LITMIR.BIZ

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If she never trusted a man, or even never dated again it would be too soon. She realized she was unconsciously rubbing her tummy and immediately stilled her hand. But what did it matter if they knew about the baby? David had probably explained to his mother by now, and if Maude knew, Beth bet Ida did, too.

      And if not, what did Beth have to lose? After this morning, she’d never see these women again. Or David. The thought was oddly unsettling.

      She recalled his reaction to her chaste kiss last night and how surprised she’d been at his obvious discomfort. It was both funny and sweet, and she’d fallen asleep with the warm fuzzy feeling that he’d actually been touched in some way.

      But today was a new day, one of making hard decisions and moving forward. The thought scared her to death.

      “Now I have a question for you.” Ida stared at her over the rim of her cup. “Do you ever take that coat off?”

      “Only if I have to.” Beth sighed. “I’m traveling rather light these days.”

      Ida frowned in thoughtful silence for a moment, and then asked, “How long will you be staying?”

      She glanced at her watch. “For about another hour.”

      “Nonsense.” Maude swept into the kitchen, looking trim and vibrant in a red silk pantsuit, her hair upswept into a chic French twist. “Good morning, ladies.”

      “Well, it’s about time Her Highness woke up.” Ida winked at Beth. “I’ve made fresh coffee twice.”

      “I’ll have you know I’ve been up for nearly two hours.” She smiled at Beth’s “good morning” as she poured herself a cup of java. “We have so much to do today. I have lists to write, calls to make.”

      Ida frowned. “I hope you’re not talking about that foolish party again. David is not going to like it.” Ida shook her head, her frown deepening. “Not one bit.”

      “No, I’m not talking about the party.” She looked at Beth again. “I’m talking about shopping.”

      Beth took a hasty gulp. “I’ll be out of your way in ten minutes.”

      “Nonsense.” Mrs. Matthews waved her hand with an air of authority. She was clearly a woman used to getting her way. “You’re going with me.”

      DAVID CLEARED off his desk, and then made a notation in his day planner for tomorrow’s meeting with the mayor. Outside his office he heard the secretaries chattering as they locked their desks and turned off their computers, preparing to leave for the day.

      Was it really only five? He glanced at the gold-framed desk clock, a birthday gift from Monique last year. She was a nice woman, sophisticated, attractive, a contract lawyer, whose company he’d always enjoyed. Too bad she got tired of trying to compete with his job. Not that he thought that was a problem, but she had, and that was enough to cool the relationship.

      He glanced at the clock again. Five-o-three.

      And then he stared at the phone. Where the hell were his mother and Beth? And why was Ida being so cryptic?

      He’d called once right before lunch, and then an hour ago. All Ida would say is that the other two were out. He was tempted to call his mother’s cell phone, but she never answered the damn thing. He doubted she even knew how to turn it on.

      Besides, he never called in the middle of the day and he wasn’t up to getting the third degree, even though it was perfectly logical that he’d want to know if Beth had left and if his mother had been successful in slipping her some money.

      “’Night, Mr. Matthews.”

      He looked up as Heather, the secretary his assistant hired last week, poked her head in the door. She was young, late-twenties, blond and with a build that wouldn’t quit. Most of the guys in the office were salivating over her.

      “Good night, Heather. Drive carefully.”

      She gave him a radiant smile. A dangerous one. He quickly turned his attention back to the day planner. She wasn’t the first secretary in the office with eyes for the boss. He had no illusions that he was God’s gift. The money and power attracted them. He’d already traveled that road once, with only scars to show for it.

      Long after Heather had left, he stared restlessly at the senseless words on the page. Dammit, he wasn’t going to get any work done. He ought to just go home. So what if it was earlier than usual? It was his house. He had a right…

      He packed up his briefcase, and then got into his private elevator without saying anything to the staff lingering in the office. Not accustomed to rush hour, he cursed the traffic bottling up the Golden Gate Bridge, but managed to dictate two memos by the time he turned into his driveway.

      Marvin was washing the limo on the side of the house as David pulled into the garage. He was tempted to ask his mother’s driver where she’d been all day, but then figured he’d find out soon enough.

      And then it struck him. What he really wanted to know was whether Beth was still here. Not that it made any difference to him. Except that he’d warned his mother not to get attached. Beth wasn’t a stray puppy she could keep around to pamper and dote upon.

      But it wasn’t even that so much. If Ida hadn’t sounded as though she were guarding a national secret, he wouldn’t be so curious…suspicious…that was a better description. He would never have left the office early. At least he’d had the sense to pack his briefcase with enough work to last the rest of the evening.

      As soon as he opened the door to the kitchen he smelled the aroma of roasting meat. Garlic was in the air, too. Not something Ida usually used very much. No one was in the kitchen, and it had been so long since he’d gotten home this early, he didn’t know if that was the norm or not.

      He peeked into the living room, and then the family room. Not a soul was around. Laughter came from down the hall and he stopped to listen.

      Beth was still here.

      Her soft yet uninhibited laugh was unmistakable, and an unexpected sense of peace warmed him. Perhaps because he didn’t have to wonder where she’d found shelter for the night. After all, no one was using the guest room….

      His mother walked out of Beth’s room, still laughing over something but immediately sobered upon seeing him. “David, you’re home.”

      “So I am. Excuse me. I was about to change.” He tried to sidestep her.

      “David? Is anything wrong?”

      “No. Why?”

      “You haven’t come home this early since…” She shrugged, her speculative gaze drawing toward Beth’s room.

      Great. Just great. “I have a lot of work to catch up on and the office was too distracting.”

      She smiled, nodded, her expression annoyingly patronizing. “We’ll be having dinner in about half an hour. I’m delighted you can join us.”

      “I’m afraid that isn’t possible—”

      The words died when Beth walked out of the room. Her hair was down, the coat was gone and the way the lavender dress hugged her slim curves nearly knocked him off his feet.

      She gave him a shy smile. “Hi.”

      “You’re still here.”

      Her expression fell.

      “David!” His mother’s appalled voice jolted him.

      Beth looked helplessly at her.

      “I only meant—” He cleared his throat. “I was simply surprised.”

      “I had every intention of leaving this morning,” Beth began, “but—”

      “I talked her out of it.”

      David looked at his mother, her eyes narrowed in warning. He gave her a look of his own,

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