Countdown To Baby

“How could you possibly have heard about that already?”

“Oh, you know. Someone saw you and told someone else who told— But that isn’t important. I didn’t even believe it.”

“Well, it’s true,” Cecilia admitted. “Geoff was hungry at the reception, and so was I, so we had dinner together at Melinda’s.”

“And tonight you’re seeing a movie together.”

“Yes. Neither of us had plans for the evening, so…”

No way was she telling her brother what she and Geoff were really up to. There would be time enough for that when—if, she corrected herself cautiously—it became a fait accompli. After it was too late for Eric to try to change her mind, which she had no doubt that he would do.

“What’s going on?” Eric asked bluntly. “You’re dating a Bingham? Aren’t you the one who warned me about getting involved with one of them?”

“For heaven’s sake, Eric.” Feeling her cheeks warm, Cecilia cast a quick, apologetic look at Hannah, who looked more embarrassed than offended. “You know I’m delighted that you’re marrying Hannah.”

“Of course. Once you got to know her you saw how wonderful she is. And, of course, she wasn’t really raised a Bingham, since she was a teenager when she found out that Billy Bingham was her father. But Geoff—he’s a Bingham to his neatly polished wingtips. I wouldn’t have thought he was your type at all.”

“I’m not marrying him, Eric, I’m simply taking in a movie with him,” she replied. Among other things, she silently added.

Eric didn’t look particularly reassured. “But—”

“Goodness, the baby certainly is active this afternoon,” Hannah said suddenly, pressing her hand to her tummy again. “Feels as if there’s a jazzercise class taking place in there.”

To Cecilia’s great relief, and obviously exactly as Hannah had intended, that drew Eric’s attention away from his sister’s social life. He had to reach over to feel the baby’s movements, which led to more talk about prenatal care and delivery preparations, which led again to the plans for the simple wedding that would take place very soon.

Cecilia knew her brother had allowed himself to be distracted. He hadn’t forgotten her impending date with Geoff. He confirmed that suspicion as he and Hannah prepared to walk out the front door a little while later.

“Watch yourself with Bingham this evening, you hear?” he warned his sister after kissing her cheek. “The guy practically oozes charm. He’s the family politician and has a way of getting anything he wants.”

“Don’t worry. I know exactly what Geoff is like,” Cecilia replied lightly. And since Geoff’s wants at the moment were closely aligned with her own, she hoped sincerely that Eric was right about Geoff always getting his way.

Still looking a bit fretful, Eric allowed Hannah to tow him away, leaving Cecilia to get ready for another interesting evening with Geoff.

Geoff found himself approaching Cecilia’s front door with a spring in his step that made him feel strangely like an eager teenager. After a rather tense day, an evening in Cecilia’s warm, pleasant and undemanding company sounded awfully nice.

And speaking of teenagers…

He raised a hand in greeting to the redhead who had just hurried out of the house next door in response to an imperative horn blast from a long-haired boy in a battered brown pickup truck spotted with patches of gray primer. The girl quickly returned Geoff’s wave, then jumped into the truck, which was peeling away from the curb almost before she could close her door.

So much for the social niceties of modern teenage dating, Geoff thought with a glance at the small bouquet of flowers in his hand.

Cecilia seemed delighted by the offering. “These weren’t necessary, but thank you,” she said, burying her face in the fragrant blooms for a moment.

Grinning, Geoff motioned toward the house

next door. “Guess I could have just pulled up to the curb and blown the horn. Seemed to work for your neighbor.”

Cecilia sighed and shook her head. “Marlin refuses to get out of his truck when he picks Brandy up for their dates. She says it’s because her grandparents don’t like him, but that behavior certainly doesn’t endear him to them.”

“Is he the one who gave her the shiner?”

Cecilia seemed startled by the question. “Her bruised cheek, you mean? She told me she did that while playing a game of catch. She didn’t get her glove up fast enough.”

“Mmm.” It hadn’t looked like a softball injury to Geoff, but he supposed Cecilia knew what was going on next door better than he did. “Ready for the movie?”

“Just let me put these in water,” she said, turning quickly with the flowers. “You can wait in the living room. I’ll be right back.”

Closing the front door behind him, he caught her arm to detain her for a moment. Before she could ask what he was doing, he planted a long, firm kiss on her lips.