Page 36 of Christmas with the Baby Daddy

“And when I started to notice how George didn’t seem to like him, I’d backed up a bit from Rory. Which made him pushier, and that urged me to step back even more. I decided I didn’t have time for the headache he gave me, and I ended it.”

“But you’ve had second thoughts?” I asked as we put things into containers for the van.

“No.” She shook her head, and another errant strand of her raven locks fell loose. “I said I had second thoughts about dating at all, and he misconstrued the whole conversation to insist I was trying to tell him I had second thoughts about breaking up with him.”

I grunted. “I’m not surprised someone like him would misinterpret words to his advantage.”

“Yeah. So, thanks,” she repeated. “I keep hoping he’ll just give up sooner than later. If I ignore him and not give in to his requests to ‘talk it out’ then he’ll quit.”

That sounded too lax for me, but I couldn’t assume she’d want to delegate me as her protector.

Within the hour, we finished tidying up the last loose ends in the kitchen. Leo smiled as he slapped a dish rag over his shoulder. In his other hand, he held up a bottle of whiskey. “Old Mr. Francis gifted the catering staff this. Want a shot?”

I shrugged and glanced at Blake.

“Well, I’m not driving. I need to call an Uber, so I guess I could.”

An Uber? No, you’re not.I’d drive her and save her the hassle.

“Zach?”

I nodded. One shot wouldn’t impact a huge guy like me. Besides, Leo poured small ones. We clinked our glasses and drank them. “Good work, guys,” Blake said.

“Hey, whatever happened to those rumors about you buying out the company from Jen?” Leo asked.

Blake sighed. “Oh, that’s just a rumor. There’s no truth to it.”

“But what if there was?” the younger guy said as he smoothed his hair back in his ponytail. “You already act like her right-hand woman in charge.”

Blake smiled as she tugged her coat on and got her phone out. We both got ready to exit too.

“But I’m not. And buying out Jenny would require funds I don’t really have right now.” She shrugged. “Plus, I love working for her—with her.”

We stepped out, telling each other good night. Blake tapped on her phone as we headed into the parking lot. Leo would take the van back to Grandma Jenny’s kitchen, but I intended to steer Blake toward my truck.

Before that could happen, Reagan strode up. Like a bad case of déjà vu, she aimed for me, her coat open and flapping so I could see the full effect of her red dress clinging to her body.

“Hey, sexy,” she purred. “How about I take you home tonight?”

She had no shame. No censor. No chance.

“No.” I reached out for Blake’s hand, surprised when she flinched but didn’t let go. “I’m takingherhome.”

15

BLAKE

One half-shot wouldn’t be enough to make him drunk. I knew that. It was a fact. A lot more booze would be required to loosen up a tall and broad-shouldered hulk like Zach. That teeny half of a shot Leo poured us—a conservative drink because he knew we’d be getting behind the wheel—wasn’t enough to turn Zach into some daring man hitting on me.

Yet, he’d put his hand on mine, holding it.

He’d told Reagan no, again, and announced his intention to stick with me. To takemehome.

Just to drop me off, right?

My heart raced with the giddiness of wondering what else that phrase could mean. Taking me home meant transporting me to my residence. Not… taking me home and taking methere.

Right?

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