About a Baby

by Ann Yost

  “I suppose we couldn’t just put up a No Snakes Allowed sign.”

  He hooted. “Every kid in town would be out searching for garter snakes to bring you. You can get the best of this, honey. You’re a strong woman.”

  She had her doubts. “Thanks for handling it with such finesse. It’s hard enough getting accepted as a female vet. This meltdown isn’t going to do anything for my reputation, but you minimized it.”

  “What d’you think about Diane?”

  Hallie shrugged. “She’s got a great son.”

  “She’s also got a great bra. I can’t imagine how a piece of fabric could hold those girls up.”

  “I’m sure she’d be happy to show you.”

  He pulled her onto his lap. “It was an idle question. I’m only interested in one woman’s underwear. By the way, I’ll pick you up at six. I’ve got a big evening planned.” He kissed her, and her heart rate spiked again.

  This time it had nothing to do with the snake.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Baz slapped aftershave onto his cheeks and stared at his face in the mirror. He was uncomfortably aware that his palms were sweaty.

  Proposing could do that to a man. Especially when the answer was in doubt.

  He dressed in a crisp white dress shirt, his gray pinstripe suit and, because he didn’t want to look too corporate America, he wore the red tie Daisy had given him for Christmas. Its diagonal strips were composed of tiny white pigs.

  He was pleased with his arrangements. He’d reserved a private alcove at Cerrutto’s. The chef would prepare whatever kind of pasta Hallie wanted, and Baz had already chosen a red wine to go with it.

  A heart-shaped cake would be delivered at the restaurant sometime this afternoon along with vase of yellow daisies. He’d arranged for the restaurant’s pianist to play the show tunes Hallie loved.

  Then there was the ring. He patted his left breast pocket and tried to ignore the sharp twinge of guilt. He had no business proposing before he told Hallie about Nicole. On the other hand, his chances of success were between none and negative numbers if he revealed his secret beforehand.

  Ethics versus Expediency.

  In this case, it was no contest.

  He decided to put the whole issue out of his mind. He’d done his homework for tonight.

  Everything was perfect. All systems were go.

  Everything except the weather.

  He frowned at the sleet pinging against the bedroom window. The storm wasn’t supposed to get here until Saturday. He’d planned to borrow Cam’s elegant Mercedes, but he’d better take the pickup to be on the safe side.

  A lightning bolt of desire zigzagged through him, and he felt himself hardening inside his fine wool slacks as he remembered what had happened in the pickup on New Year’s Eve. If all went well tonight there might be a return engagement. This time, though, they’d do it in Hallie’s bed. He couldn’t wait to move her to his own king-sized bed.

  It was at the top of the priority list. His lower body throbbed in anticipation.

  Well, damn. He wasn’t gonna be able to get past Asia and Lucy in this condition. He forced himself to think about non-sexy subjects: Hallie’s fear of snakes. Hallie’s reluctance to marry him. Hallie’s big disappointment.

  It worked. He felt a lot more sober.Almost depressed.

  “Where are you going?” Lucy asked, as he strode through the kitchen.

  “I’m taking Hallie out to dinner in Bangor.”

  “You drive careful,” she warned him. “It’s not a fit night out for man nor beast.”

  “Nor pig,” Daisy said, looking up from the book she was reading to Wilbur.

  “I’ll be careful.”

  Shards of ice nicked his face as he strode across the courtyard. The outside lights illuminated the ice in the backyard trees. Didn’t it do anything in Maine except sleet? He refused to let it get him down. They could always stay over in a hotel. Hell, Mother Nature was doing him a big favor. They would stay over.

  Despite the cold his temperature spiked.

  When she opened the door, he felt something move under his heart. Her brown curls bobbed and whirled around her wide-set golden eyes. Her dress shimmered in the artificial light. He liked the way the bodice hugged her firm breasts.

  “You look beautiful,” he said, astounded to hear a frog in his throat. “I love you in red.”

  She grinned. “This is actually coral.” She twirled and the skirt belled out, revealing her shapely legs.

  She hadn’t put on her heels yet so she was almost a foot shorter than he.

  “It reminds me of something.”

  “Fifties sit-coms. It’s retro.”

  “Ah.”

  She sat down to put on a pair of shiny black shoes.

  “I think you’d better wear boots. Sleet’s coming down pretty heavily.”

  She made a face. “If only I hadn’t left them at the grange hall.” She stood and he caught her hand.

  “Then I’ll carry you.” He pulled her to him and fitted his mouth to hers. As usual the kiss triggered an instant explosion of urgent need. He forced himself to break it off. That was just an appetizer he reminded himself. Time for the full meal later.

  When they got to Bangor.

  It became clear almost immediately that they wouldn’t get to Bangor. Walnut Street was an ice rink. It took twenty minutes to drive to the end of it.

  Baz was grateful for the pick-up’s rear wheel drive, but even with that he couldn’t drive much above four or five miles an hour.

  “Baz?”

  “Mmmm?”

  “I think we’re going to have to abandon Bangor.”

  “Yeah.” He thought about all his carefully made arrangements. “We’d never have to fight weather like this in L.A.”

  “I can’t argue with that.”

  The humor in her voice restored his. Things weren’t so bad. He had the girl and the ring. He could still propose.

  “We could go back to my apartment,” she said.

  He nodded. That seemed a little anticlimactic. “Or to the house. I’m sure Asia made plenty of supper.”

  Definitely not back to the house.

  “What’s the best restaurant in town?”

  She grinned at him. “You mean the only

  restaurant in town? That’d be Little Joe’s.”

  A proposal in a greasy spoon? Well, at least it would be memorable.

  “Baz?”

  “Mmmm?”

  “The place isn’t important.”

  “You got all dressed up.”

  “Later I plan to get all undressed. What we do in between doesn’t matter to me as long as we do it together.”

  Warmth flooded his soul as he looked into the golden eyes. Damn he was a lucky man. “Little Joe’s it is.”

  They inched along High Street.

  “Uh-oh,” she said, “the place is packed. I forgot it was meatloaf night.”

  “Meatloaf night?”

  “Every Thursday. Joe puts green pepper and onion in it. And a little sage. It’s really good.”

  “Every Thursday. And nobody objects?”

  “Predictability appeals to some people. Me, for instance. I like knowing the specials almost as much as I like knowing people everywhere I go. I like it that they know me.”

  “Don’t you get bored living here? Familiarity is one thing, but nothing ever changes in Eden.”

  “I think that’s why people choose to live in small towns. People who aren’t adventure-seekers.”

  He heard something in her voice. “You really love it here, don’t you?”

  She nodded. “I’ll admit I can’t understand why you wouldn’t choose this life. Your family is great.

  The town is great. I’ve met more great people here than anywhere I’ve ever been in my life.”

  “Diane? Nadine?”

  She punched him. “This is home for you,” she continued, refusing to be sidetracked by the teasing.

  “You belon
g to Eden.”

  He heard the wistfulness. “You belong here, too, Hallie. More than I do because you’ve chosen it.”

  She shook her head. He tried to make her understand. “Damn, Hallie. You’re back on that blood-is-thicker-than water thing, and I’ve got to tell you, you’re dead wrong about that. My dad, Cam, Lucy, Asia, and Daisy think of you as one of the family. I’m pretty sure even Wilbur would back me up on that.”

  She laughed, and he realized how much he loved that sound. He wanted to tell her they’d come back here for holidays and vacations, but he didn’t want to talk about the future. Not until after the proposal.

  “Why don’t we go over to the inn?”

  “I thought Sharon only served breakfast.”

  Hallie fluttered her eyelashes at him. “She does.

  We’d just have to wait for it.”

  She wanted to spend the night with him.

  Well, hell. He was sorely tempted. He hesitated but decided against it. He needed her undivided attention. He wasn’t sure he’d get that with her best friend nearby.

  “Baz?”

  “Not this time, honey.”

  “You’re hungry, huh?” She looked around. “Well,

  we’re in luck. We’ve made it to Buddy Burger.”

  Junk food. He was going to propose over junk food. He wondered if that’d be what she remembered from this night. His jaw tightened. He’d have to make sure it wasn’t all she remembered.

  “Is that a serious suggestion?”

  “I like Buddy burgers. Besides, the faster we eat, the faster we can move on to whatever else is on the agenda.”

  His body jerked in anticipation and she giggled.

  “Sold,” he said, hoarsely. “Buddy Burger, here we come.”

  There was a large statue of Buddy revolving overhead and a pair of rainbow arches. The menu included Buddy whoppers and McBuddy sandwiches.

  Buddy Holmes, the entrepreneur who’d built the place, hadn’t wanted to overlook any of the fast food icons.

  Baz half drove, half slid into the parking lot.

  Hallie giggled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You’re so dressed up. We’re both so dressed up.

  We look like we’re ready for a four-star restaurant out of Zagat’s, and we’re at Buddy Burger. Oh, and we’re in the takeout line, so we’ll be eating in the truck.”

  Someone behind them honked. Baz shot the other driver a look and Hallie snickered. “You’ve got to move up.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Every time I put the damn thing in gear it slips. Why can’t we just sit here until it’s our turn at the window?”

  The car honked again.

  “Tradition?”

  He groaned. “This’ll make quite a story to tell our grandchildren.”

  For an instant Hallie froze. Baz damned himself to the last circle of hell. He’d ruined everything.

  “Hallie, I…”

  “Look.” She put her hand on his arm. “If we’re going to go to pieces every time a reference is made to kids, this won’t work. It’s time to accept things as they are. Think you can do that?”

  He stared into the serious golden eyes. “Yes.”

  She nodded. Then she looked around. “I’d say everyone who’s not at Little Joe’s is here. There are six cars in front of us and two behind. This’ll take a while.”

  Baz’s lips twisted. A sense of fierce urgency roared through him. He couldn’t wait until they got their food and parked somewhere. He couldn’t wait another minute. He had to get his answer. Now. She was flushed and soft and she had that devilish look in her eye. Lord, he wanted her. Now.

  “Baz?”

  For an instant he was paralyzed by the need within him. He shifted into Park, turned to face her and took her hand. “Halliday, I regret last year more than I can say. I missed you constantly.”

  “As long as you brought it up, why did it take so long for you to come back?”

  Why did she have to ask that now? “There’s no short answer to that question. I’d like to put it on hold. We can discuss it later. There’s something else I need to say to you right now.”

  She nodded. “All right.” He heard another honk.

  “Better move up first.”

  He shifted and pulled forward. “After you left I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I stayed in contact with my dad so I could get updates on you, make sure you were okay while I tried to sort out my, uh, life. I just want you to know there was not one single day that I didn’t miss you and regret what I’d said. I promise you I’ll never be that foolish again. I’ll never say no to you again. Not on anything important.”

  He took a breath. “I know you’ve been happier here in Eden than you were in L.A., but I can change that. You can move into my condo, and, if you want, you can have your old job back. Or, if you’d rather, you can join a veterinarian’s practice. I have quite a few contacts in the area.”

  “You know I think you should consider staying in Eden. Your dad needs you. The whole family needs you, and I think you need them.”

  He scowled. “That isn’t what I want to talk about tonight, Hallie.”

  A horn blared at him.

  “Better scoot up,” she said.

  This definitely wasn’t working out the way he’d planned. “I want you to come back to California with me.”

  “You said that.”

  Neither the words nor the slightly pained look on her face were encouraging signs. “Okay, okay, forget California for now. That isn’t what I want to talk about either.”

  “You don’t want to talk about California or the lost year or Eden or your dad, right?”

  He’d blown it. He was losing her. The playfulness he’d enjoyed earlier was completely gone from her eyes. Panic erupted. He grabbed both her hands. “I brought you out tonight to propose. I had it all planned, dinner, wine, a special cake, and music. I wanted this to be the most memorable moment of your life.”

  Those long lashes covered her eyes and he felt as if he were on the brink of a steep abyss. What if she said no?

  “What about a baby?”

  Did she know about Robert?

  “You know I can’t have children. How d’you feel about that?”

  Relief washed over him. “I feel sad. Very sad for you and for me. But it doesn’t make any difference. I love you, Hallie. I love you and I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you.”

  “Could you put that in the form of a question?”

  The car behind them honked again. Twice. Baz ignored it. He fumbled in his pocket and found the ring box. It took him three tries to get it open. There was no way he could get on one knee. He just blurted it out. “Hallie Scott, will you marry me?”

  Tears filled her eyes and ran down her face. He prayed they were happy tears. This time, the series of beeps sounded like Morse Code. It didn’t matter.

  He couldn’t have moved if all the drivers behind him got out of their cars and surrounded him with rifles.

  All his senses were focused on this woman, on whether she could forgive him enough to spend her life with him. Sweat trickled down his back. Damn, he couldn’t wait any longer. “Hallie? Will you marry me?”

  A teasing look came into her beautiful eyes and he knew it would be okay. “Of course I’ll marry you.

  Let me have another look at that ring.”

  He reached for her then, and she practically leapt into his arms. Relief washed through him like a series of waves. All he could do was bury his tongue in her mouth and hold her tightly against his chest. If the other cars were honking, he didn’t hear it. She felt warm and soft and eager for him, and he wanted that moment, that exact moment, to last forever. When they had to break for air he buried his face in her curls.

  She laid her hand against his chest. “Your heartbeat’s too fast.”

  “I was nervous,” he mumbled, his voice thick with passion and relief. “I thought you might turn me down.”

  “You sh
ouldn’t have worried. I love you. I’ve loved you from the first day I walked into your lab and found out the other techs called you Stoneface.”

  “They call me Stoneface?”

  Her smile lit up the inside of the cab. “I imagine they don’t anymore.”

  The next honk was one long bleat. Baz let go of her long enough to move up. “Now, where were we?”

  “We’re at the window.” She giggled. “It’s time to order.”

  He reached behind him and cranked the handle.

  An adolescent male voice rang in his ear. “Good evening, sir. Would you like the big fish combo tonight, sir?”

  Baz stared at the color in Hallie’s face and the brilliance of her eyes. “Promise me you won’t change your mind.”

  “Sir? Sir?”

  “Promise me, Hallie.”

  “I promise.” She raised her voice. “Two buddy burgers and a couple of Cokes.”

  “Supersize, medium or small?”

  She grinned at him. “Definitely supersize.”

  “Would you like fries with that, sir or, uh, miss?”

  “I’d like you,” Baz murmured. “Now.”

  Hallie giggled. “Sure,” she called out, “give us the works.”

  Baz pulled out of the Buddy Burger and into the empty lot of the Staghead Realty Company.

  “You want to buy some property?”

  He lifted the bag of food out of her hands and set it behind the seat. “Let’s put it this way, I want to stake a claim.” He pulled her over onto his lap for a soul-searing kiss. An instant later she felt his big hand cupping one breast. Her nipple hardened and she moaned. “Oh God,” he groaned, “I want you right now.”

  The take-out lane was mostly blocked by a row of pine trees, and, anyway, the ice on the windshield obscured their movements. No one would cruise by and wonder why there was a pickup truck parked in the lot of a closed business.

  “Let’s do it here.”

  “I don’t think I’ve got a choice.” His fingers started to work on the buttons on her new dress. He pushed down the bodice and released her lacy bra with one quick move.

  “You’ve got awfully quick wrists. Do you do this a lot?”

  “It’s racquetball. Kiss me.”

  She slid her hands around his neck and pressed up against him. His heart pounded fiercely against her breasts. A shirt, suit jacket and overcoat separated her from his broad chest. She fitted her mouth to his, but he couldn’t maintain the kiss. His breathing was heavy and fast. His urgency fueled hers. She felt that rush of warmth.