Happily Ever All-Star: A Secret Baby Romance - Sosie Frost Page 0,39

I couldn’t implore Jude for help. He and Eric swapped stories about a game they’d played three seasons prior. “I am. I only wish I knew as much about you. It appears my mom has been—”

“Making conversation,” Regan said.

“Or meddling.”

She laughed—fake and coy. “Oh, there’s that wit I was telling you about. Aurora can be so wickedly funny sometimes.”

Rick shrugged. “Always good to have a sense of humor.”

“I agree. And Aurora has never lost that spirit, even in such a difficult career field.”

“She’s also never lost her hearing,” I said. “I’m sitting right here, Mom. Don’t make Rick uncomfortable.”

“He’s not uncomfortable. We’re just talking.”

“You’re practically slapping a USDA grade on me.”

“And you’d be prime.” Regan smiled at Jude and Eric. “Right, boys?”

Eric was no help. “I’ll get the A-1 sauce.”

Rick laughed and raised a hand. “Don’t worry. I’m not offended. I’ve been hooked up a dozen times since my divorce. First at the hospital, then my brother’s wedding. I’m just happy for a good meal and pleasant company.”

Mildred reached over, feeling up his arm. “Well, he’s no football player, but he’ll do. You should keep this one around, Rory.”

Regan helped Eric serve slices of turkey. “Oh, enough of that, Mom. Let’s let these kids have a nice dinner. It’s great to have the family together again.” She nodded. “And Jude as well. We haven’t seen you since your injury.”

I took the initiative and patted his hand. “Yes. Jude signed with the Rivets. We’ve sort of…reconnected.”

Mom didn’t notice.

Eric did.

And his grin one-eighty’d into a scowl.

“Didn’t know you two were ever…” He waved a fork loaded with mashed potatoes. “Disconnected.”

“Well, we met up and…just got to talking,” I said.

Eric dropped his silverware. “Is that right?”

“Rick, would you prefer light or dark meat?” Regan asked, sweetly.

Rick had dimples, ones he eagerly flashed at me. “I’ve always been a dark meat guy.”

Oh Christ. This wasn’t happening. I gripped Jude’s hand. Regan ignored it.

“Aurora, you should tell Rick about your fellowship. I’m sure he’d love to hear all about it.”

“Actually…” I cleared my throat. “I think there’s something else we should probably discuss first.”

“That Doctor Clayton Frolla.” Regan said his name with such reverence that I shuddered. “He’s a genius in his field. He took Aurora on as his protégé.”

A lump of turkey thudded to my plate, followed by a heaping mound of potatoes, a tangled mess of green beans, a cascade of gravy, and every mingling scent that tied my stomach into a tourniquet.

I leaned away from the plate. I pushed the food away. It wasn’t as subtle as I’d hoped. Neither was my step-mother.

“I’ve met him a couple times,” Rick said. “He seemed…”

Regan leaned forward. “Yes?”

“Very friendly, especially with his interns.”

A little too friendly.

“Oh, he’s a lovely man,” Regan said. “Handsome too.”

Oh no. This so wasn’t happening.

“We had one or two dinners out together—strictly work related, of course.” Regan offered me the rolls. I nearly added some tossed cookies into the basket. “I so admire an accomplished man though. It’s rare to find someone so respectable in medicine anymore.”

Clayton? Respectable?

It suddenly felt like I was the one loopy with a concussion.

Regan smiled. “That’s why I was so excited that Aurora was selected out of a pool of hundreds of doctors vying for the fellowship.”

“Quite the accomplishment,” Rick said.

I didn’t answer. Regan paid no attention. “Plus, now Aurora has a bit more time on her hands since she’s spending the last year of her residency with the Rivets.” She leaned closer. “You must remember those days, Rick. So lonely in the classes and hospitals.”

“Right…” Rick studied my hand as I folded it in Jude’s. “I can imagine.”

“I was just telling her that this is a perfect opportunity to step outside the hospitals. It’s a chance to meet new people.”

Eric’s voice hardened. “Oh, Rory’s gonna be meeting someone special in a couple months.”

I kicked him under the table. Like I was going to say a damn thing about the baby when Regan was obsessed with sacrificing me to whatever single doctor was within swiping range.

“Usually I have to pry that fork away from you,” Regan smiled. “Go on, Aurora. Eat. We’ll have plenty of time to talk. She’s such a good conversationalist, this daughter of mine.”

Mildred knew the game. She swigged her mimosa. “She’s cute too.”

“Mom, please,” Regan said. “Let’s be polite.”

“You should be more observant.” Mildred shuffled from the table and took my wine glass. “I’ll pour you something else to drink, Rory-Doll.”

Oh no.

Regan chastised Mildred with a flip of her napkin. “Sit down.