Soon To Be Brides. Joan Elliott Pickart
time while you’re off work during this month or so Bud sentenced you to.”
“Maybe, but I doubt it. I’ll be in China for a couple of weeks, then when I get back I have a feeling I’ll be on the phone more often than not with the guy who’s taking my place for now. He doesn’t exactly evoke a great deal of confidence in being able to handle what needs to be done. Man, when I think about the messes he could create while… Nope, erase that. I’m not supposed to think about it.”
“I imagine that’s impossible for someone like you to do.”
Matt turned to look at her. “Someone like me? Somehow that doesn’t sound like a compliment.”
“I just meant that you’re obviously focused on your job, dedicated to your career to the exclusion of just about anything, or anyone, else. To suddenly just shut off your mind and stop thinking about it would be extremely difficult, impossible, in fact.
“Putting thousands of miles between you and the hospital will help, but even so, I would guess that part of your thoughts will be at Mercy. You won’t be totally there with all of us.”
Matt frowned. “Is this the voice of experience I’m hearing? Have you been completely centered on your career in the past?”
“Me? Heavens no.” Caitlin shook her head. “I enjoy being a copywriter for the fashion magazine. It’s very challenging and the work is continually fresh and new, but when I come home at night I don’t think about it again until I report for duty the next day.”
“I see. The slight edge to your voice says you don’t approve of my 24/7 approach to my career 0Caitlin..”
“I’m sorry if I gave you that impression, Matt. It’s certainly not my place to approve or disapprove of the way you conduct your life. Goodness, I don’t even know you.” She paused. “I think it would be best if we changed the subject. Even better, why don’t we go have our pizza.”
“Sure, we’ll go for pizza, but let’s change the subject first. Why did you decide to become a single mother?”
“Gosh, Matt, don’t hold back, just ask me any personal question that pops into your head.”
Matt chuckled. “I’m sorry. I guess it is rather personal, isn’t it? But I’m interested in why you came to this decision. Not that you’re obligated to tell me, of course.”
“Let’s just say that I believe this is the very best choice for me…personally. End of story. Subject closed. Shall we go?”
Matt nodded and followed Caitlin out the front door.
Oh, yes, he thought. The lovely lady did, indeed, have secrets that she didn’t intend to share. So many questions surrounded Caitlin Cunningham, creating so many answers he intended to discover, one by one.
The pizza restaurant was popular and crowded, and Caitlin and Matt had a short wait before a booth became available. They decided on what toppings they wanted on their pizza and what they would drink, then Matt went to the counter to place their order.
“It’ll be about fifteen minutes,” he said, returning and sliding in across from Caitlin. “So. Have you made arrangements for day care for Miss M.?”
“I’m going to be working at home. I’ve already reached an agreement with my boss about it, and I’ve changed the third bedroom in the house into an office. Later, when Miss M. is ready to play with other children, I’ll consider day care. Even if I had been matched with an older child, I planned to stay home with her at first because she’d have so many adjustments to make.”
“Don’t you think you’ll get cabin fever working at home?”
“No, I don’t believe so. I’ll have my daughter with me, remember? Plus, she and I will be going back and forth to the magazine office to pick up and deliver work, connecting with other people. Once we get into a routine I should have a healthy balance during a given day.”
“I hope it all goes the way you have it planned. Life has a way of throwing us curves when we least expect them at times. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you and Miss M. for smooth sailing ahead.”
“That was a rather pessimistic statement.” Caitlin frowned. “Life has a way of throwing us curves? Are you referring to yourself?”
“Me? No, no, not at all. My life is set up exactly the way I want it. I’ve hit a momentary glitch with this enforced-vacation bit, but things will get back to normal for me soon.”
Caitlin nodded.
“The reason I said that about the throwing of curves,” Matt went on, “is because I just saw a woman who reminded me of my cousin, Patty. She’s going through a rough time right now and got more than her share of nasty curves, I’m afraid. I wasn’t implying that anything would go wrong with your plans.”
“Oh, I see.” Caitlin paused, then looked directly at Matt. “You know, we seem to be just on the edge of getting into arguments no matter what topic we touch on tonight. There’s a…I don’t know…a tension between us that isn’t very pleasant.
“If you’d rather not go shopping for baby supplies I’ll certainly understand. We were all on such emotional highs last evening and… Anyway, we can have our pizza and forget about the other if you’d prefer.”
Matt leaned forward and covered one of Caitlin’s hands with one of his on the top of the table.
“No, Caitlin, I’ve been looking forward to this outing all day. I’m sorry if I’ve been shorttempered, or whatever. Hey, let’s start over from right now.”
“I’ve been a bit brusque with you, too, and I apologize.” She smiled. “All right. Hello, Matt, it’s nice to see you again and I certainly thank you for your help with my grand endeavor this evening.”
“Hello, Caitlin,” he said, not releasing her hand. “I’m glad to be of service.”
She had to get her hand back, Caitlin thought frantically. There was a tingling heat traveling up her arm and across her breasts, causing them to feel strangely achy as though needing a soothing touch. Now Matt was pinning her in place with his incredible brown eyes and her heart was beating like a bongo drum.
“That’s our number,” Matt said. “I’ll be right back with a gourmet delight.”
Thank heaven for pizza restaurants that called out lifesaving numbers, Caitlin thought, drawing a steadying breath. Darn it, she had to get a grip on herself, stop this nonsense of being thrown so off kilter by Matt MacAllister’s blatant masculinity. He touched her, she melted; he gazed at her, she dissolved. This would never do.
They were going to be together on a daily basis soon, and she couldn’t fall apart every two seconds because Matt was close to her. Well, she’d probably be fine over there because she’d be focused on the baby. Her precious daughter.
Matt returned with a huge pizza and a pitcher of soda, then trekked back for plates, glasses and napkins.
“There,” he said, sitting down. “I think I have everything we need…except…” He smiled at Caitlin.
“Except?” she asked.
“You don’t happen to have the pictures of Miss M. in your purse, do you? I sure would like to see that munchkin again. She’s already stolen a chunk of my heart. I’m going to be putty in her tiny hands when I actually see her. Do you? Have the pictures?”
Oh, Matt just didn’t play fair, Caitlin thought as unexpected and unwelcome tears stung her eyes. Why did he have to be so sweet, so endearing, on top of everything else he had going for him in the plus column. How many men would ask to see baby pictures as he was? Not fair at all.
Focus on the minus column, she told herself. This was Mr. I Work 24/7/365. He wouldn’t be caught up in cute pictures of babies and putting cribs together if he weren’t being forced to take a vacation. Matt was just filling idle