Love and Secrets - Kit Morgan Page 0,20
Does she ever cry?”
“Not much compared to most babies. I was just thinking earlier how happy she always is.”
“Must make life easier,” Holly commented.
“It does.” They ate in silence a moment. Zane enjoyed Holly. She always had a knack for putting him in a good mood. He’d wanted this particular part of his burden off his shoulders and taken care of today. But thanks to Victoria Turner, it didn’t turn out that way. He’d have to wait for another opportunity. At least he got to spend more time with Holly.
“Is it good?” she asked. “You haven’t commented on your enchiladas yet.”
He smiled. “They’re great. Some of the best I’ve ever had. And that says a lot considering how long I’ve been in New York.”
“I bet the food here doesn’t begin to compare.”
“Food is good there. It’s one of the reasons I love living in the city.”
She gave him a sympathetic smile. “Loved, you mean.”
He nodded. “Yeah, I guess I do. I keep forgetting I don’t plan on going back anytime soon.”
“Wait a minute, you mean you gave up your apartment and everything to come here?” She turned on the bed, looked at Sophie in the playpen, then him. “Zane …”
“It’s okay. I’ve got half my stuff in storage and have a friend checking on the apartment twice a week to water my plants.”
She looked at the floor. “Oh, I see. So, you did keep everything.”
“I might not settle in Clear Creek. If I don’t, I’d still like to raise Sophie in a small town somewhere. I’m not sure I’d want to raise her in a big city.”
“Because you weren’t?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Once a country boy always a country boy, I guess. But there’s nothing wrong with that. Is there?”
“Oh, no,” she said with a shake of her head. “Just like there’s nothing wrong with a country girl.”
“Is that why you never left?” He took a bite of beans and rice. They were delicious.
“All my friends are here and so were my parents up until a couple of years ago.”
“What? You mean they’re …”
“No, they’re alive and well,” she cut in. “But they couldn’t handle the winters here anymore so they moved to Southern California.”
“Where?”
“A place called Desert Hot Springs. Near Palm Springs?”
He nodded and took another bite of food. It was hard not to watch her eat. It was hard not to watch her period. This was not the Holly he knew in high school. She was a woman now, beautiful, vivacious, and as much a delight as she used to be. How on earth did he ever let her go?
“I got us something for dessert,” she said, interrupting his thoughts.
“I hope it’s chocolate,” he said with a grin.
“Of course.”
“Don’t tell me, let me guess,” he said. “Is there still a bakery in old town?”
She smiled and nodded, a twinkle in her eye.
“Comfort’s Bakery?” he said with raised brows. “It’s still there?”
She giggled and gave him a vigorous nod. “And still just as good. I bet you can’t guess what I got.”
His eyes went wide. “Chocolate suicide?”
“Ding, ding, ding! Zane Brody, you are our winner!”
He scanned the desk. “Where is it?”
She laughed. “In the bag under the desk.”
He leaned back to see past her. Sure enough, there was a white bag on the floor beneath the desk. “How did I not see you bring that in?”
“Because you underestimate my sneakiness.” She laughed maniacally.
“Comfort’s Bakery. I’d stay here just for that.”
Holly’s giggles died down. “And what about the people?”
He caught the flicker of hurt in her eyes. “Holly…”
“I’m not talking about me,” she said, a hand to her chest. “I mean your family.”
“Oh.” He nodded. “Yeah. Mom and Dad.”
“They’re going to want you to stay, aren’t they?”
He heard the concern in her voice. “I’m not sure, Holls. Like I said before, they might try to talk me out of this.”
She shook her head. “They won’t. For crying out loud, Zane, that’s their grandchild. Why wouldn’t they want her in their lives? Besides, once they get a look at her they’re going to be in love.”
“I don’t know…”
“You’ve been in New York too long,” she said. “Your parents aren’t like Sophie’s mother’s. They sound awful.”
“They do. But until I meet them, who’s to say?”
“Sounds like Sophie’s mother and her friend Tricia had plenty to say. Why else would they leave the city and move to … where was it again?”
“New Rochelle.”
“Where is that?”
“About an hour or so north of the city. I knew Jillian and her folks were heading for a