Page 46 of Secret Baby With Daddys Best Friend

“You’re what?”

“Do you think that’s why I’m a jerk to you?” he said quietly. “Because I have a wife somewhere?”

I stopped for a moment. I never even considered that Eric knew the way he treated me was wrong. I always thought of him as someone who felt the rules just didn’t apply.

“You’re not a jerk—at least, not right now,” I winked. “And I guess it is kind of silly. I was just wondering.”

“I was married once,” he said.

“You were?”

“Sure.”

“And now?”

“It didn’t end well.” His face clouded a little, and I realized that something awful was on the tip of his tongue. I didn’t want to pressure, and I knew Eric was about as likely to tell me as he was likely to tell anyone. Which was to say, not very likely at all. Had he been cheated on? Had she left him? Had he left her?

I don’t know. And I think a part of me didn’t want to know. It was selfish, but I reveled in the idea that maybe Eric thought I was special. And I knew it didn’t matter, and the past was the past. And we were just friends. Not even friends, just colleagues.

While I sat there, tying myself into knots, Eric looked at me.

“You’re hungry,” he said.

“Well, it is lunchtime,” I said.

“So, let’s eat,” he told me.

“No, it’s fine,” I said. “I’ll get something for myself later.”

“Jamie,” he said. “I can see you’re cranky. And today was a lot. I know that. So come on. Let me get you something.”

I paused for a moment, then nodded and smiled. “Okay,” I said.

Eric called over the waiter and I ordered salmon tartare. He asked for the same, along with a green salad to share. The waiter nodded as he took our order.

“You’re protective,” I said. “Aren’t you?”

Eric frowned. “Protective how?”

“You’re always looking out for me. Doing little things. Like making me dinner or giving me stuff.”

“Acts of service,” sighed Eric.

“What?” I questioned.

“It’s one of those things. You know. Love languages? They say everyone has their own way of communicating. When it’s someone they care about.”

“I know what they are,” I laughed. “What’s crazy is that you know what they are.”

“What?” said Eric. “I read a lot about psychology, you know. Comes in handy in a boardroom.”

“But,” I chuckled, “love languages?”

“What? Too girly?” grinned Eric.

“No,” I said. “You’re—I mean, it’s sweet. And you’re right, I do think it’s important to me.”

“Makes up for me being a jerk the other 50% of the time?” said Eric quizzically.

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