Page 58 of Falling for the CEO

“Where do you want to go?”

“Umm, do you like farmers’ markets?”

“Yeah. We can head to one.”

"I reaaaally love farmers' markets," I exclaimed twenty minutes later. We'd picked the one at Copley Square and St. James Street. I usually only came to see the different stands, to check if anyone offered free samples, and to people watch. It was my guilty pleasure on weekends.

"I don't know this place," he said.

"What? Oh, that can't be right. It's wonderful and full of goodies." I loved the contrast of the glass-and-metal buildings behind with the small booths with handmade products. "I'll take you to my favorites."

"Lead the way," he said.

"Are you sure I can't take the baby, just for a bit? You might get back pain or something."

Spencer looked at me with a playful expression. He hadn’t taken a stroller with him, so he snuggled Ben in a baby carrier.

"You just want to hold him. You don’t need an excuse."

I grinned, shifting my weight from one leg to the other. "Yes, I'd like to. He's the quietest baby in the world, I swear. I thought babies were supposed to cry all the time."

"He's pretty good when he doesn’t have stomachaches. Likes to sleep a lot." He immediately put the carrier on me. "Wait, I need to strap it tighter. You're much smaller than me."

I held the baby in my arms while Spencer fiddled with the strap. Feeling the warm, small body against me touched me on a deep level. I'd always loved children and babies. Wally kept postponing having kids. But maybe that had been for the best.

Ben smelled like milk and powder, and I just wanted to jiggle him awake so I could watch his cute expressions. He didn't resemble Spencer at all. I wondered if he resembled his mom. Then again, babies usually just looked like... babies until they were older. He yawned softly, and for a few seconds, I thought he might wake up. No, false alarm. He resumed his position, putting his hand between my boobs.

"That's it. I just need to fix this one," Spencer said, now fiddling with the strap at my lower back. "Is it comfortable? Is he too heavy?"

"No, he's perfect."

"Oh, you look so gorgeous," a female voice said. Spencer straightened abruptly, letting go of the strap. I put my hand behind my back where it was clasped, just to make sure it was closed. "The baby is lucky to have you two as his parents."

I opened my mouth and closed it again.

"No, he's not... I am..." I was at a loss for words, and the seller immediately got distracted by another customer asking for a jar of honey. I glanced at Spencer, who wore a stern expression. Oh God, what must he be thinking? I couldn’t believe she said that. At the same time, I loved the sound of it. And holding Ben. I especially liked that.

I put a hand on the baby's back, rubbing him up and down slowly. I liked how peaceful he was. His calmness seeped into me.

Then the seller focused on us again. "So, what can I get you?"

"Can we get those miniature marmalade jars you have?" I asked.

"Yes. Would you like a collection of six or twelve?"

I glanced at the price tag and swallowed hard. Why didn't I check them before saying what I wanted?

"Six will do."

"We'll take twelve. Two of them."

I turned to Spencer, gasping. "What?"

He smiled again. "One for me and one for you."

"Spencer, really, we can split one package."

"You’ve been eyeing them the whole time we’ve been standing in line. You definitely don’t want to split."

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