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“I was with a man, and we were talking about getting married.” She turned slightly in her seat.
Hayes instructed the chief of staff to lower the volume. This time, she did so without argument.
“He already had a family. Which was fine, but he never let me spend time with them. It’s like he had separate lives, and the two never intertwined.” She shrugged, but her voice wavered as she told her story. “Of course I wanted him to be a good dad, but I also wanted kids of our own.” She twisted her hands together in her lap. “I’m one of those women who has always wanted to have a baby. My parents were never married, because…”
Hayes didn’t like where this was going.
“He was married with a family of his own, and even though his wife found out about the affair and baby, they stayed together. Sometimes he sent child support, but mostly he didn’t. I’ve seen him twice.”
He winced.
“Mom never had another relationship, and she died when I was eighteen.”
“I’m sorry, Abigail.”
“Thank you. Anyway, having more children was a deal breaker for my former boyfriend, Kevin. I would have given up my dreams if he would have let me be part of his family.” She tried for a smile that fell flat. “He refused and walked out. I guess it was better that it happened before we got married, right?”
The similarities didn’t escape Hayes. He had a child of his own and wasn’t sure he wanted to take the risk of having another marriage that might end in devastation.
He needed to tread carefully with Abigail’s caring heart.
A few minutes later, after the car was tucked away in the garage, he invited her inside for a tour.
She went straight through to the bank of windows at the back of the house. “It overlooks the park. Are you kidding me?”
“My favorite feature.”
“I’d have signed on the dotted line in a heartbeat.” She grinned wryly. “Well, I mean, if I had the funds.”
He placed the leftovers in the refrigerator before removing his suit coat and showing her the rest of the house.
“Everything is perfect. A little less cluttered and more orderly than my place.”
And a little less like a home.
He brewed coffee for each of them, and they sat outside, enjoying the warmth and watching passersby.
“I’d never want to leave this spot.” She took a sip of her drink. “Well, except for in the middle of summer. In that case, I’d enjoy it from the other side of the glass.”
“With air conditioning.”
“Exactly.”
He looked at her, and the energy that had been simmering between them all afternoon became molten. “I’d like to make love to you.”
“I’m on the pill.”
“And I have protection.” Evidently they were both cautious. “Is that a yes?”
She nodded. “Yes, Hayes.”
They both stood, and she picked up their empty mugs before following him inside the house.
After locking the door, he addressed the house computer. “Chief of Staff, close all blinds.”
A male voice cheerfully responded. “Aye, captain.”
“You have a different assistant in the house? I thought all of Bond systems were fully integrated.”
