The Boss and the Baby
Page 18
The night, Molly thought, that he’d left Oakwood looking eager and full of anticipation—not because he was going to see Melinda, but because he was hoping to catch her red-handed. “Just don’t get in the habit of leaving your bow ties in other women’s houses.”
“And you think she took it off me in a passionate interlude? Sorry to disappoint you, darling, but I never wear those things any longer than necessary.”
She remembered him tugging his tie off in the hospital while they were waiting out Megan’s miscarriage and stuffing it in his pocket.
“I must have dropped it. I’m only surprised she didn’t deliver it to Megan as a smoke screen.”
“She probably figured the message would get passed along,” Molly said dryly. “There is one more thing, Luke. About that teddy—how’d you know what size to buy?”
“Would you believe I walked into the shop and told the clerk that you were just about this shape—” He demonstrated.
“No.”
“I didn’t think so. The truth, unfortunately, is much less romantic. You were still in their computer from the last time you bought something in the Chicago store. So not only did I know what size to buy, but exactly the kind of thing you like—and if you think that didn’t start affecting my dreams...”
He bent once more to kiss her and paused to stroke her cheek. “That bruise on your jaw. You never did tell me how you got it.”
“I told you it was nothing. Bailey was demonstrating her new gymnastic tricks for me, but somehow she stretched out instead of tucking in, and she kicked me. Almost knocked me down.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that in the beginning?”
“Because the first time you asked, you didn’t even know about her, and the last thing I wanted to do was explain.”
He considered and nodded. “And your broken leg? Bailey said you fell down the stairs.”
Molly frowned. “And you thought I’d been pushed? No, I slipped on a patch of ice at the top of a flight of concrete steps.”
“I’m glad.”
“That I broke my leg?”
“That you weren’t battered. Every time I thought about that bruise, I felt guilty, because if my clumsiness had made you turn to a man like that...”
She turned her head away so he couldn’t see her face and admitted, “Luke, I know this sounds crazy. My daughter’s almost four. But that time—with you—was the only...” She paused. “I’ve never...”
He was silent and still for so long that she began to regret her confession. “Surely there were other men.”
“I dated. But there was nobody like you.”
“At times,” Luke said dryly, “that must have seemed a blessing. My darling... I’ll make it up to you. All of it—I swear.”
He kissed her again, long and deeply, and Molly came back to earth only when a little hand tugged firmly at her sweater. “Mommy,” Bailey said indignantly. “Daddy. I want a hug, too!”
So they picked up their daughter and held her between them, and Bailey put an arm around each neck and drew them closer yet.
ISBN : 978-1-4592-5266-0
THE BOSS AND THE BABY
First North American Publication 1999.
Copyright © 1999 by Leigh Michaels.
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