Their Divine Doctor(Divine Creek Ranch 9)(13)

Jack was awestruck as he held out his hands to gently receive his daughter, with just a little help from Emma, as the baby was born. Tears streamed from his eyes as he gazed on her cherubic little face for the first time. Rose Marie’s tiny chin quivered as she struggled to form her first howling cry.

Emma was warmed by a sensation that never got old, watching this baby girl be welcomed by her parents. It didn’t matter how many babies she’d delivered. This was one of the best parts of her job.

The love in the room was palpable as Jack rose from the stool and showed Grace, Ethan, and Adam their red, squalling newborn daughter. All four cried tears of joy, and Emma felt tears spring into her own eyes. She efficiently moved the drape aside and directed Jack to nestle the baby on Grace’s chest, skin on skin, where she settled quietly. Emma went back to work, finishing the job, but glanced up from time to time as the four of them bonded with their new baby girl.

Ethan reached out a tender hand and stroked Rose Marie’s downy little head as tears sparkled in his bright, blue eyes and got caught in his lashes. His lower lip trembled almost imperceptibly as he whispered, “Well, you’re just as beautiful as your mama, aren’t you, honey?” He turned to Grace and pressed his lips to her forehead and said, “Thank you, Gracie.”

Grace bore the ecstatic look many new mothers had as the euphoria of the moment washed over her. Her cheeks were flushed from her exertions, which made her eyes seem an even brighter blue. She smiled up at him, and tears trickled from the outer corners of her eyes.

Adam Davis was a very tall man and could easily have held Rose Marie in one of his large hands. This gentle giant placed a hand on the baby’s back and in a shaky voice said, “Look at those little rosebud lips. She’s the image of her mama.” Tears streamed from his eyes as well.

Grace gave a watery chuckle and said, “Not entirely. Look closer, Adam. That’s your nose.”

Grace had refused DNA testing, telling Emma that it didn’t matter which of her husbands had provided the sperm to fertilize her egg. As far as Grace was concerned, they were all the fathers equally.

The tiny infant looked up at Adam and started squalling again. The little family all softly chuckled as Rose Marie began rooting around.

Emma chortled as she worked and directed the nurse over to help Grace. “Looks like she’s a hungry girl, Mom.”

The men moved over while the nurse bundled Rose Marie into a receiving blanket and topped her little head with a stocking cap, then helped Grace with positioning the baby to breastfeed her.

Emma smiled as she watched the family observing Rose Marie take her first meal and felt such a yearning course through her that it stole her breath away. She was blindsided by it because she’d delivered so many babies and it had never happened before.

These four individuals were now five. Emma had agreed with Grace when she’d said she was the luckiest woman in the world to have those three men in her life. They would be there for her and for each other and form a secure home in which Rose Marie would thrive. Her heart yearned for what they had. Hell, she yearned for a life that included something other than her job and the hollow existence she led.

Grace caught her eye and smiled at her then whispered, “Thank you.”



* * * *



Emma removed her eyeglasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose as she walked along the sidewalk that led to her front door. Grace, the baby, and her men were all back at the hospital getting to know each other, and it was eight o’clock on Sunday night. One patient emergency after another had kept her at the hospital or her clinic all day. She’d only managed a few hours of sleep in the doctor’s lounge, so she looked forward to sinking into sleep in her own bed after eating supper. Emma stretched her stiff neck from side to side, replaced her glasses, and fished in her bag for her keys.

The apartment was cool and dark when she went in and turned on the light. There was another note attached to her door, and she peeled it off before closing the door.



Hi gorgeous,

We have something for you upstairs. Regardless of what time you get home, come knock on our door. Come upstairs hungry and that would be even better.

Duke and Gage



Smiling, she rubbed her stomach after taking off her doctor’s jacket and hanging it up. She was starving. Grabbing her purse and keys, she locked the apartment and hurried upstairs, making sure her phone was in her pocket, in case she was needed.

Duke yanked the door open a mere second after the second rap of her knuckles and greeted her with a big smile. The warmth in his eyes communicated itself to her, and her core turned warm and soft for him.

“Hi. I got your note,” she said, waving it as she stepped over the threshold. “Sorry about last night.”