Page 1 of You Can Leave Your Hat On

CHAPTER ONE

“No comment.” Maisey hung up the phone once again and sighed. “They just won’t stop.”

“At least it’s over. They’ll forget soon enough,” Aaron assured her.

“Doesn’t feel like it. Feels like it’s going to go on and on and on.”

He rose from the sofa, walked around behind it to massage her neck and shoulders, and Maisey sighed with relief. “No. They’ll forget. You did something good. If you’d done something bad, they’d never let you forget.”

“That much is true.”

“Want something to drink?” he asked as he walked away.

“Yeah. I’ll take one of those cooler things with vodka in it.”

“What flavor?”

“Berry.”

“Comin’ right up.” A minute later, he was back with an open bottle, which he handed to her. His other was occupied with a beer. “Here ya go. Drink up.”

“Thanks, babe.”

The house was quiet, and Maisey was relieved. Murielle was down for the night, the washer and dryer were humming along, and she could hear the water swishing in the dishwasher. They sat there for about ten minutes, neither speaking, until Aaron asked, “So, Derby week is coming up. You got any plans with the girls?”

“Yeah, actually, we do. There’s a Derby tea that Carly really wants to go to, and we thought it would be fun. You know, dresses, heels, hats, the whole thing.”

“Where is it?”

“It’s actually at the Greenbrier Club in Louisville.”

“Ooooo, fancy! Staying the night and all of that?”

“Yeah. Ross will have the weekend off, you’ll have Murielle, and Shaw can take care of the girls. If you or Ross need help, Candace and Maya are plenty old enough to pitch in. We’ll drive up the night before, stay at the hotel, have their continental breakfast, pack up, go to the tea, and be back that evening.”

“Sounds like a plan, and something that you three need to do to get away. Cherilyn’s got her hands full, and so does Carly, between work and the baby. And you’re juggling home and a child and work and…” He stopped for a second, then turned sideways on the sofa to look at her. “We haven’t talked about it in a while, but where do we stand on having a baby?”

Maisey shrugged. “I’m good with it. Just waiting for you to tell me when.”

“When. When already. I’m good with it too.”

“Okay. I’ll stop taking my pills as soon as I finish this round, and we’ll do the waiting and condoms until it’s time.”

“Sounds good to me.” Aaron reached for her hand and gripped it in his. “I love Murielle, but having a baby with you… I love you, Maisey. I hope I show you that with everything I say and do.”

“You do. I love you too. We have such a great life here, and I can only imagine how much better it’ll be with a baby of our own. I love Murielle too, but I’ll always be her ‘new’ mommy. Not that I want her to forget Bailey,” she was quick to add, “but to have one who calls me Mommy from the start? That will be awesome.”

“Okay. So I guess you need to get a checkup before all of that takes place, huh?”

“I just had one two months ago, and Dr.Powers said I’m fine.”

“Good. Wanna get in some quality practice?” Aaron asked, wagging his eyebrows up and down.

“Sure! Let’s go!”

An hour later, Aaron dropped to the mattress beside her and threw his arm across his eyes. “Lawd, girl, you wear me out in the best way possible.”

“Yeah? Same here, stud.” Maisey curled into his side and, as always, his arm wrapped around her. She loved lying there with him after they’d made love, listening to his even breathing and taking in the scent of his cologne. No matter what happened, she always felt safe in Aaron’s arms.

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