The Sergeant's Baby. Bonnie Gardner
was through the stomach, surely it was the way to a pregnant woman’s, Danny thought as he pulled away from the curb and headed back to a strip mall he’d passed on the way. He’d noticed a pizza place there. He just hoped they were quick.
WAS THIS WHAT PEOPLE MEANT by nesting? Ally wondered as she contemplated lighting the gas logs in the living room. Maybe September was a little early for a fire, but the gray sky outside and the promise of rain made her long for the coziness a fire in the fireplace provided. She liked the notion of being cocooned and safe and warm.
With the sudden appearance of Danny Murphey in town, her comfortable world seemed threatened. She shivered with unease and hugged herself to ward off the uncomfortable feeling. Then she lit the fire. She had a gas fireplace so she could easily turn it off if the room got too hot.
She settled down on the couch, comfortable now in cozy socks and an extra-large sweatsuit, and tucked her legs beneath her. She’d eaten her soup, and she was enjoying a cup of hot chocolate, her one indulgence for today—not counting the chocolate cheesecake she’d shared with Kathie at lunch. The fire, the chocolate, the comfy clothes made her feel safe and secure.
Then somebody rang the doorbell.
Reluctantly, Ally uncurled from the couch and made her way to the door. For a moment, she regretted not having a peephole or a window near the door. It was probably just one of the local kids selling candy for fund-raising or something like that. She’d always supported their causes, and saw no reason to stop now. Plus, she’d have a sweet on hand when the urge struck.
But something made her pause before she opened the door. Some little shred of caution made her call out, “Who is it?”
“Delivery service,” came from a muffled voice to the other side of the door.
Ally wrinkled her brow. She didn’t remember ordering anything recently. “Are you certain you have the right house?” she called through the still-locked door. “I’m not expecting a delivery.”
“Is this 924 Allegheny?”
“Yes.”
“Your name Carter?”
Whoever it was knew her name. She wasn’t certain whether to acknowledge that or not. “Just leave whatever it is on the step,” she suggested. That was what they usually did.
“Look, lady. I gotta get a signature here. You either sign, or I take it back. Makes no difference to me. I gotta get moving, though. You ain’t the only delivery I got tonight,” he added, a note of irritation entering his voice.
Allison hesitated, undecided what to do. She often got deliveries this late and, on occasion, out-of-stock items that had finally arrived so long after she’d ordered them that she’d forgotten all about them. She supposed it could be one of those.
“All right.” She pretended to call toward the back of the house. “It’s okay, Fred. It’s just a delivery-man.”
She opened the door, and Danny Murphey, carrying a pizza box, stepped inside.
“Why don’t you invite Fred to join us,” he said sarcastically as he lowered the box. His tone told her he wasn’t fooled by her ruse, and his cocky grin, so familiar and endearing, opened his handsome face.
“You know there’s no Fred,”Ally said. She couldn’t decide whether to be pleased or annoyed at Danny’s ingenuity. And she was flattered at the same time. All she knew was that she had eaten a light dinner and right now the pizza smelled awfully good. Her mouth watered, and her stomach clamored in agreement.
Still, she stood her ground by the door, held it open and pointed outside. “There’s the exit,” she said. “Please use it.”
Danny simply strode past her, placed the pizza box on the coffee table by the half-empty mug of chocolate and lifted the lid. The rich aroma of tomatoes and spices, stronger now that the box was open, filled the room.
The pizza was tempting, but she had to get Danny to leave. Again, she pointed the way. “I said, get out.”
Her effort was futile. Danny ignored her and made himself comfortable on the couch. He selected a wedge of pizza and took a bite.
“It’s really good,” he said, his mouth full.
He chewed for a moment while Allison stood by the door and wondered what to do.
Danny patted the couch cushion beside him and took another bite. “There’s plenty for both of us,” he said, gesturing toward her with his half-eaten slice.
An empty spot in her stomach that she hadn’t realized she hadn’t filled earlier, plus the fragrant steam coming off the pizza, weakened Allison’s resolve. She closed the door, careful not to turn the lock in case she needed to open the door in a hurry.
The pizza ploy had finally worn her down. Darn it. And as much as Danny’s attitude annoyed her, she still loved the man. In spite of herself. In spite of everything. Of course, Ally was aware that Danny might be irritating and exasperating at times, but he was a good man. He would never hurt her. Not physically, anyway. It was what he might do to her heart that really worried her.
“Thank you for the pizza, Danny,” she said, using sarcasm to disguise her gratitude as she reached into the box and selected a piece. She settled into a chair across from the sofa where Danny sat.
“I figured I could get you with black-olive-and-mushroom pizza,” Danny said, looking smug.
But Ally was too hungry to argue; she let his remark ride.
Neither of them spoke as they ate. Finally, there was one piece left. “Do you want it?” Allison asked.
Danny shrugged. “Nope. I’ve had plenty. You’re eating for two, remember?”
It was the first mention of the baby. However, the comment seemed innocuous enough. Ally shrugged. “All right, I can put it in the fridge for later. Are you going to leave now?” Maybe her question was rude, but the tension of having Danny so close was wearing on her. She had to consider the baby.
“Won’t be long,” Danny said with a satisfied expression. He held out his hands. “I have to wash up.”
“Oh. Sure,” Ally said, pointing toward the back of the house. “Second door on the left.”
Wondering why she hadn’t just sent him to the kitchen, Ally watched Danny go. She couldn’t help noting his well-shaped butt as he went, and she mentally chastised herself.
Danny wasn’t gone long. “You sure you’re not gonna eat that piece?” he said as he sat back down.
“You can have it if you want it,” Ally replied, loath to admit that she really could have downed that last piece.
“And I said you were eating for two and you need it,” Danny reminded her. “Take it.”
As she did, Danny reached for her wrist and held her fast by the hand.
“Wh-what do you want?” Ally stammered as she let go of the slice and tried to free her trapped hand.
Danny held on and looked at her with angry green eyes. “Come off it, Allison. You know exactly what I want. And if you don’t, let me spell it out for you. I know you well enough to be damned sure that you wouldn’t have tumbled into bed with me if there had been anyone else in your life. I also know that you don’t leap casually from man to man and bed to bed.
“I did a little recon while I was in your bathroom,” he continued. Danny released her hand, and Ally rubbed it reflexively. “I saw no evidence of a man having been there. Not on even a semipermanent basis,” he said with satisfaction. “And unless you’ve had a personality transplant since we went our separate ways, you haven’t been sleeping around. I figure you didn’t hook up with anyone soon enough after we were together to already be having his baby.”
“Get to the point, Danny,” Allison managed to say, though she was pretty sure she knew what he