LITMIR.BIZ

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late.”

      “No, I went to my apartment.”

      “It would have been common courtesy to call.”

      He met her gaze. “Do you always say what you think?”

      “Not always.”

      Was she holding back her thoughts about him? “I didn’t make it home until one and I didn’t think you’d want me to call that late.”

      She gave him a keen look. Was she implying he hadn’t even thought to call?

      A college-age waitress came to their table. “Hi, Doc, I haven’t seen you in a while.”

      “Hi, Karen. I’ve been a little busy of late.”

      “You never said anything about having a wife and baby, Doc. Cute.”

      “Thank you. What would you like, Sara?”

      Sara gave him another look, her eyes narrowing. She had a way of making him uneasy. His father’s look hadn’t held that much censure. Grant shifted uncomfortably. Did Sara suspect he’d flirted with the girl?

      “BLT and water. Thanks,” Sara said, with a smile at Karen.

      “And I’ll have a Reuben with a soda, please.”

      “It’ll be out right away.” The girl smiled at him then looked down at Lily sleeping soundly. The waitress shook her head slightly. “You learn something new every day.”

      He looked at Sara. Her unreadable gaze held his.

      “It’s too hard to explain about our relationship, I know. I’m sorry all of this has happened to Lily. To you.” She sounded truly sympathetic. For once he appreciated it.

      “It’s more about Lily. My father and I never really got along.”

      Sorrow filled her eyes. “Still, you must be grieving on some level. He was your father after all.”

      Grant didn’t like to think about it. He shrugged. “The S.O.B. made my life, my mother’s life miserable yet there’s something about knowing I’ll never see him again that does bother me.” How could Sara’s simple questioning and earnest looks make him say things he wouldn’t tell anyone?

      She drew imaginary figures on the tabletop with the tip of her finger. “There must have been some good times.”

      Grant gave that idea some thought. Had there been? Before the divorce? Had the later years overshadowed everything he could remember about his father?

      She continued to draw. Without warning, she looked up and volunteered, “I would miss my father if he died. He’s the only family I have. He raised me. If anything happened to him I don’t know what I would do.”

      Did he miss his father? He’d been so wrapped up in Lily, the funeral, estate affairs and his anger, he’d not had time to think about his real feelings. He didn’t want to contemplate those now. “What about your mother?”

      “She left us when I was four and I haven’t seen her since.”

      “Not even heard from her?”

      “Nope.”

      As horrible as his relationship had been with his father, at least he’d had two parents. He and his mother had remained close. Even though she lived out of state, he still talked to her weekly. “I’m sorry.”

      “Nothing to be sorry about. It’s just the way it is.” Did Sara take everything that came into her life with such matter-of-fact acceptance?

      “So, have you always lived with your father?” He didn’t usually take the kind of interest in a woman that warranted that type of question.

      A worried looked formed on her face then disappeared. “Yes. He’s disabled. There was an explosion at work years ago and he was hurt.”

      What had that look been about? Why was he asking all these questions about her personal life? He never involved himself in a woman’s life beyond what was required for a good time. His rule was not to make any commitments other than the one to his mother. He didn’t trust his judgement of women. The less they knew about him the smaller the chances of him being hurt. He didn’t need to know this stuff for her to care for Lily. Perhaps the sharing-a-meal idea hadn’t been his wisest.

      “Have you found a nanny to replace me?”

      He didn’t look at her. “No.”

      “Have you looked? My time will be up soon.”

      Grant met her gaze. “I thought I could maybe talk you into staying a while longer.”

      She slowly shook her head. “That wasn’t our agreement.”

      “I know. But I need your help. Don’t you need the money?”

      Her face turned red and she looked away.

      “You said something about being evicted the other day. If you will stay, I’ll make it worth your while.”

      “It won’t matter. My father has to be out by this Saturday.”

      “So where do you plan to go?”

      “I don’t know. I’ve not had time to look for anything. I guess to a hotel until I can find us a place.”

      The waitress brought their food and left.

      “Anyway, you have enough to worry about with Lily. This is my problem and I’ll handle it.”

      She was making it pretty clear she didn’t want to talk about it any more. He needed to figure out some way to at least get her to stay a little longer.

      They ate in silence. Grant had completed his meal and Sara was still working on hers when Lily stirred.

      “Do you mind giving her a bottle while I finish?” Sara asked, pulling one out of the bag hanging on the stroller.

      “Won’t she wait?”

      Sara’s look implied he had to be kidding. “Yeah, for about three seconds and then she’ll cry loud enough to break the windows. What’s the deal about holding her anyway? You did a good job earlier. It’s just a bottle. She does all the work.”

      “I guess I could.”

      “Thank you. I’ll be done here in a minute. Then I’ll change her diaper and we’ll get out of your hair.”

      “You’re not in my hair. I told you I was finished for today.”

      “You’re sure acting like we are.”

      Sara was starting to annoy him. “Well, you’re not.”

      “That’s the way it sounded to me.” She placed the bottle on the table in front of him as if she was daring him to admit he was afraid to feed Lily.

      “It did not.” He was reluctant but had no plans to admit it.

      Sara laughed and the sound rippled through him, almost a caress. “We sound like high-schoolers.”

      Grant grinned. His life had been so serious for so long it was nice to smile. “Rather silly ones at that.” He lifted Lily out of the stroller and cradled her in his arm. “Okay, this is my first baby feeding. What do I do?”

      “Just put the bottle to her lips and she’ll handle the rest.”

      Grant did as instructed and Lily quit crying the second she had the nipple. He beamed at Sara as she finished eating.

      “I told you. Nothing to it.”

      Lily had finished her meal and Sara stood. “Let me have her and I’ll take her to the restroom for a burp and a diaper change. If you don’t mind, would you push the stroller out?”

      Sara reached down, again coming close enough for his senses to appreciate her, and took Lily into her arms. She did so with

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