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"Ange?"
She gasped and spun around. Conlan stood behind her, holding a dozen pink roses.
Shed forgotten about their date. She tried to smile, but it was weak and desperate and she saw a frown dart across his forehead. "Youre early," she said, laughing a little too sharply, praying it was true. It usually was.
He was still frowning. "Only a minute or two. Are you okay?"
"Of course. Let me just get my coat and say good night. " She edged past him and headed for the kitchen. She was at the swinging door when she realized she hadnt taken the flowers from him.
Damn.
"Conlans here," she said to Mama and Mira. "Can you guys close up tonight?"
Mama and Mira exchanged knowing looks. "So that was it," Mama said. "You were thinking of him. "
"Ill give Lauren a ride home," Mira said. "Have fun. "
Fun.
Angie forgot to laugh or say good-bye. Instead, she headed back to the dining room. "So, where are we going?" She took the flowers from him, pretended she could smell their scent.
"Youll see. " Conlan led her out to his car and helped her into the passenger seat. Within minutes they were driving south.
Angie stared out the window. In the tarnished glass, her reflection stared back at her. Her face looked long and thin, drawn out.
"Is it the baby stuff?"
She blinked, turned. "What?"
"Yesterday you cleaned out the storage room, right? Is that why youre quiet?"
There it was again, the hesitancy in Conlans voice, the treating her with kid gloves. She hated the familiarity of it. "I was okay yesterday. "
Had it really only been a day ago that shed been there, squatting in front of the relics of her ancient hope, believing shed moved on?
"Really?"
"I boxed everything up and brought it to the cottage for Lauren. " Her voice snagged on the name and it all came rushing back.
Take our baby, Angie.
"You sounded good," he said cautiously.
"I was so happy about it. " She hoped her voice didnt sound wistful. So much had happened since then.
"Were here. " Conlan turned into a gravel parking lot.
Angie craned her neck and peered through the windshield.
A beautiful stone mansion stood flanked by Douglas fir trees and rimmed in rhododendrons. The Sheldrake Inn welcomes you, read the sign.
She looked at Conlan, giving him her first real smile of the evening. "This is more than a date. "
He grinned. "Youre living with a teenager now. I have to plan ahead. "
She followed him out of the car and into the cozy interior of the inn.
