Read Online Baby, Come Home by Stephanie Bond - Free Book Online Page A

been through, it was too little, too late.
    “None for me, thanks,” she said when Nikki started to serve her a slice.
    “Are you sure?” Nikki asked. “It looks so yummy, and you’re so trim, you can spare the calories.”
    “Thanks, but I’m stuffed,” she said, then took another small sip of wine. She’d nursed the one glass all evening because she didn’t want to become too sentimental.
    “Hello, all.”
    Amy looked up to see Rachel Hutchins standing there wearing a pink sweater dress that looked as if it had been knitted onto her curvy body. Kendall shifted in his chair and his knee brushed Amy’s. She pulled away.
    “Hi, Rachel,” Nikki said. “Have you met Amy Bradshaw?”
    “We met earlier,” Rachel said, smiling in Amy’s direction. “Are you getting settled in?”
    “Yes, thank you. And Nikki was kind enough to cook dinner.”
    Rachel glanced at the table. “Ooh, chocolate.”
    “Would you like a slice to take—” Nikki began.
    “I’d love one,” Rachel said, then pulled a chair over to sit between Kendall and Amy.
    Amy moved her chair to the side to make room. “Here, you can have mine,” she said, sliding the untouched slice of cake toward the woman.
    “You don’t like chocolate?” Rachel asked, picking up a fork.
    “Not tonight,” Amy murmured.
    Rachel’s gaze dropped to Amy’s hand. “What a gorgeous ring.”
    Amy fingered the chunky topaz solitaire. “Thank you…my guy gave it to me.”
    Kendall made a small choking noise, then pounded his chest and stretched his neck.
    “You okay, bro?” Porter asked.
    “Sorry,” Kendall squeaked. “Wine went down the wrong way.”
    Rachel reached over to pat his shoulder and coo as if he were a pet— her pet—until he recovered. Then she cut into the cake, ate a big bite, and moaned.
    “Oh, this is so good,” she said thickly. She continued to make noises that bordered on orgasmic as everyone around the table squirmed. Kendall in particular seemed on edge, his eyes still watering. Amy, on the other hand, was enjoying his discomfort.
    “Another piece?” she asked sweetly when Rachel polished off the last bite and licked the fork clean.
    “No, thanks,” Rachel said. “I actually just came over to remind Kendall that he left his laptop in my room.” She turned to him and batted her impossibly long lashes. “Do you want to come up and get it?”
    A pregnant pause enveloped the table. Amy realized it was up to her to ease the awkward moment and pushed to her feet. “Why don’t we call it a night? I’ll clear the table.”
    “I’ll help,” Nikki said, jumping to her feet.
    “Me, too,” Porter said, then shot Kendall a look that told him he was on his own.
    Amy didn’t glance at Kendall as she grabbed plates and stacked them on her arm, a talent honed from years of waitressing to put herself through night school. She felt rather than saw him stand.
    “Amy,” he said. “It was nice to…reminisce.”
    She looked up and gave him a breezy smile. “Good night.”
    “Will I see you tomorrow?” he asked.
    “I’ll be at the bridge site,” she said simply, then turned and walked toward the kitchen.
    At the last second, she gave in to the urge to see them together, as a couple. She turned and watched as they walked away, Rachel stuck on him like a big piece of pink lint. Kendall glanced back over his shoulder and caught her gaze. Amy just smiled, then kept walking.

7
    T he smile was still frozen on Amy’s face when she walked into the kitchen and joined Nikki at the sink to scrape their dinner plates.
    “I can’t apologize enough,” Nikki said, her expression and voice anguished. “I had no idea that you and Kendall were once… I mean, I can’t believe Porter didn’t tell me.”
    “It’s okay,” Amy said quickly. “I should’ve told you. But it was a long time ago, and I didn’t want to stir up anything. Besides, it looks as if Kendall has definitely moved on.”
    “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Nikki