Page 41 of The CEO's Baby

“Aren’t you worried there’ll be talk?” she asked when they waited for the elevator.

“No,” he said, virtually ignoring the other employees.

Once again Cath felt she was the only person in Trace’s world.

“How far is your doctor’s office from here?” Trace asked when they were seated at the small grill near the office.

It wasn’t as crowded as lunchtime and they sat at a table fairly isolated from other diners.

“About a ten-minute drive. I don’t have a car. I take taxies.”

“I have one, I’ll drive. We leave at four-thirty?”

“If you’re driving, we can leave later. It’s not far and there is parking. Four forty-five?”

How could he talk so easily about their upcoming visit to the doctor? She had a dozen qualms. She was getting in too deep with Trace. He seemed to be directing this relationship. She wanted some autonomy.

“Have you hired all the people you intend to?” she asked, deliberately changing the subject.

He looked up from the menu he was perusing.

“No.”

He looked back down.

Cath felt put firmly in place. She decided on a light grilled fish and was ready when the waiter took their order.

“Do you know for a fact Thomas is delaying his retirement for another six months?” she asked.

Today had been the first she heard of the change and when she tried to reach Thomas to confirm, it was too late due to the time zone differences.

“Yes.”

If he didn’t contribute more to the conversation than that, it was going to be a long, quiet meal.

He reached out to take one of her hands, holding it loosely, rubbing his thumb across the back.

“I’m not here to talk about business, Cath. Make an appointment with Ellie tomorrow if you want to know more. Right now, I’m trying to learn more about you and this pregnancy.”

“I’m fine. So far.”

“You’ve made mention before that you may not carry the baby to delivery. How serious is it?”

“What do you think? That I’m worrying for nothing?”

“No, I’m still getting used to the idea I could be a father again. I mean, be a father.”

“You were Zach’s father for a year. He’ll always have a place in your heart, won’t he?” she said gently.

He shrugged. Cath was touched despite his attempt to brush it off. Most men didn’t like emotional scenes. Make that all men.

“I’ve been thinking about what we’re going to do when he arrives,” Trace said.

“He?” she asked.

“Well, it could be a she, I suppose, but for sake of saying something besides it, I’m thinking a little boy.”

“Don’t all men want a boy?”

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