Julia’s green eyes sparkled merrily. “Wow, what a decision. I did love that weekend Nathan and I spent at the Santa Barbara resort last year. But I’ve also been eyeing a new pair of Jimmy Choos, too. I’ll get back to you, okay?” Then she sobered before telling him, “And it was no trouble at all. I’m just glad we could help. And when we found her…” She shuddered. “God, it will take me a long time to forget that sight.”

She disappeared down the hallway before Ian could quiz her further, and the frightening images her words called to mind only served to increase his anxiety.

But then, in the next minute, the tall, broad-shouldered form of Dr. Jordan Reeves sauntered into the room, and Ian instantly sprang to his feet.

“Well, it’s about damned time that baby was born,” groused Ian. “Boy or girl?”

Jordan grinned, his black hair mostly hidden beneath the dark blue surgical cap that was the same color as his scrubs. “A girl. Seven pounds nine ounces and she’s pissed as hell. A real screamer if I’ve ever heard one.”

Ian managed a wry smile as he shook his friend’s hand. “Just your type from what I’m told. And I’m going to be the one who starts screaming if that good for nothing surgeon doesn’t arrive soon to tell me about Tessa.”

“Relax.” Jordan squeezed Ian’s shoulder. “First of all, Danny Shapiro is just about the best surgeon on staff here. And second, I just had a long chat with him about your lady and offered to give you all the details. Which is fortunate, considering he’s got another emergency surgery to rush into.” Jordan glanced around the nearly empty waiting room. “You here alone?”

Ian shook his head. “Tessa’s friend - correction, our friend - just left to get us some tea. Julia was the one who called 911 earlier today. She’s been here the whole time.”

Jordan’s gray eyes sparkled with interest. “Please tell me Julia was the really, really hot babe that I just passed in the hallway. Long hair, tight skirt, high heels, stacked like a brick shithouse?”

Ian shook his head. “Forget it, mate. That is definitely Julia but afraid she’s already spoken for. Tessa and I were at her wedding back in June.”

Jordan sighed. “Damn it. She’s just my type, too.”

Ian rolled his eyes. “I didn’t realize you had a type. Other than young, female, and beautiful. Now, enough about your love life. I need to know every single detail about my woman, including how soon I can see her.”

Jordan explained in a quick, concise manner about the laparoscopy that had been performed on Tessa to repair the damage to her uterus. It had been a minimally invasive procedure, requiring only a very small incision in her abdomen.

“And of course they removed the offensive little device that caused all this trouble. Saved me the effort in extracting it, I suppose. How long did you say she’s had the IUD?” inquired Jordan.

“Going on eight years, I believe.”

Jordan nodded. “They’re usually good for about ten years before they have to be replaced. This - what happened to Tessa - is actually quite rare. Fortunately there won’t be any lasting damage. The perforation was fairly easy to repair.”

Ian sighed in relief. “Thank God. That’s the next question I was going to ask. This won’t affect her ability to have children, will it?”

“Nope. Not in the least.” Jordan cocked his head to the side, regarding Ian curiously. “Why? Planning on knocking her up soon?”

“Jesus, you’ve got a helluva bedside manner,” complained Ian. “I hope you don’t talk to your patients that way. And no, I don’t plan on knocking her up - as you so charmingly put it - for at least a couple more years. That’s why we need an alternative form of birth control as soon as possible.”

A deep laugh rumbled from Jordan’s chest. “A bit touchy there, Ian? Hey, I can’t blame you. Enjoy her for a while before you start procreating. But you’ll have to hold off on the fun and games for a bit, I’m afraid. She’ll need some time to recover from this.”

“Obviously. Well, I abstained for two and a half years while I was waiting for her to become a single woman. I suppose a few weeks will seem like nothing in comparison.”

Jordan stared at him in disbelief. “Two and a half years? Seriously? I don’t think I’ve gone two and a half days without some action since I was about sixteen.”

Ian shook his head. “Knowing you as I do, that doesn’t surprise me in the least. Now, when can I see Tessa and how soon can I bring her home?”

“I’d say another half hour to the first question, and maybe a couple of days to the second. We’ll have to keep a very close eye on her for any sign of infection. That’s a fairly common complication for this sort of thing, and I see from the reports that she already had a fever when they brought her in.”

Ian’s spine stiffened at this news. “What does that mean? And I assume if an infection does occur that it’s easily treatable?”

Jordan nodded. “Almost always, yes. And the fact that she was running a fever on arrival isn’t anything to get alarmed over. I noticed they’ve already started her on a pretty high dose of antibiotics, most likely as a precaution.”

Ian was interrupted from asking any further questions by the return of Julia, who was balancing two large coffee cups, a paper bag, and her oversized leather satchel. Jordan, always a sucker for a pretty woman, rushed to offer assistance.

“Let me take those for you,” he offered with a killer smile as he took the two cups. “We don’t want to have to treat you for a third degree burn, do we?”

Julia gave him a polite smile in return, and it was very clear that she recognized Jordan for the notorious player that he was. “Thank you, the one with the tea bag is Ian’s.”

Jordan introduced himself, sparing Ian the trouble, and couldn’t resist turning on the charm even though he knew Julia was already spoken for. “I understand from Ian that you’re recently married. My very, very bad luck. I don’t suppose,” added Jordan teasingly, “that you’ve got a twin sister tucked away somewhere?”

Julia’s eyes widened as she and Ian exchanged a look of mutual horror. Jordan glanced between the two of them with a puzzled expression.

“I was actually making a joke,” he explained. “Why the panic stricken looks?”