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“Got it in one, Jensen.”
“Are you going to tell your parents about our…situation?”
“Is that how we’re referring to the baby now, a situation?”
She shrugged. “No, but that’s how a lot of people will see it. This is the south, we’re not married and never dated but here we are, having a child together.”
“Damn, I hadn’t even thought of that. If anyone says anything to you-,”
“What? You’ll beat them up for me?” She let out another soft laugh. “As much as I appreciate that, I can handle myself.”
Still, I’d let Stone and Xander know to keep an eye on her while they were out and about, in Pilgrim. “It’s just me and my dad, and his new wife Trish. They’ll be thrilled to know I have a baby on the way.”
“Really?” Her wide green eyes were full of shock. “That’s great,” she said on a relieved sigh, her hand went unconsciously to her belly. “I want my baby to have as much family as possible.”
Sounded like the dream of every foster kid I ever came across. “I want that too.” It was the one thing I always wished for and I wouldn’t deny to my own child. “My dad seems like he finally got his act together, and if that’s true, he’ll be a good grandpa.”
“A grandpa,” she said wistfully and looked away to swipe a tear. “That’s good. Very good.”
“Hungry?”
“Starved,” she said on a small laugh. “I’m always hungry these days.”
“I’m always hungry most days,” I admitted with a laugh and removed all the food from the grill. “Kitchen or deck?”
“Deck for sure. I’ll bet the sunset is incredible over the lake.”
“Sunrise too,” I told her and disappeared into the kitchen to get plates, flatware and condiments for our meal. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly to calm my racing heart. Racing because over the past hour I learned one important thing about Olive Jensen, resident matchmaker and goody two shoes.
She was damn likable. And not in the usual way beautiful women were likable, she was charming and funny, self-deprecating and smart as hell. Despite her buttoned up appearance and constantly pulled back hair, she wasn’t uptight. In fact, her ability to laugh at herself was damned appealing.
That wasn’t good.
That wasn’t good at all.
And by the time the meal was over, it had only gotten worse. “That was delicious!” She shook her head with a playful smile. “I mean, I’d have eaten this table if that was the only option but this was truly delicious Liam. Thank you.” Immediately on the heels of her words came a yawn that made her jaws crack.
“Sounds like its time for you to get home.”
She nodded and flashed an apologetic smile. “Probably, yes. Hazards of growing a baby inside your body, zaps all your energy.”
“You okay to drive home?”
“Yep. But you can walk me to my car?”
“Of course.” I stood and held out an arm to her because she looked like a strong wind would knock her over. “I’m happy to drive you home.”
“And how do you plan to get back all the way out here to the boonies?”
“I run longer than the distance between our houses every morning.” I flashed a proud smile and she rolled her eyes.
“Show off.”
“Maybe a little,” I admitted with a smile and grabbed her keys to open the door. “Its all part of my charm. You’ll see.”
She turned sleepy but smiling green eyes up at me and nodded. “I’m starting to see, Liam. I really am. Thank you for tonight. It was…enlightening.” Then she shocked the hell out of me when she got up on her toes and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek.
Gentleman that I was, I ignored the way one of her boobs pressed against my arm. “Sleep well, Olive.”
“I will. I’m sure of it.”
Glad one of us was, because I wasn’t so sure sleep would come at all tonight, never mind easy.Olive“My goodness, I am starving!” I slid into the booth beside Eva inside The Mayflower. Aware that my tardiness had been noticed and would be commented on. “Did you order already?”
“You know we didn’t,” Sophie said calmly and in that cultured tone she used when she wanted to lull someone into a false sense of security. “It’s not like you to come late to girl’s night.”
I nodded and picked up the menu to hide my embarrassment. Not even a month ago I’d promised my partners that my work wouldn’t suffer, that I was as dedicated to the company as I’d always been. And that was true. Except when it wasn’t. “I know. Sorry. I got in the car to head over here, closed my eyes and woke up about five minutes ago. Sorry.”
Eva let out a burst of laughter that sent a flush starting from neck all the way up to my scalp. “You fell asleep?”
