Maitland Maternity: Triplets, Quads and Quints. Kasey Michaels

all the way back. She smiled again as Hunter waved and headed toward his car.

      Then she started the engine, threw her car in reverse and backed out of the parking spot. Putting the car in drive, she peeled rubber out of the parking lot, determined that the hardheaded man who’d been her shadow for the past hour wouldn’t be able to follow her home.

       Chapter Seven

      Hunter stood in the parking lot, staring as Bri drove away.

      He was an idiot. He’d offered to marry the woman, and she’d refused. So why did he still feel protective, concerned, mesmerized by her? He’d intended to keep his distance, not to risk his heart. But two minutes alone with her and he wanted to give her a foot rub.

      He was crazy. But he wasn’t going to walk away from his children. The girls, as Bri called them, would know their father. Briana might refuse to marry him, but he would claim his children. He’d have DNA tests run after their births if he had to. He would have his family with or without Briana.

      Okay, so she wasn’t a useless woman, wanting the glory without the work. Everyone had praised her work ethic. The McCallum Wing was functioning well. And that didn’t happen without a good administrator. But a good work ethic didn’t mean she was honorable in her dealings with men. Maybe she got her kicks by luring men in and then dumping them.

      He didn’t believe her story about the ex-boyfriend, though. With a frown, he crossed to his car. If she didn’t tell anyone about the boyfriend, then how could he check it out? But that fact was also why he didn’t believe it.

      Caleb. Her brother would know, if no one else would. It was time he bought the guy a beer, did a little talking.

      An hour later, after a few phone calls, he arrived at Lone Star, a steak place down the street from the hospital. But instead of heading into the restaurant, he grabbed a seat at the bar and watched for Caleb’s arrival.

      “Dr. Callaghan,” Caleb McCallum said with a friendly smile. “Hope I haven’t kept you waiting.”

      “Not at all, Caleb, and call me Hunter. What’ll you have to drink?” Caleb had obviously seen his photo to identify him. But Hunter hadn’t needed a photo. Caleb resembled his sister, only he didn’t look soft, sweet, feminine.

      “What you’re having will do,” Caleb said, nodding toward the draft beer Hunter had hardly touched. Hunter waved to the bartender. Then he debated his approach. Caleb took the lead however.

      “R.J. said you had some questions about the security at the hospital. I’m a consultant for them, not actually in charge of security, but maybe I can answer your questions. What do you need to know?”

      “No specific questions. More general things, like what’s the crime in this area? Are there crimes in particular we need to be aware of? Have we had problems?”

      The bartender delivered his beer, and Caleb took a sip before he answered. “Maitland Maternity is in a safe neighborhood. However, in the past year, they’ve had a few problems. Mostly connected to the Maitlands themselves, rather than their patients.”

      “Problems?”

      Caleb grinned, “Things like the day-care center being held hostage.”

      Hunter had been looking for info about Bri. He’d never suspected there had been real problems. “You’re kidding.”

      “Nope. But it was taken care of. Since the McCallum Wing opened, there hasn’t been anything.”

      “Is your sister going to put her babies in the day-care center?” Hunter realized he’d been less than subtle when Caleb’s eyes narrowed, eyes just like his sister’s.

      “Why do you want to know?”

      Hunter drew a deep breath. He had a choice—continue to try to outfox this man, and Caleb appeared to be pretty sharp, or come clean. He looked at Caleb and made his decision. “Because I think I’m the father of her babies.”

      Caleb came off his stool, his hands forming tight fists.

      “Wait a minute before you beat me to a pulp,” Hunter asked, still calm. He wasn’t surprised by Bri’s brother’s response. He would’ve been disappointed if he hadn’t shown anger.

      “Why would I wait?” Caleb growled.

      “Because she says I’m not.”

      Caleb slowly sat back down. “Explain.”

      “It’s a long story,” Hunter warned. Caleb nodded, and Hunter began his tale, starting seven months ago…

      “And you didn’t know where to reach her?”

      Hunter sighed. “I knew. But would you pursue a woman who walked out on you after you thought you’d found the one woman in the world perfect for you?”

      “So it was coincidence that you wound up here?”

      “No. When word got out about the opening, I leapt at the chance to come here. I’d told myself Bri was a wealthy woman, playing games, not worth my time, but when I got the opportunity, I took it.”

      “But you’ve left her here alone for seven months!” Caleb exclaimed.

      “Yeah, but I didn’t know she was pregnant. I was shocked when she walked into the office.”

      “And when you asked her about the babies?”

      “She told me they weren’t mine. That her old boyfriend met her at the airport and told her he was ready to commit now. Then, six weeks later, when her pregnancy was discovered, he split.” Hunter watched Caleb closely.

      “I don’t remember any old boyfriend. I mean, there was a man she was crazy about in college. Then she overheard some gossip that he only wanted her money. She had me play a role in a little drama, pretending our dad’s company had gone bankrupt, and we’d lost all our money. He started backing out of the relationship at once.”

      “So she’s had acting experience?”

      “Not professionally,” Caleb assured him with a grin.

      “I didn’t believe her story, but she was pretty good when she told it.”

      “So what are you going to do?”

      “What do you suggest?”

      Caleb rubbed his chin, staring into space. “I don’t know. She’s stubborn.”

      “Yeah. I think I’ll try to be supportive, try to convince her I’m sincere, until after the babies are born. I don’t want to put any stress on her now. Then, afterward, I’m going to insist on my parental rights.”

      He stared at Caleb, his jaw firm. He wanted to know now if he was going to have a problem with her family.

      “I don’t blame you. But fight fair.”

      “I always do,” he assured him.

      “Will you offer marriage as an alternative?”

      Hunter’s immediate response was yes, but he didn’t say it. He’d offered marriage already. She had two months of pregnancy left, if she went to full term. Maybe he should get to know her better. Then he could make his decision. “I’m not sure. I’ll wait and see.”

      Caleb seemed to be a reasonable man. “I understand. Shall I talk to my father, or my brother Adam?”

      “No. I’ll explain myself when the time comes. I’d appreciate you keeping what I’ve told you quiet.”

      “Okay. Just—just don’t hurt her.”

      “No, but I won’t give up my children.”

      FIRST THING the next morning, Hunter asked Helen to get the files on all the multiple birth patients from the various doctors on the staff. He wanted to review all the cases. “And in