Page 53 of By the Letter

“He sees it as his duty to keep me fed,” I explained.

Elliot put his hand on Kit’s shoulder. “He’s right. It’s his duty to take care of your every need,” he stated like it was an inarguable fact. Since I would never argue with Elliot Levy, it sort of was.

We arrived on the tenth floor, and Roman started to step out. When I didn’t follow, he stopped between the doors and frowned.

“Aren’t you visiting GoldMed?”

“Oh, no.” I pointed to the ceiling. “I’m going up to Building Dignity.”

His frown deepened. “Why?”

“Well…I work there.”

Elliot huffed with impatience. “In or out. Choose one.”

Roman’s brow puckered with indecision, then he checked his watch and sighed. “We have a lot to talk about, but I have a meeting I’m running late for.” He pinned me with a hard stare. “Later.”

“Later,” I whispered.

On the top floor, Kit followed me into my office, and I fell into the chair behind my desk, which was more like a throne. All the chairs on this floor were inexplicably plush. If I’d had this duringmy first trimester, Roman would have caught me sleeping in my office more than once.

“Okay—what wasthat?” she asked.

My eyes rounded at her excitement. “What?”

“How Roman was looking at you. It was like he was angry yet enthralled. I’m deeply familiar with that expression.”

I shook my head. “No, that’s not—he’s not enthralled with me. Maybe the bump, but not me. Getting pregnant by him was a fluke, and we’re trying to be friends, but it’s not more than that. And I’m not sure why he would be angry.”

Her hands rested on her belly as she hummed serenely. “I could be wrong.” She wagged a finger. “I don’t think I am, but I could be.”

I snorted a laugh. “You are. Now, sit down so we can talk about the charity auction.”

Building Dignity’s annual fundraising event was coming up in three weeks. Elliot had insisted it be pared down this year to keep super-pregnant Kit from being too stressed, so we were throwing a luncheon with a silent auction instead of the three-thousand-dollar-a-plate gala she’d put on in the past. The next hour, we went over details and brainstormed ways to fill in a few available spots for auction items. A knock on my office door came while we were wrapping up.

“Shira Goldman?”

I waved at the young man I thought I recognized from the mailroom. “Hi, that’s me.”

He walked in and placed a plastic bag on my desk. “This is for you.”

“Really?” I peeked inside. A Sprite and a chocolate bar along with a note.

Shira,

Three weeks and our son has made his presence known. You look great. Here’s a little treat tocongratulate you on the good work you’re doing. If my boy is anything like me, he’s got a big appetite, so I’m going to have to do a better job of keeping you fed. Convenient now that I’m aware you’re in the same building every day. Would have been nice to know sooner, though. What’s that about?

X,

Roman

“It’s from Roman,” I whispered.

Kit hummed. “Totally enthralled.”

I waved her off. “He’s keeping his baby fed.” The messenger was still standing there so I scribbled a note.

Roman,

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