She's Having My Baby!. Raye Morgan

strand of hair back into the twist at the back of her neck and he noticed, startled, that her fingers were trembling. “Actually, I just think there’s a lot of value in keeping the lines of responsibility clear. I like things in order. I like things to make sense.”

      He stared at her for a long moment, strangely touched by how fierce her statement was, despite the fact that she was obviously very nervous. Was she afraid of him? That couldn’t be. She’d faced him down in many a battle over work and he’d never noticed this trepidation in her before. It made him want to protect her.

      They ordered lunch and once they were alone again, he cast about for some subject he could bring up that might get her mind off whatever was bothering her. The room was filled with customers. People-watching was always good for a comment or two.

      “Look at that tall woman over there,” he said, tactfully gesturing with his head and averting his eyes so that it wouldn’t be obvious whom he was talking about. “The one in red. Do you see her?”

      Maggie glanced up casually and looked back at him. “I see her.”

      He nodded knowingly. “I’d lay odds that she’s pregnant,” he said.

      Maggie’s mouth fell open with a slight gasp.

      “I’m sure of it,” he told her, gratified at her reaction. “I’d say almost five months along. What do you think?”

      Her voice was choked when she answered. “I wouldn’t know,” she said. Reaching out for her glass, she took a huge gulp of ice water.

      He glanced across the room again, then looked back, smiling. “I’m getting pretty good at judging how far along the mothers are. It’s becoming a real interest of mine. I can spot a pregnant woman across the room, even at about four months.”

      Maggie folded her hand primly in front of her on the table and tried to smile back. “Really?”

      He leaned closer and went on earnestly. “Have you noticed that lately, there seem to be pregnant women around everywhere? It’s like an epidemic or something. Every other woman I see is about to have a baby.”

      She seemed to swallow before answering, and then she turned her bright-blue eyes on him, looking puzzled. “I…I’ve got to admit, I’ve been having the same experience.”

      He nodded and muttered to himself, “See? It’s not just me. I’m not going nuts.”

      But maybe she was. She shook her head as though to clear it. Too many things were coming at her too fast. She didn’t know what to think any more. First there was the staring, then he’d asked her to call the clinic where she’d had her artificial insemination done. Then he’d made her come out to lunch with him, something he’d never done before, and now he was talking about babies and pregnant women. It was all too much. She felt as though she were out on a very high ledge and one misstep would send her plummeting into the void.

      She took a deep breath, as though to steel herself, and looked him in the eye. “Mr. Haley, are you…?” She stopped, then went on in a rush. “Are you…I don’t know… in love or something?”

      Her words went through him like an electric charge and he recoiled. “In love? Whatever gave you that idea?”

      She shook her head and another strand of hair escaped the twist and curled in a gentle tendril in front of her tiny ear. “Well, you keep talking about babies, and…”

      “Babies!” He glanced around as though to make sure no one had heard her. “Who said anything about babies?”

      “You did, sir. And I think I’d better tell you…”

      “Wait a minute.” He glared at her. “I was not talking about babies. I was just trying to make conversation. And I’m definitely not in love.”

      “Oh.” She sat back and pressed her lips together.

      His glare lightened into a doubtful frown. “Why would I be talking about babies?”

      She glanced up at him. “You said earlier that there was something magical about babies.”

      “It was just a common observation.” His gaze sharpened. “Why would that make you think I was…in love?”

      She shrugged, then looked at him searchingly. “Well, usually a man who is thinking about babies is planning to get married.”

      “Hah!” He nodded knowingly. “There’s the problem right there. The marriage thing. That’s where everything always goes wrong.”

      Maggie frowned at him. Her own marriage had been far from ideal, but she was definitely in favor of the institution. “What have you got against marriage?”

      He paused while the waiter set a crab salad before Maggie and a steak sandwich in front of him.

      “I’ve seen a lot of marriages,” he told her, nodding the waiter away. “I know a thing or two about them.” He took a bite of his garlic pickle and savored it as he thought over what he was about to say. “My uncle Joe, for instance, has been married seven times so far, and counting. And every single time, he’s sure that this is the one, the true love of his life. The honeymoon is terrific. He’s walking on air. And before the year is out, he’s headed for divorce court. Again.” He took a bite out of his sandwich as though he’d settled the matter for good.

      She watched him eat through narrowed eyes. She couldn’t let his opinion stand as though it were proven fact. “Have you ever considered that the flaw might reside in your uncle, and not the institution of marriage?” she asked him crisply.

      “Of course. I’m not naive.” He looked up and met her gaze.

      As usual, that set off a tingle of reaction that she was beginning to wonder about. She could see that he was about to come back with something he obviously considered a zinger, but suddenly he hesitated. He seemed to remember that he was trying to charm her, not browbeat her, and he smoothly shifted gears.

      “All this is just my opinion, of course. I know you’re married, and for all I know, you may be quite happy with that situation. It seems to agree with you just fine. You’re certainly blooming.”

      Maggie blinked. Two years a widow and he didn’t know it. Well, that just about took the cake. It was beginning to look as if she wouldn’t dare go on maternity leave. He wouldn’t recognize her when she tried to come back.

      Kane went on talking, but Maggie was having trouble following what he was saying. The food was delicious, but she couldn’t eat more than a few tiny bites, and she spent most of her time pushing food around on her plate with her fork, hoping he wouldn’t notice how little she was consuming.

      She was getting very nervous. She had to find a way to tell him about her pregnancy. She’d tried once, but he hadn’t let her get her sentence out. She had to do it. Now.

      “Mr. Haley,” she said when he’d paused for more than a few seconds. “There’s something I really have to tell you.”

      “Say, look at the time,” he said, glancing at his watch. “We’d better get back to the office. We still have that contract to get out before five.”

      She opened her mouth to try again, but he was already sliding out of the booth and reaching to help her. It was too late to do it now. Maybe back at work would be better anyway.