Page 5 of Secret Baby for Mr. Grump

I could give her friendship but nothing else.

It was a deal we kept until that fateful night that I sometimes still dreamt about.

I thought about it when we hugged, when her body was pressed against mine, and when her scent teased my nostrils. I thought about the way she tasted, her innocent gasps and sighs, the way her body undulated like waves.

Shit, now I was getting hard in the middle of the grocery store.

She was blinking at me now, but I couldn’t answer her, having been lost in thought for the past few moments. I couldn’t even remember whatever it was we were just talking about.

Oh, right. We were making small talk like we were acquaintances and not like I wanted to drag her to the darkest corner of this building and see if she still tasted as sweet as I remembered.

“So what are you up to now?” she asked, pulling me out of that memory.

“Construction,” I responded automatically.

While it was technically true that I still worked in construction, I failed to mention the major thing… that I was now the sole owner of a company that made somewhere north of five billion dollars a year.

I knew I didn’t look like a billionaire, and it was a concerted effort. I was used to women throwing themselves at me when they found out how much money I made, and it would be even worse if I dressed the part. I didn’t think Allie was necessarily like that, but I didn’t want to shatter the illusion I had of her yet, or see her eyes glow with opportunistic ambition when she realized I was no longer just the construction guy.

And her eyes did glow up, except it was with her usual friendly smile. “That’s great! You’re still following your passion. I remember you telling me how much you loved it.”

I cocked her eyebrow. “I did?”

“Yeah,” she said. “Remember? We were sitting out on the lawn, and I brought over some crepes that I had made, and we talked. Then I asked why you chose to do construction, and you said, ‘I dunno. Can’t think of anything else I wanted to do more.’”

I tried to remember the incident but couldn’t exactly recall if those were the words used. If they were, then that was not the full story.

“Not that I kept a record of everything you’ve ever said to me or anything,” Allie said, a blush crawling up her cheeks. “That would be creepy.”

I smiled despite myself, watching the adorable expression on her face as she looked away. “What are you doing later today?”

“Me? Oh, umm. I don’t think I have any plans. Why?”

“We should go somewhere. Catch up.”What are you doing? You’re still too old for her.But the words were already out there, so there was nothing I could do about it now.

“Oh umm…” Her face showed her hesitation, and then she lifted her hand, brushing her hair away from her face. That was when I saw the tan line on her right finger, the clear sign of a wedding band.

My stomach tightened. “You’re married.”

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. I gestured with my chin to her finger, and she looked at it and smiled. “No, I’m not. I’m divorced.”

Relief vied with jealousy. “What did he do?” I asked.

It was likely an invasive question, but I didn’t give a damn. I had never been the polite type anyway.

“He didn’t do anything,” she said. “We were just incompatible at the end of the day, but the separation was amicable.”

“Oh.” What was I supposed to say next? “I’m supposed to say sorry or something, but I’m just glad that you’re available.”

Far from being offended, she laughed. “I wouldn’t have believed you if you said otherwise anyway.”

“Great, then it’s a date,” I said. “I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“Um, no,” she replied quickly. “I’m not going home. I’m going to be at my sister’s house.”

“Then I’ll pick you up there,” I said, and that was final.

It was a date.

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