Read Online The Christmas Baby Bump by Lynne Marshall - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lynne Marshall
Ads: Link
find Phil intently watching her as her lungs clutched at each breath.
Somehow she made it through the goodbyes, but as soon as the couple left she headed for the back door and the tranquil promise of the yard. She needed to breathe, to get hold of herself.
She was staring at the small bubbling fountain and listening to chattering birds in the tree when a hand grasped her arm. It was Phil. He’d picked up on what had just happened. Hell, she’d been so obvious, anyone would have noticed her fumbling attempt at acting normal…if they hadn’t been so distracted with the baby.
“I was wondering what you’re doing tomorrow,” he said.
She welcomed the change in subject, even if it was another sticky topic. How should she best phrase the fact she had no plans for Thanksgiving and not come off as pitiful? Sure, she could go to Palm Desert, but it wasn’t going to happen.
She swallowed and said, “I’m having a quiet day.”
He glanced thoughtfully at her. “My stepmother is a fantastic cook, and she promised me a Thanksgiving dinner to die for as I’ve been taking care of Robbie and all, and I thought you might like to be my plus one.”
“Plus one?”
“My guest. What do you say? Great food. Even better company. You’ll like my dad.” He tilted his head, and his crescent-shaped eyes looked very inviting. “Robbie will be so happy to see them that he’ll leave you alone. I promise.” Phil was the distraction she needed—a guy completely unaware of her past, who didn’t ask questions, and with one not-so-subtle thing on his mind.
Did she really need to think about it? Hotel room. DVDs. Deli sandwich. Or plus one.
“You know what? I’d really like that.”
The full-out smile he delivered assured her she’d not only made the right decision but she’d also made his afternoon. When in the past three years had she been able to make that claim about a man? And it felt pretty darn good.
He looked as if he wanted to kiss her again, and maybe that’s exactly what she needed right now, a kiss to make her forget, but his beeper went off and after a quick glance, a forlorn look replaced the charm. He sighed. “It’s the preschool, again.”
Late that afternoon, Phil appeared at Stephanie’s office door, looking agitated.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“The damn weather.”
She glanced out her window at another perfectly clear blue autumn sky then back at Phil. “Looks pretty good to me.”
“I’m talking about Maui. They’re having a terrible storm and the return flight has been canceled until Friday. Looks like Thanksgiving dinner is off.”
She couldn’t deny the disappointment. Ever since he’d invited her, she’d felt a buzz of expectation, a curiosity about his family, and mouthwatering anticipation of great food. Now a storm on a tropical island had changed everything. “How disappointing…for them. I’m sure they’re eager to get home to Robbie and all.”
He snapped his fingers. “I’ve got an idea. Come to my house and I’ll order a turkey dinner.” His eyes lit up. “It’ll be fun, and you can help me warm things up. What do you say?
She’d swung from one end of the emotional pendulum to the opposite over this Thanksgiving, and here was yeta new twist. Hotel. DVDs. Deli sandwich. Or spend an afternoon with a gorgeous guy…and Robbie?
It all came down to one desire. Did she want to have a life again? Or go on living in a vacuum. Hotel. DVDs. Deli sandwich…or…
There really wasn’t a decision to make. “What time?”
Chapter Five
O N T HANKSGIVING morning, Stephanie put extra effort into getting dressed. She wanted to look good, but not overdo it. She opted for casual with jeans and boots, a pumpkin-colored top with a flashy hip belt, and a multifall-colored knit scarf to ward off the cooler weather.
She’d stopped last night at the bakery she’d recently discovered and got one of the last two pumpkin pies baked that afternoon, the kind of whipped cream you
Somehow she made it through the goodbyes, but as soon as the couple left she headed for the back door and the tranquil promise of the yard. She needed to breathe, to get hold of herself.
She was staring at the small bubbling fountain and listening to chattering birds in the tree when a hand grasped her arm. It was Phil. He’d picked up on what had just happened. Hell, she’d been so obvious, anyone would have noticed her fumbling attempt at acting normal…if they hadn’t been so distracted with the baby.
“I was wondering what you’re doing tomorrow,” he said.
She welcomed the change in subject, even if it was another sticky topic. How should she best phrase the fact she had no plans for Thanksgiving and not come off as pitiful? Sure, she could go to Palm Desert, but it wasn’t going to happen.
She swallowed and said, “I’m having a quiet day.”
He glanced thoughtfully at her. “My stepmother is a fantastic cook, and she promised me a Thanksgiving dinner to die for as I’ve been taking care of Robbie and all, and I thought you might like to be my plus one.”
“Plus one?”
“My guest. What do you say? Great food. Even better company. You’ll like my dad.” He tilted his head, and his crescent-shaped eyes looked very inviting. “Robbie will be so happy to see them that he’ll leave you alone. I promise.” Phil was the distraction she needed—a guy completely unaware of her past, who didn’t ask questions, and with one not-so-subtle thing on his mind.
Did she really need to think about it? Hotel room. DVDs. Deli sandwich. Or plus one.
“You know what? I’d really like that.”
The full-out smile he delivered assured her she’d not only made the right decision but she’d also made his afternoon. When in the past three years had she been able to make that claim about a man? And it felt pretty darn good.
He looked as if he wanted to kiss her again, and maybe that’s exactly what she needed right now, a kiss to make her forget, but his beeper went off and after a quick glance, a forlorn look replaced the charm. He sighed. “It’s the preschool, again.”
Late that afternoon, Phil appeared at Stephanie’s office door, looking agitated.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“The damn weather.”
She glanced out her window at another perfectly clear blue autumn sky then back at Phil. “Looks pretty good to me.”
“I’m talking about Maui. They’re having a terrible storm and the return flight has been canceled until Friday. Looks like Thanksgiving dinner is off.”
She couldn’t deny the disappointment. Ever since he’d invited her, she’d felt a buzz of expectation, a curiosity about his family, and mouthwatering anticipation of great food. Now a storm on a tropical island had changed everything. “How disappointing…for them. I’m sure they’re eager to get home to Robbie and all.”
He snapped his fingers. “I’ve got an idea. Come to my house and I’ll order a turkey dinner.” His eyes lit up. “It’ll be fun, and you can help me warm things up. What do you say?
She’d swung from one end of the emotional pendulum to the opposite over this Thanksgiving, and here was yeta new twist. Hotel. DVDs. Deli sandwich. Or spend an afternoon with a gorgeous guy…and Robbie?
It all came down to one desire. Did she want to have a life again? Or go on living in a vacuum. Hotel. DVDs. Deli sandwich…or…
There really wasn’t a decision to make. “What time?”
Chapter Five
O N T HANKSGIVING morning, Stephanie put extra effort into getting dressed. She wanted to look good, but not overdo it. She opted for casual with jeans and boots, a pumpkin-colored top with a flashy hip belt, and a multifall-colored knit scarf to ward off the cooler weather.
She’d stopped last night at the bakery she’d recently discovered and got one of the last two pumpkin pies baked that afternoon, the kind of whipped cream you
Similar Books
