Bailey and the Professor(14)

Of course, now Bailey knew how he had so much knowledge about birth. No wonder!

She told Regina all the details. Well, almost all of them. She didn’t tell her, of course, about the kiss, or about the way Dom had looked at her in his office, the way he had pressed her against the wall as she was leaving, the words he’d whispered in her ear.

She left that part out.

“You know, I’ve seen seasoned and experienced midwives freeze and panic in that situation?” Regina smiled at the waitress as she put down their drinks, interrupting her as the blonde lifted her notepad, ready to take their order. “I’m afraid we’ve been chatting and haven’t even looked at the menu. Can you give us a few more minutes?”

“Of course.” The waitress tucked her notepad into her apron, smiling at Dom. “Take your time. Can I get you another beer?”

“I’m fine.” He tipped his beer at her with a wink. It was a flirty little gesture and Bailey felt a strange stab of jealousy when the waitress winked back. Bailey could almost hear her unuttered reply, “Yes, honey, you are very fine.”

“I don’t know how I remembered what to do, to tell you the truth,” Bailey continued, ignoring the rise of Dom’s eyebrows in her direction. Had her displeasure shown on her face? Her cheeks felt warm but that was probably because of the alcohol. “I’ve read about it. And my friend, Joanna, she’s a doula. I attend births with her, as a photographer.”

“A birth photographer too!” Regina exclaimed. “A woman of so many talents.”

“I told you so.” Dom smirked as he finished off his beer.

“So how many times have you seen a shoulder dystocia?” Regina sat back, sipping her margarita, and Bailey thought how odd it was, how comfortable she was around this woman. There was something about her that made you just want to relax. Unless, of course, that was the alcohol talking.

“I’d seen it done, twice,” Bailey explained, starting in on her second margarita. She wasn’t much of a drinker anymore—as an undergrad she’d learned her lesson—so the alcohol was making her feeling a little sleepy.

“By doctors?” Regina raised her eyebrows. “They usually do suprapubic pressure.”

Dom snorted. “That’s because they put birthing women on their backs.”

“He knows too much.” Regina patted his hand with a laugh. “Besides, don’t you like women on their backs, dear?”

Bailey couldn’t help laughing with her.

“I prefer other positions, actually,” Dom replied, looking between them, amused rather than annoyed.

“Not a doctor,” Bailey countered, shaking her head, trying to ignore the heat in her belly at the thought of being in any position with Dom. “They have nurse-midwives on staff at the birth center.”

“So when did you first get the calling?”

It sounded ridiculous, like she’d been called by God to be a nun—which she most definitely had not, considering how wet her panties were getting with Dom’s hungry eyes on her—but she understood what Regina meant in an instant. Bailey and Jo had bonded over birth and it had been part of their lives ever since.

“My friend’s mother had her last baby at home,” Bailey explained.

“A home birth!” Regina clapped, delighted. “Is this the same friend who is now a doula?”

“Yes. Joanna. We’ve been best friends since grade school.”

Regina sipped her drink. “And you were present at this birth?”

“It was amazing.” Bailey smiled, remembering. “I think I was twelve or thirteen. She had a nurse-midwife attending.”

“Ah, that explains it.” Regina gave a knowing nod. “Most won’t attend home births. They can lose their license.”

“I didn’t know that.” Bailey blinked at her in surprise.

“Oh welcome to the politics of midwifery.” Regina looked up as the waitress approached, smiling at her. “Well I guess we should order. Does anyone know what they want?”

Bailey hadn’t even opened her menu. Dom ordered—a steak, cooked rare, a baked potato and another beer—while the women looked over the menu. Regina ordered a salad and Dom rolled his eyes but when Bailey ordered a cheeseburger and fries, he brightened.

“I have to eat something to counter the alcohol,” Bailey explained. “I’m not much of a drinker.”

“She’ll have another margarita,” Dom told the waitress, smirking at Bailey as he handed his menu over.

“So Dom tells me you’re studying to be a nurse-midwife?”

“Yeah.” Bailey made a face across the table at him. “If I could pass his chemistry class.”