Countdown To Baby

Geoff tried to keep his expression unreadable. “No.”

Not yet, anyway.

But he didn’t blame Eric for asking. If some guy with unclear motives came sniffing around Mari, Geoff would want to know if there was anything to worry about. He was still considering finding Bryce Collins and making a few not-so-veiled threats.

He and Eric talked about business for a few minutes. Geoff asked about Hannah, and then Eric took his leave, obviously having more questions to ask but not sure how to phrase them. Geoff was left to pace his office, business completely forgotten as he considered the things Eric had told him about Cecilia.

Cecilia had only been back from lunch for an hour when she was summoned to a telephone. Patting the knee of a young woman who was in the early stages of labor, she promised to check back in soon. And then she found a quiet corner in which to take her call. “Hello?”

“Hello, CeCe.”

The nickname was the one only her brother used, but the deep, amused voice was Geoff’s. “You’ve been talking to Eric.”

“Yes. It was a very…illuminating conversation.”

“That sounds rather unnerving.”

“Don’t worry. He didn’t tell me anything that would embarrass you.”

“That’s a relief.” Cecilia glanced at her watch. As much as she enjoyed talking with Geoff, she had a lot to do. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine. But I need a favor from you.”

“A favor? What is it?”

“I need you to join me for dinner this evening.”

She smiled. “That doesn’t sound so—”

“At my grandmother’s house.”

Cecilia sank into the nearest chair. “Oh.”

“It’s sort of a command performance. My grandmother heard about the bike wreck, and she wants to see for herself that I’m okay.”

“That’s certainly understandable. But—”

“I need you there, Cecilia. Someone has to protect me.”

“Why do you need protection from your grandmother?”

“She’ll be much less likely to yell at me about the motorcycle if you’re there. Not to mention that she could hardly try to fix me up with all her friends’ granddaughters if I have a date.”

“I don’t know, Geoff. I’m really not very comfortable with the idea of having dinner with your grandmother. What’s she going to think about us—being there together, I mean?”

“She’ll think I’ve brought one of my nice friends along to entertain her. She’ll be delighted. My grandmother loves entertaining.”

“But I—”

“Did I mention that I’m pretty sore today? I’ll hide the bruises, of course, but my grandmother’s sure to notice how stiff I am unless there’s something to distract her.”

The man was shameless.

When she didn’t immediately respond, he sighed lightly into the phone. “Don’t worry, Cecilia, I won’t pressure you into going if you would rather not. It isn’t as if you owe me any favors.”

Completely shameless! Of course she owed him a favor. A rather big one, at that.

“All right. I’ll go.”