by Rita Herron
They were far too different to ever have a relationship. They knew nothing about each other. They weren't only Mars-Venus, they were from different galaxies.
Then why did she find him so incredibly attractive lately? Almost boyishly appealing, and the way his eyes drooped with disappointment reminded her a little of a cocker spaniel. She was a sucker for those dogs.
She struggled for words, wanting to apologize, as he pulled into the drive. "Seth, I … I'm sorry."
He killed the engine and turned toward her, his expression unreadable. But a flicker of emotion caught in his eyes, trapping her.
"I admit I overreacted, and I know you were trying to be nice, and I shouldn't have gotten so upset about the maternity blouse—"
"You can take the damn thing back. I know you hate it."
She reached for his hand and curled her fingers around his, a warm sensation skittering up her spine when the corner of his mouth lifted into the barest hint of a smile.
"It wasn't that I hated it—"
He arched a brow.
"Okay, well, I did hate it. Did you like it?"
He shrugged. "Not really, but I thought you liked wild stuff."
"Not tentlike wild stuff."
He muttered something about females. He really didn't have a clue. She'd just have to spell it out.
"What really upset me, Seth, was that that's how you saw me." Her voice grew soft. "As a pregnant woman, not…"
His dark gaze raked her. "How do you want me to see you, Mimi?"
She shrugged, feeling uncharacteristically shy. And very vulnerable. "Not as a big blob of fat."
He chuckled. "As the mother of my baby?"
"Not just that, either."
She closed her eyes, knowing she'd revealed more than she should, but letting the silence stretch between them. His thumb brushed her chin and she opened her eyes. "I see you, Mimi. And I think you're beautiful."
The breath collected in her lungs as his deep husky voice skated over her.
"And sexy and vibrant." He angled his head and leaned toward her, his breath whispering against her cheek. "And kind and funny." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "And amazingly unpredictable and provocative…" His voice trailed off as his tongue found better things to do, like tracing a line down her jaw, sweeping along her lips, pushing into her mouth with a hunger that dove straight to her middle.
Mimi arched against him, clinging to him, matching the kiss with a yearning all her own. His fingers combed through the thick strands of her hair, and he dragged her closer. She leaned into the hard wall of his chest and moaned. He cupped her face and bestowed kisses on her cheeks, her forehead, her chin, then dipped his head to explore the sensitive skin behind her ear, her neck, then lower. Mimi's body ached, tightened with need. She strained for his touch, the warmth in her abdomen spreading through her like a flash flood of desire.
Suddenly a car horn blasted behind them and they leaped apart. Mimi glanced over her shoulder and Seth groaned.
"Your family again?" he asked. "Is every Thursday night check-in time?"
"I don't know, but I can't let them see us like this. What would they think?" Mimi straightened her clothing and hair in a panic.
Seth stared at her, his expression hooded again. "They have to find out sometime, Mimi."
Mimi's heartbeat accelerated. Before she could reply, she heard someone tapping on the window. Seth pushed the automatic-release button and the window slid down.
"Hey." Alison poked her head in as Hannah and Wiley strolled up the drive toward the car. "What are you two up to?" Mimi didn't miss the mischievous grin on her younger sister's face.
"Talking. What are you doing here?" Mimi asked. "You didn't tell Dad, did you?"
Alison shook her head, her eyes twinkling. "Jake had to go to work and Hannah was lonely, so she stopped by Dad's. Dad suggested we come to see you. If I'd known you were 'parking,' I'd—"
Mimi glared at her sister, silencing her, then saw the worried expression on Hannah's face as she approached. Surely Hannah hadn't told their father about her pregnancy.
Hannah appeared at the window and Mimi opened the door and climbed out. Seth exited the driver's side and spoke to her father, following him to the porch swing.
"What are you doing with Seth?" Hannah asked.
Mimi almost panicked. Did Hannah know the truth? "He drove me home from that support-group session I'm catering on Thursday nights."
Hannah nodded, her gaze settling past Mimi to the inside of the car. Mimi saw the book Hannah was staring at, Tips for the Nursing Mother, and winced.
"You told Seth?" Hannah asked.
Mimi's stomach quivered with nerves. Seth strode back toward the car at the same time, his expression odd as he watched her.
"Yes, he knows."
Hannah smiled. "I'm glad you decided to talk to someone, Mimi. Seth's a great listener."
Seth quirked an eyebrow at Mimi, and she felt like crawling under the floormats. Of course Hannah would know he was a great listener, because she'd been with him first. How could Seth not compare her with Hannah?
"Thanks for being there for my sister, Seth," Hannah said softly. "I appreciate your friendship."
Seth simply nodded, his eyes dark. Mimi faked a smile, hurt and confusion once again suffusing her. Seth was only taking care of her because she was pregnant. How could she have been so stupid to have fallen for his kiss?
"Yeah, Seth, thanks for the counseling and for the ride." With a quick wave, Mimi hurried up the side-walk, faintly aware that Alison had given her a murderous look as if she was a coward, and that Seth's dark gaze had been filled with something that almost looked like disappointment. But that couldn't be, she thought as she ran up the porch to meet her father. Seth didn't want Hannah to know he'd fathered her baby, either, or he would have spoken up. Wouldn't he?
* * *
Seth fought disappointment as he drove away from Mimi's. Mimi had had the perfect opportunity to tell Hannah and her family about the two of them, to correct Hannah's false assumption about their baby's paternity. But she'd lied and treated him like an outsider. As her counselor, for God's sake.
As if he didn't have a personal, somewhat emotional investment in their future or their child. As if he would never be a part of her close-knit family.
Something he'd never wanted before now, he realized as he drove in circles around the city, avoiding going back to his lonely, quiet house. To the cold steel-gray carpet and colorless rooms. To his empty bed. Alone.
Of course, he could visit his own family. Spend some quality time with them.
A sardonic chuckled escaped him. Who was he kidding? His family wasn't close, never had been. He'd feel as comfortable in a bar filled with strangers as he would with his own parents, and he'd be a hell of a lot more likely to spill his troubles to an anonymous bartender than to his emotionless folks. He yanked at his tie, remembering the warm, loving way Mimi had opened her arms to the children and invited them into her heart without a moment's hesitation.
Why couldn't Mimi open her arms and learn to care about him the same way?
* * *
Mimi's legs wobbled as she faced her father. She didn't know how he knew about the pregnancy, but she realized he did.
He gripped her hand in his chubby one. "Honey, I had to come and see you."
Hannah settled into the armchair in the den, while Alison sprawled in the beanbag chair. Mimi gave Hannah a questioning look. Hannah shook her head as if to deny telling their father about her pregnancy.
"Don't worry, your sisters haven't spilled your secrets. Not that I didn't ask." Wiley scratched his neck, looking oddly uncomfortable. "I saw how pale you've been lately, though, and put two and two together."
"But how did you know?"
"I've been there three times, sugar. I'd recognize the signs anywhere."
Mimi sank onto the sofa, wondering now why she'd chosen leather. It was cold and she was shaking. "Dad—"
Wiley
held up a hand. "Let me say something first."
Mimi bit down on her lip.
"I love you, sweetheart, no matter what. And I don't care what happened, who … well, I don't have to know the details. But you'll always be my baby and I'll always be here for you."
Mimi's eyes filmed with tears. "Daddy, I … I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you but…" Her voice broke and she brushed at the tears in her eyes. "I didn't want you to be disappointed in me."
"How could I be when I'm so proud of you?" He enveloped her in a hug, and within seconds Hannah and Alison joined in, all crying and laughing at the same time.
Finally they pulled apart and Wiley grinned. "When is my grandbaby going to be here?"
Mimi laughed in spite of her tears. "In the fall."
"Autumn. My favorite time of year." Wiley's smile faded slightly, and he shifted onto his heels, staring at his white loafers. "Are you all right, hon? Everything check out okay?"
"I examined her myself, Dad," Hannah said softly. "Everything's fine."
"Other than the fact that I'm not married," Mimi whispered.
Wiley frowned. "You want me to see about getting Joey out of jail?"
Mimi gaped at him. After everything Joey had done to hurt him, her father would actually help him get an early release if she asked. She saw Alison's knowing look and the fear that flickered briefly in Hannah's eyes. She couldn't go on allowing her family to believe Joey had fathered her baby, not after the way he'd hurt their family.
Seth's face flashed into her mind—had he wanted her to tell them the truth? They have to find out sometime, he'd said. He was right. It might as well be now.
She gestured toward the sofa and chairs. "Listen, you guys. I think you'd better sit down. I have something important to tell you."
* * *
Chapter 13
« ^ »
Seth had just sealed down to a lonely overdone TV dinner when the doorbell rang. He imagined Mimi showing up at his door, prepared to pick up where they'd left off, and his heart skipped a beat.
It stopped completely when he looked through the peephole and saw Mimi's father standing there. Disappointment ballooned in his chest, a case of nerves rapidly following.
He had never seen such an earnest look on the burly, outrageous man's face before. If he didn't know better, he'd think Wiley knew about his situation with Mimi. But he did know better. Mimi had lied through her teeth to her family. She'd thanked him for counseling, then dismissed him as if he was little more than a stranger. If she'd told her dad about her pregnancy, she'd probably let him believe Joey had fathered the baby.
Maybe that was the reason Wiley had come, for counseling—or to discuss Joey.
The doorbell rang again and he stopped his silent diatribe and opened the door.
Wiley didn't waste time on pleasantries. He strode in, his lime-green jacket flapping about him, his white shoes clicking on the hardwood foyer. "Can we talk?"
"Sure." Seth motioned toward the study where he did most of his work and serious thinking, psychoanalyzing, as Mimi would call it. Wiley certainly looked serious. "Can I get you a drink? Coffee?"
"Whiskey would be good."
Seth nodded and poured him a generous shot, then watched as Wiley downed the amber liquid and paced across the oak-paneled room. Seth had just picked up the decanter to offer him another when Wiley spoke. "I hear you and my daughter are going to have a baby together."
The decanter nearly slipped from Seth's hand. He regained his grip just in time.
"She told you?" For a reason he didn't understand, he felt like grinning. He must have done so, because Wiley arched his bushy brows.
"You're happy about it?"
"I'm glad she finally told you."
"What about the baby?"
Seth shrugged. "It was a shock at first. But the idea's growing on me."
Wiley took the decanter and poured himself another shot, then poured one for Seth and pointed to the wing chairs flanking the brick fireplace. Seth followed Wiley's silent command and sat down.
"Wanna tell me what you're going to do?"
"I … I'll do whatever's necessary to take care of the situation."
Wiley frowned and stood, his eyes gleaming with fury. "What do you mean, whatever's necessary? You're not trying to talk my daughter into not having the baby, are you?"
"No," Seth said, shocked. "I didn't mean that at all."
"’Cause that's flat out of the question. Mimi loves kids and animals and wouldn't hurt a fly."
"I agree."
"That baby's gonna need a daddy."
"I agree with that, too."
"You do?"
"Absolutely. I … I think we should get married."
Wiley's face registered surprise. "Mimi didn't mention you'd talked marriage."
"What did she tell you—that she thought I'd run out on my responsibility?"
"No, uh, I kind of left before we really discussed it."
He'd come over looking for a confrontation. Seth took a long pull of his own drink, frustration drawing his fingers tightly around his glass. "That's because she hasn't agreed to marry me yet."
"What do you mean? You have asked her, haven't you?"
"Yes. But she refuses. She even let Hannah think the baby was that hoodlum Joey's."
Wiley made a clicking sound with his tongue. "Well, she cleared that up a few minutes ago."
A sigh of relief escaped Seth. "Did she say anything about her feelings for me?"
Wiley shook his head. "Nope. But you have to convince her to get married. I don't want my grandbaby to be brought into this world without his father's name. I know that sounds old-fashioned, but I reckon I am old-fashioned when it comes to my little girls."
Seth understood. If his own irrational behavior of late was any indication of how he'd be as a father, he had a feeling he'd be as protective and old-fashioned with his daughters as Wiley was of his. He finished his drink and stood, gazing into the vacant fireplace, imagining a fire glowing in the hearth, Mimi's warm laughter filling the emptiness. Their little girl cuddled by the fire holding a book, their son waiting with a baseball for Seth to play catch with him. Or maybe his daughter had the baseball…
"I've been trying to get close to her," he said, his voice thick, "but she keeps pushing me away. The first time we talked, she said she was against marriage completely."
"Really? That's odd."
"Actually it's not." Mimi's comments about her parents' marriage sifted through his foggy brain. He thought about the kids of divorced parents he counseled, the way Mimi had instinctively understood the children's needs. "You see, Mr. Hartwell, I think Mimi saw what happened with your marriage, and it scared her."
Wiley looked stricken.
Seth hesitated, hating to talk about Wiley's personal life. He also felt as if he was breaching a patient's confidentiality, although Mimi wasn't a patient. Still, her parents' situation was important. "She told me you only married Mrs. Hartwell because she was pregnant with Hannah."
Wiley's stunned face turned to him.
"Since you two ended up hating each other, she's convinced we'd be the same way."
"Damn." Wiley dropped his face into his hands. "I had no idea the girls knew."
Seth lay a hand on Wiley's shoulder. "I'm sorry. But Mimi told me that she and Hannah heard you two arguing the day Mrs. Hartwell left. It must have been traumatic for them."
Wiley nodded, looking miserable. "My poor little girls. I can't believe they never said anything."
"They love you, Wiley."
Wiley's face was almost ashen as he studied Seth. "Tell me, son, what are we going to do about all this?"
Seth leaned against the bookshelf. "I'm going to convince Mimi that we can make it, that she has to give us a chance."
"What have you done so far?"
Seth described his plan, how he'd enlisted Mimi's help with the support group and how successful their working arrangement had been, then confessed about the gift. "I th
ought I was buying something she'd like, but she hated it."
Wiley chuckled. "Let me clue you in, son. Three rules to please a woman. Number one—she's always right. Number two—if she asks you if she looks fat, you say no. You don't stop to think about it, you just blurt it out. And number three—go for more personal gifts, something she can use to pamper herself."
"Like a gift certificate to a gym?"
Wiley shook his head. "You have a long way to go, boy. Think romantic stuff like perfume, all that smelly bath stuff women like, a day at a spa."
"Oh, I see what you're saying."
"And jewelry."
"Something like those clunky earrings she wears?"
"No, diamonds. Although there's something even more important to Mimi."
"What's that?"
"Her animals. You have to love all those little scrappy, homely things she brings home."
Seth reached for the scotch. He was in trouble. Things he could buy. But animals… Her dog, Wrangler, hated him, and he'd never been comfortable with any kind of four-legged creature.
* * *
"I'm sorry, Hannah." Mimi twisted her fingers together and paced across the den. "I know this is awkward and I don't want you to hate me."
Hannah jerked as if coming out of shock. "I … I don't hate you. Why would I hate you?"
When Alison nodded encouragement, Mimi took a deep breath and continued, "Because you were engaged to Seth and we've never dated each other's boyfriends before, past or present, and it was only one night, and now I've made such a freaking mess of things!"
Hannah gripped Mimi's arms to calm her. "Mimi, it's all right. Seth's a wonderful guy and, well, other than the fact that you two got it backward and got pregnant before you married, well, I couldn't be happier for you or him."
"But we're not getting married."
"You're not?" Hannah tapped her foot, then glanced at Alison for confirmation.
Alison shrugged. "She thinks he's still in love with you."
"What?"
"Alison!" Mimi glared at her younger sister.
"Well, you do."
Mimi pressed her hands over her cheeks. "You weren't supposed to tell Hannah."