she leave a note?”

      “No. Sorry to bother you, but I had to check.” He started to walk out of the cafeteria.

      “Gabe, wait.” She was standing when he turned back. “What are you going to do?”

      “Look for her,” he said simply.

      “Have you called the police?”

      He shook his head. “I don’t think she’s been gone long enough for them to officially look into it. But I can’t sit around and do nothing.”

      “Really? I should think you’d be relieved.”

      He’d have thought the same thing. And he would be, if he’d put her on a plane back to Dallas. But he wasn’t a callous bastard who wanted her gone at the expense of her health.

      “I don’t want her on the streets.” He turned away again and started toward the door.

      “Gabe—”

      He ignored her and kept walking even though he heard his name again. When the hospital exit was in sight, he felt a hand on his arm and stopped.

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