The Ladies Man by Susan Mallery

Author:Susan Mallery
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2006-08-08T23:00:00+00:00

His praise made her feel a little bit floaty inside. “Thanks. I’m with the kids for several hours a day. Because I’m not the parent, I can usually see both the good and bad that’s happening. Unfortunately, parents tend to get stuck on one or the other.”

“Helen got the message.”

Rachel closed her file and stood. “I hope so. I hate seeing these kids dragging because their parents plan for them to be the next Secretary General of the United Nations. But balance is tricky to find.”

Carter tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “My mom did a great job at it. We were all convinced we were her favorite. She made us believe we could do anything.”

“My parents were like that, too,” Rachel said, remembering the loving support they’d offered her. “I wanted to be an astronaut/ballerina and no one ever said it was a dumb idea. Of course I was only twelve and no one takes career plans seriously at that age. There was this one time that they—”

Unexpected tears filled her eyes. Rachel was so surprised, she stopped in midsentence.

“What’s wrong?” Carter asked.

“I don’t know.” She blinked several times, but the tears wouldn’t go away. “I was going to say something about my parents, but I know if I do, I’ll burst into tears.”

“I can handle it.”

She sniffed and smiled at the same time. “I appreciate you saying that. It’s just I don’t understand. I don’t cry very much, especially not about the loss of my family. It’s been fourteen years. I’m sad they’re gone, but I’ve recovered, emotionally.”

“Hey, it happens.”

He drew her close and wrapped his arms around her. She let him because, for reasons she couldn’t explain, she needed the comfort.

“This is crazy,” she murmured against his shoulder as tears trickled down her cheeks. “I have no reason to cry. This is not like me.”

“You’re having a baby,” he said.

She drew back and stared at him. “I hardly think that’s a reason to break down when I talk about my parents. I know the situation is stressful, but speaking as someone who is firmly in denial about the whole thing, I can’t believe that’s why I’m losing it.”

She wiped her face and tried to think happy thoughts. Maybe she should get a kitten. A fluffy white one that would play with a ball of yarn. Only the image of it caused her eyes to fill again.

“I’m not saying it’s because you’re stressed,” he said. “It’s hormones. Trust me. I have three sisters who have all been pregnant at least twice. You might not want to think about being pregnant, but your body is seriously busy producing all kinds of chemicals. You’re reacting to them.”

Was that possible?

“Are you saying I’m going to be an emotional basket case for the next seven months?”

“Possibly.”

“I’ll never survive.”

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