LITMIR.BIZ

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sighed. “Seemed straight as an arrow to me. I mean, I can’t think of any other reason he’d be checking out my legs. And staring down my sweater when I fainted. You know, that wrap-sweater thing I bought last week when we were at the outlet mall?”

      “Fainted? When did you faint?”

      “I didn’t black out totally. The big announcement sent me into shock. I sort of crumpled up and fell out of my chair. Then Superman swooped over and caught me in midair. Right before I cracked my head on the coffee table.”

      “Good reflexes.”

      “Yes, I thought so.” Julia tried to make light of the episode.

      “So, Lucy and Lester announced they were getting married. You fainted. Superman saved you from the coffee table…and then you heard about the goat farm?”

      Julia tilted her head to one side. “That’s a pretty accurate summary. Then father and son left and I tried to talk some sense into her. What a waste of time that was.”

      “Sounds like quite a dinner party.”

      “It was. Very memorable.”

      The two friends sat quietly. That was one of things Julia loved about Rachel’s company. They didn’t need to be chatting away incessantly every minute they were together.

      “So, tell me more about this guy, Sam. Is he single?”

      “He’s not married. But that doesn’t mean he’s not attached. Men like that aren’t running around loose. Believe me.”

      “That’s what I thought about Jack when we first met,” Rachel reminded her. “But here we are.” She waved her left hand, showing off her wedding band.

      Julia smiled at her. “You guys were meant to be. That’s different. Sam must have been married, because Lester mentioned trying again. And giving him some grandchildren.”

      Rachel winced. “How embarrassing. How did he take it?”

      Julia couldn’t help but recall the faint blush on Sam Baxter’s cheeks. “He just changed the subject.”

      “So what does Sam think?”

      “He seems to support the entire situation. The marriage and the goat farm. So it’s three against one. Tough odds for me. Especially since one of my main objections is that I suspect his father wants to marry Lucy just so she can buy him his farm.”

      “I guess stressing that point would not be the best way to win Lester’s son over to your side,” Rachel agreed. “Does he know how many times your mother has been married?”

      “I tried to tell him, but I’m not sure it registered.”

      “Maybe if he knew more about Lucy, he’d be more wary of the situation. Concerned for his father.”

      “I thought of that,” Julia said. She also thought how hard it would be to speak privately to him. Something about him seemed to totally unravel her.

      “If he’s visiting town for a few days, why don’t you try to talk to him about it? Without Lester and Lucy around, of course. Maybe he’d flip to your side.”

      “I don’t know. I might end up insulting him, being suspicious of his father’s motives. Then they’d get married anyway and he’ll always hate me.”

      “Well…that’s one scenario,” Rachel said, nearly laughing. “Does this guy make you nervous or something?”

      Julia wasn’t sure if it was nervous. Or something. Or all of the above.

      “There’s just something about him, Rachel. I don’t know what it is. He’s actually sort of quiet. Doesn’t say too much. Laid back, watching everything…”

      “Like legs crossing and sweaters slipping open?”

      She knew Rachel was just teasing her and made a face. “You know what I mean. It’s not anything he does in particular. But last night, I just couldn’t think straight around him. Which of course, made everything worse. I’m still upset by all this crazy news. I’m not sure if I’m ready to deal with him yet.”

      “I’m not sure if I ever heard you say that about a guy, Julia.”

      Julia didn’t answer. She was usually ready to take on anyone. But Sam Baxter wasn’t just any guy.

      “It’s not just his looks,” she said finally.

      Okay, so he looked like a model in an ad for sexy jeans. Or shaving cream. Or maybe just plain old male virility, since that’s what they were all really trying to sell anyway. All rugged angles and lean muscles and thick, shiny hair. That was part of it, for sure. But there was something more. Not so easy to put her finger on. And dismiss.

      “There’s something about him,” she said with a shrug. “I’m not sure.”

      Some indefinable vibration she felt every time he so much as looked her way that got her rattled to the core. He didn’t need to say a word.

      Rachel stepped over to a display table nearby and started folding a pile of baby sweaters.

      “Let’s see,” she said with mock seriousness. “Is it that thing they call…sexual chemistry? Could you, Julia Martinelli, battle-weary veteran of the dating wars, possibly be totally attracted to someone?”

      Julia crumpled up the muffin wrapper, leaving half her daily requirement of fiber untouched.

      “Of course he’s attractive. I never said he wasn’t. He’s just…not my type.”

      Rachel put down the sweater she was holding. “Explanation, please? From the way you described him, if I wasn’t already married I’d ask for his number.”

      Julia shrugged. “Well, for one thing, he’s a chef. They’re all drama queens. Believe me. Emotional, high-maintenance types. I need someone more…low-key. Like me. And he obviously has no common sense if he approves of his father marrying a woman he hardly knows. I need to be with someone who’s more logical about things, like me.” She shrugged. “Besides, this whole engagement situation between Lester and my mother makes Lester’s son totally off-limits. I mean, it’s too complicated. It would feel very awkward.”

      “I suppose,” Rachel agreed reluctantly. “Awful timing if you ask me. It’s just that I haven’t seen you light up this way just talking about a new guy in ages. Too bad.”

      Julia didn’t reply. Was she really “lighting up”? Gosh, that was embarrassing. Even if it was only Rachel.

      She didn’t feel missing out on her chance to date Sam Baxter was any great loss. She’d meant it when she’d told Rachel he wasn’t her type. Oh, she could see them getting involved all right. There was definitely chemistry and she had a feeling, they’d get very involved very quickly.

      But it wouldn’t last. How could it? They were definitely too different. She was businesslike and reserved. He was creative and emotional. He lived in Boston and she was up here. The distance alone was a big obstacle in and of itself. Even if she was interested.

      Which she was not.

      Yes, it was tempting.

      But she couldn’t afford to waste any more time on romances that were exciting for a few weeks, but wouldn’t lead anywhere. At this stage of the game, she didn’t have time to waste. Her ovaries were on a tight schedule.

      She stepped over to the clothing table and picked up a knitted cap with soft little white ears on top. She loved coming into this store—and hated it sometimes, too.

      The clothes were so sweet and dear, she could almost cry, picturing a chubby-cheeked little baby in the cap, for instance. Tying the strings under its little chin, not too tight, and not too loose. A baby that would be her own.

      But didn’t yet exist.

      Would he or

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