Page 41 of Baby For The Billionaire Silver Fox

“I’ll be just a minute. I need to visit the powder room,” she said instead of answering me.

I was tempted to take her to the rough biker bar but decided to show a little mercy and took her to Sam’s Brew Pub instead.

“This place has a decent burger, and their specialty is fried brussel sprouts with a balsamic glaze.

“How interesting,” Mandy said, not really meaning it.

I watched her walk in front of me and noticed she was really swinging her ass. What the fuck was her play? She made her choice, and she left me. Not that I blamed her. It was my fault her attention had turned elsewhere.

Once seated at the table, Mandy started talking about her job.

“I’m really happy to be working, even if it doesn’t pay that well. We are swamped, and I’m good at managing the bookings and organizing the props. We’ve even done some destination weddings, and I’ll tell you, I don’t mind that one bit.” She’d put her hand on my arm as she spoke. “I’m not just a pretty face, not a trophy wife—I have a job,” she laughed, batting her eyes at me.

“Hi Dan,” I heard a familiar voice that made my heart rate speed up. “Who is this?”

It was Nicole, her eyes flashing, staring me down. Behind her were Lexi and another friend, Heather. It looked like they had already eaten and were leaving.

Mandy, her one hand snaking around my arm possessively, held out her other hand to shake Nicole’s.

“Hi,” she said brightly. “I’m Daniel’s wife, Mandy.”

“EX-wife,” I growled.

“Oh, silly me, I’m still more used to being your wife than your ex,” she tittered, but with steel in her eyes as she looked at Nicole.

Nicole stiffened slightly, but she said in a cool voice, “Nice to meet you. What brings you to our little town?” Even in my discomfort, I felt a jolt of hope run through me. I liked the way she saidour little town, like she was claiming it as her own. Like she was going to stay here and not move away.

“Work… and other things,” Mandy answered with a suggestive expression as to what the other things might be. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”

Nicole shook her head. “I don’t think so, although you look a little familiar to me too. Unless you’ve been a patient of mine, I can’t think where our paths could have crossed.”

“Oh, are you a doctor?”

“No, a nurse.”

“Oh. Well, I’m happy to say I have not been one of your patients,” Mandy said with a fake smile.

“Good then. Enjoy Cooperstown,” Nicole said. She wouldn’t look at me, even though I desperately wanted her to. I wanted her to read the apology on my face. She walked away while Lexi and Heather were trapped at the table as Mandy peppered them with questions about possible photo shoot locations.

I got up and went after Nicole. “Nicole, wait.” But she kept walking. I caught up with her and said,

“Nicole, I had no idea she was coming. She just showed up at my door. I haven’t seen or talked to her in years.”

“No big deal,” she said as she continued to walk.

“Well, you’re not acting like it’s no big deal.”

She stopped, sucked in a breath, and looked at me. “Honestly, I was surprised. I had no idea you’d ever been married. You’ve never talked about it. But of course, it’s none of my business. It’s your business, and you can keep it to yourself if you want. You’re entitled to that. We all have stuff we don’t talk about. You don’t owe me anything.”

“You’re right in that it’s something I don’t talk about. It’s not something I’m proud of.”

Bennett was the only person in Cooperstown who knew about it. And now—I decided I wanted to tell Nicole the whole story.

“I would like to tell you about it. I think you should know,” I said, taking her hands in mine. “Not this minute, of course, but when we have time to talk.”

“Sure, if you’d like. I’m a good listener,” she said, her big eyes looking up at me.

“Nicole! There you are! You walked in the wrong direction. The car is this way,” Heather yelled from up the street.

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