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“Still... I’m sure you were hoping the baby was already on its way.” Why was he doing this? Trying to get emotion out of her when she knew it was exactly what he didn’t want and, therefore, would withhold it from him?
“Of course I’d hoped, but I didn’t get all worked up about it. I knew the chances were good it would take more than one try.”
Walking over to his bar, he pulled out a shot bottle of expensive scotch, emptied some into a glass and took a small sip.
“My offer was accepted.”
“Oh, Bray! I’m glad.” The sincerity in her tone warmed him. The scotch probably helped, too. “So did you get your permits going?”
“Yes.” He took a couple of minutes to tell her about the meetings he’d had. Which was more than they usually did—other than by general mention. But then, this wasn’t normal—him in L.A. starting a new venture and her in San Diego trying to have a baby without him.
He took another sip and then he launched into another topic.
“I have something to discuss with you. An opportunity,” he said, wandering over to the window with his glass in hand, staring out at the lights of L.A. in the distance.
“What kind of opportunity?”
“I told you I’m intending to make this L.A. project as much a replica of Braden Property Management as possible.”
“Yeah.” He couldn’t tell by her tone if she was focused or distracted. He reminded himself she’d just suffered what had to be a crushing disappointment. No matter what she said. He knew how badly she thought she wanted
another baby.
And he hoped she was distracted enough to politely decline the offer he was about to make.
“One of the things that helped make us such an instant success was our ability to offer tenants in-house daycare at a reduced rate.”
He couldn’t judge her reaction from her silence, but that was all she gave him.
“Since the idea was yours, and because The Bouncing Ball plays a part in the success of Braden Property Management, I’d like to know if you’d be interested in expanding, if you’d like to open a second daycare, here in L.A.”
“I...”
She stopped, as if she was thinking it through. He tried to wait her out but couldn’t.
“You don’t have to give me an answer right now. Just think about it, would you?”
He wanted an immediate no, not more time to fret about the ramifications of the plan.
“I don’t need to think about it,” she said. “Of course, I’ll need time to get plans in place, but I can tell you right now that I’d be honored to be a part of the L.A. venture, Braden. Thank you.”
His heart sank.
Chapter Nine
Was she nuts? She couldn’t be a single mother and run two businesses.
What in the heck had she been thinking? I’d be honored to be a part of the L.A. venture, Braden. Thank you.
Had those words really come from her mouth?
Without a moment’s hesitation?
Mallory passed through the next couple of days in a blur. She made her next appointment at the Elliott Clinic in Marie Cove, assuming she ovulated as expected, and then didn’t let herself think about not having another baby. It wasn’t a matter of if, it was merely a matter of when.
Instead, she lay in bed Sunday night and scared herself into wondering if she was really capable of letting Braden move on without her, being his friend and supporting him while he did it. Why else would she have told him she’d be a part of his new venture?
She had absolutely no desire to own an empire. Or to live in L.A. Those were Bray’s dreams, though the whole L.A. thing was new even for him.
