Love's Wager by J.M. Jeffries

Author:J.M. Jeffries
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-02-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Carl slipped into the booth across from Nina. Nina, fork poised over her cheese omelet, waited. She wasn’t certain she wanted Carl disturbing her so early in the morning. She wanted to think about Scott and what had happened between them. Being in his bed had felt so right to her, and she was almost afraid because their lovemaking had been so perfect. Her head still whirled with the depth of her emotions, the complexity of her passion.

Everything about Scott made her whole body tingle with excitement and passion. Their evening had been almost magical. With Carl sitting in front of her, she found herself comparing the two men and realized she shouldn’t do that now.

But did she want to get involved with Scott? She’d changed her life, compromised on so many levels for Carl because she had believed in his vision. She wasn’t going to do that again. Carl had always been a bit intimidated by her, even as he accepted her for who she was and not for whom he wanted her to be.

Looking back on her marriage to Carl, she always felt that he had an agenda and she was just an item on his to-do list. Everything revolved around him. He was okay with her job, as long as everything came back to him. She’d never noticed this during their marriage, only later when she had time to dissect what had gone wrong.

“Well,” Carl said.

“Well, what?”

“Have you talked to Jack Reston, yet?”

“No. I haven’t.”

A look of disappointment spread over his face. “But...”

“Now is not the time to bother him. His wife just had a baby and you need to find a nice gift to send to them. The baby’s name is Milo.”

“What should I get a baby?”

“My advice is something personal, but not I’m stalking you personal.”

“Just tell me what I should buy.” Carl looked irritated.

“Check out Tiffany’s website. That should give you some ideas.”

Carl whipped out his iPhone and started looking.

Nina went back to her breakfast. The waitress brought her another pot of hot water for tea and Nina smiled her thanks. Carl scrolled busily through whatever he’d found.

“Do you think a $28,000 sterling-silver-and-sapphire box is too much?”

“Tone it down, Carl. That’s a desperation gift.”

He stared at her in surprise. “You’re thinking about babies. I’d make a great father.”

She shook her head firmly. “No.”

“But, Nina...”

“No,” she repeated. “I don’t want to be married to you anymore, much less have a baby with you.”

“But I’d be a great...”

“No, you wouldn’t. Do you know why we never had children? Because you wouldn’t be the baby anymore. Carl, you’re a full-time job.”

He looked offended. “Nina, that isn’t fair.”

“I’m not saying it’s fair, but it is true.”

He glanced back at his phone. “How about a hand-painted Limoges china alphabet box. Only $215.”

“That will work,” Nina said. “You can have the baby’s name and birthdate painted on the bottom.”

“That’s it?”

“First of all, they haven’t announced the baby’s name yet and probably won’t for several weeks. The fact that you’re having the name painted on means you’re on the inside.

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