Read Online 5 Big Bunny Bump Off by Kathi Daley - Free Book Online Page B

the cars at the boathouse and shuttled people over so as not to tip off the expectant father. When Jeremy walked through the front door and everyone yelled surprise, I really thought he was going to cry. Perhaps a surprise party hadn’t been the best idea after all.
    “Scotch,” I said, handing Jeremy a drink.
    “I can’t believe you did all this.” He hugged Ellie and me.
    “We all pitched in,” I told him.
    “This is so . . . it’s just that I never expected . . . there must be fifty people here.”
    “Probably more than that ; I was unsuccessful in getting the gang in the pool out to greet you.”
    “And the gifts .” He looked toward the side of the room where I’d set everything out rather than asking him to open them. “I bet I won’t have to buy a single thing.”
    “That’s the plan.”
    Jeremy hugged me again. “How can I ever thank you?”
    “Trust me , you thank me every day. I couldn’t do what I do at the Zoo without you and was happy for the chance to repay you. Now go. Mingle. There are appetizers on the table, Zak has steaks on the grill, and there’s a bar set up near the pool.”
    “Poor Jeremy . I think he was on the verge of tears,” Ellie commented after he’d wandered away.
    “Yeah, he was really surprised.”
    “Jeremy is a good guy. He’s going to make a great dad.”
    “I haven’t seen Rob.”
    “He’ll be a little late,” Ellie informed me. “Hannah had a gymnastics class. They’re coming by after.”
    “Gymnastics? Isn’t she like one?”
    “She just turned two, but I guess they start them young. At this point they really just let the kids play, but there are some kids in her group who are three and four and already on the balance beam.”
    “You’re kidding.”
    “The beam is basically on the floor, but kids are very coordinated. I usually don’t take kids into my dance classes until they’re in kindergarten, but after attending Hannah’s gym classes, I’m seriously thinking about adding something for three- and four-year-olds.”
    “Sounds like a nightmare .” I cringed.
    Ellie laughed. “Why? Kids are cute.”
    “And loud and messy, with the attention spans of gnats.”
    “Unlike animals , who are never loud and messy,” Ellie pointed out.
    “Good point. Still , I have a hard time imagining myself trying to teach a roomful of kids anything. In fact, I have a hard time imagining a roomful of kids. If I’m totally honest, I have a hard time imagining myself with one kid.”
    “You don’t want kids?” Ellie asked.
    “I don’t know. Maybe someday, in the very distant future.”
    “Personally , I can’t wait to have kids. Dating Rob and being with Hannah as she goes through the motions of her life has been wonderful.”
    “Sounds serious.”
    Ellie paused. “I guess. I know I’m serious about Hannah, but . . .”
    “Just a bit less serious about Rob?” I guessed.
    “I like Rob. He’s kind and responsible. He loves Hannah and is such a good dad. We have common interests and have fun together.”
    “No fireworks?”
    “Not even a sparkler.”
    “If you don’t think you can love Rob , you should be careful about becoming too much of a mom to Hannah,” I warned her. “You could both end up getting hurt.”
    “Yeah .” Ellie sighed. “I’ve thought about that. I keep hoping the sparks will come once we get to know each other better, but so far not even a twinkle. Do you think sparks are really all that important in a long-term, committed relationship?” Ellie asked.
    “Yeah, I do.”
    “I just wish I could find a guy who causes the sparks Levi does but is mature and committed, the way Rob is. Most days I can see myself having a very happy life with Rob, but then Hannah goes to bed and we settle in with a glass of wine in front of the fire and I find myself longing to go home to my own comfy bed. I guess the time has come to give this some serious thought.”
    “Speaking of that , here come Rob and Hannah now. Go have fun. There