Page 53 of Books and Hookups

“A neighbor? Not your girlfriend?” she asked. When she looked at me, her gaze seemed to linger on my belly. I crossed an arm protectively over it. I thought I’d hidden my bump pretty well with my A-line dress.

“Christ, Tina,” he muttered.

She shot me an apologetic expression I was sure was fake. “I’m an optimist. Sue me.”

“We’re friends and neighbors,” I said. “That’s all.”

Danny seemed to stiffen.

“Hmm.” Tina’s glittering gaze ping-ponged between us. “I’m sorry I can’t stay and talk, but the coach is, like,intenseabout being on time. I’ll call you this week, Danny.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek again. Then she shot me a sly smirk like she could sense the acid boiling in my belly.

Emma grabbed Danny’s ears and planted a sticky kiss on the tip of his nose. “Bye, Danny. Lucie, don’t eat the anise cookies, ’kay?”

“Got it,” I said. “Nice meeting you.”

He set Emma on the floor, and she trotted off with her mother.

“Hungry?” he asked.

“Starving. I don’t like anise, but talking about cookies is making my stomach growl.”

“No one goes hungry at an Italian party,” he said. “I’ve gotta introduce you to the guests of honor and then I promise I’ll feed you. Come on.”

He led me to a couple who looked a few years older than us. The woman was about my height and shared Danny’s dark hair and brown eyes. The man’s skin was darker than hers, about the same shade as mine. He was taller and broader than Danny, with high cheekbones.

When the group they were talking to wandered toward the open doors that led to the courtyard and buffet tables, Danny stepped up and hugged them. “Aunt Connie, Uncle Rangi, let me introduce my friend Lucie Knox.”

Connie leaned toward me as if she’d hug me, but I held out my hand for a shake. “Happy anniversary,” I said.

She shook my hand, narrowing her eyes. “Only a friend? I think you’re more than that.” Unsubtly, she stared at my stomach. “Or you will be in a few months.”

“Ma told you?” Danny asked. “She promised she wouldn’t!”

Could she see I was pregnant? I sucked in a breath and pressed a hand on my belly as if I could flatten it.

“Of course she did.” Rangi rolled his eyes. “There’s no secrets between sisters. Congratulations, you two.”

“But I—” Danny sighed. “Sorry, Lucie. I know you aren’t ready for it to be public knowledge.”

I rubbed my chest where my heart was beating too fast. “It’s okay. As long as it doesn’t get back to my boss.”

“Promise.” He traced an X over his breastbone. Then he turned to his aunt and uncle. “We’re friends who’re going to co-parent our…our daughter.” A slow smile spread over his face.

I pressed my hand against my chest. Hearing him say “our daughter” like that wasn’t sexy. Nope.

“Do you two have kids?” I asked. I hoped they had a dozen, and we could talk about all of them instead of the tiny human growing inside me—and my relationship with her father.

“No. I was almost forty when we met,” Connie said. “I wasn’t interested in kids. And twenty-five years ago, it wasn’t as popular to start a family in your forties.”

“Wait,” I said. “How old are you?”

“Lucie,” Danny chided gently.

Connie laughed. “It’s all right. I take it as a compliment. I just turned sixty-three. And my groom is fifty-five, though he doesn’t look a day over forty.” She slipped her arm around his waist, and his big hand went around her shoulders.

It was true. He could’ve been our age. Though Danny didn’t have smile lines like his uncle’s, I was pretty sure I had a few. And Connie looked fabulous. “Your family has great genes,” I said.

“It’s all the red wine we drink,” she said. “But speaking of my maturity, Danny, I’ll be ready to retire in a few years, and I’m looking for someone to take over my insurance agency. Tony said you might be interested, considering your situation.” She shot another pointed look at my belly.

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