The Daddy Verdict. Karen Smith Rose

but if there’s any way I can be at your appointment, I will. Just let me know when and where.”

      This was so awkward. She’d never dated much. By the time she’d gone to public high school, the other girls were way ahead of her with their flirting skills. She’d always just wanted to meet someone who would understand her…whom she could understand. Travis had been the one. Even though her aunt had told her she was too young to get seriously involved at twenty, her parents, on the other hand, had told her to follow her heart. She had.

      “What are you thinking about?” Ben asked, and she realized memories must have shone in her eyes.

      “I was thinking about what brought me here.”

      “To Albuquerque?”

      “No, not exactly. To age twenty-four, having the shop, meeting you and now getting pregnant.”

      He waited for a moment as if to see if she’d say more. But she didn’t. She didn’t know him well enough. She’d been so foolish to let unexpected desire lead her here.

      “You said you live with your aunt. Do you have other family in Albuquerque?”

      She shook her head. “No. My parents are in Africa right now. And even my aunt—” She stopped, not knowing how many personal details she wanted to give him.

      “Your aunt?”

      “She’s traveling. She’ll be back in a few weeks.”

      “Does she know about the pregnancy?”

      “I called her this afternoon. I wanted to tell you first.”

      That seemed to give him pause. “How about Camille?”

      “If we have any alone time before the wedding, I’ll tell her. But if not, I’ll wait until she returns from her honeymoon.”

      “Are you planning to stay overnight at the hacienda after the wedding?”

      Miguel Padilla’s parents lived in a hacienda outside of Santa Fe. That’s where the wedding was going to be held, though the reception would be celebrated at the inn where Sierra and Ben had attended the engagement party. “I’ll be staying over. Camille’s mother wants to talk to me about Christmas presents she’d like me to make for her nieces. What about you?”

      “I hadn’t decided yet, but now I’m beginning to think it might be a good idea. In fact, we could go together.”

      That suggestion urged her to take a deep breath. “Together?”

      “We’re going to have decisions to make. Don’t you think it would be a good idea if we got to know each other?”

      Sierra really hadn’t thought past telling Ben the news about the pregnancy, simply because she hadn’t known what his reaction would be…or how he’d feel about fatherhood. Maybe the weekend would provide them with a good opportunity to figure out whether or not they could parent together.

      When she didn’t answer right away, he frowned. “Look, if that’s too complicated—”

      “No. No, it’s not. I just…I hadn’t thought past telling you I was pregnant. I thought you’d want nothing to do with me and the baby.”

      “How did you get that impression?”

      “Your career takes up most of your time. Besides, this isn’t the kind of responsibility a man takes on willingly.”

      “You assumed I wouldn’t be willing.”

      “I suppose I did.”

      The silence floated around them like the dust motes in the sunlight. Finally, Ben concluded, “Maybe after next weekend we’ll both know each other better.”

      There was something about Ben that drew Sierra toward him. It also made her a little afraid. Not physically afraid or anything like that…just afraid because he looked at her with so many questions, as if she wasn’t telling him the truth. He looked at her as if she were on one side of the fence and he was on the other. Maybe her imagination was just going wild and he wasn’t as complicated as she thought he was.

      Just as she’d done in his office, he took a card from his pocket and handed it to her. “My cell phone number’s on there. You can always reach me. I’ll give you a call later in the week and we’ll set up a time for Saturday.”

      She nodded. As he turned to leave, she called his name. “Ben?”

      He faced her once more.

      “Thanks for making this a little easier.”

      “We’ll see how easy it is once we get deeper into it.” Then he left her shop.

      Had she made a mistake agreeing to go to the wedding with him? She could back out, tell him she wanted to drive herself.

      But that would be the cowardly thing to do. She wasn’t a coward.

       Chapter Two

      “Are you ready?” Ben asked in that way he had of appraising Sierra that made her feel turned inside out.

      Flustered and nervous after opening her door to him, she asked herself for the umpteenth time why she’d agreed to drive with him to Santa Fe for Camille and Miguel’s wedding. “Sure am. I just have to grab my duffel bag and gown. Come on in.”

      Friendly. She’d just be friendly and polite and keep her distance. But that was difficult when excitement tingled through her from studying him in his black polo shirt and khaki slacks.

      She stood aside to let him in.

      As soon as he stepped into the casita’s small living room, she realized just how hard keeping her distance would be. Tall, fit and broad-shouldered, Ben seemed to take up the entire room.

      “This is nice,” he remarked, assessing the space. A tan ceramic-tiled counter separated the appliances from a table for four and a hutch displaying artifacts. The house had an alarm to protect them and other treasures her aunt had gathered over the years.

      “It’s been my home as much as any place has,” Sierra admitted.

      “You said you lived with your aunt when you attended high school.”

      Apparently he’d listened and remembered. “Yes, and since I returned to Albuquerque a few years ago.” She went to the sofa to pick up her garment bag.

      “You didn’t say much about where you lived before returning here.”

      Avoiding his gaze, she lifted her duffel. “We can talk about that in the car if you want to get going.”

      Before she could guess what he was going to do, his hand reached out for her bag. “I’ll take that.”

      “I’m stronger than I look,” she joked.

      He stood very close, so close she could catch the scent of his aftershave. “I imagine you are. But if you want to lock the door, you’ll need a free hand.”

      He was right and one step ahead of her.

      Somehow in passing the duffel’s strap to him, their hands brushed. His skin was hot, slightly rough. She remembered exactly how his hands had felt on her skin.

      When their gazes collided, neither of them breathed for a moment. But then Ben motioned to the door. “Ladies first.” His expression was unreadable as she set the alarm, then stepped outside.

      After he stowed her duffel on the floor in the backseat of his SUV, he hung her gown across from his tuxedo. Sierra had already fastened her seat belt when he climbed in. He stared at her for a few seconds and didn’t start the ignition.

      “What?” she asked.

      “I’m surprised you don’t have more luggage.”

      “We’re just going overnight.”