or shorts?” Billy had no opinion on the matter, being more interested in chewing on a lock of her hair. “Don’t do that, sweetie. I should have asked Darcy where we’re going. Will it involve sitting on grass in a park or rocks by the sea? With you coming we’ll have to go someplace baby-friendly. A skirt probably wouldn’t be out of place.”
It was only a picnic. But after months in maternity clothes she figured she deserved to get a little girlie. It had been a while since she’d had a big occasion to dress up for—even if Darcy didn’t know it was a big occasion.
Oh, God, what if he rejected her proposal? There they’d be, halfway through their sandwiches and lemonade, and everything would turn awkward. Would they finish eating in silence or pack up and skedaddle? She shook her head. Idiot. Of course she would wait until after they ate to say anything.
“Your mother is a tad nervous,” she told Billy. “Nothing to be alarmed about.”
She laid her clothes on the bed then sat in the rocking chair by the window to nurse Billy. While he fed, she practiced the speech she’d written last night in which she convinced Darcy they should try again. At two pages, typewritten, it was hard to remember word for word so she’d also written out notes on index cards.
“I’ll go over them on the way to the picnic grounds,” she told Billy. “I know, he’s going to think I’m crazy, and it’ll be tricky not to let him see what’s on the cards. I’ll pretend I’m studying for an exam.”
The doorbell rang. “There he is.” She tucked the index cards in her purse and went to let Darcy in.
He smelled so yummy and citrusy with musky low notes that she gave him a peck on the cheek just to get a better sniff. “Mmm, you’ve been bathing in awesome sauce.”
His low laugh, a little self-conscious, rumbled in her ear. She handed Billy into his arms. “Sorry I’m not ready. I still have to get dressed.”
“You look great.”
She was wearing her oldest pair of shorts and a faded T-shirt. “Have you had your eyes checked lately? I hear that forty is the magic age when people start needing glasses.”
He rolled his defective eyes and she hurried to her bedroom. Nice. Be snarky about his age. That’ll get him hot for you. And she’d been doing so well for a moment with the kiss on the cheek and the compliments.
She put on the light summery skirt, a camisole and a sheer blouse in an aqua print that brought out the blue in her eyes. Added a touch of fragrance and some fine gold jewelry he’d given her one Christmas. Brushed her hair again. Breathe.
When she entered the living room Darcy was on the floor, playing with Billy. He stood and gazed at her so long she got nervous.
She touched a dangly earring set with teal-blue tourmaline. “I’m overdressed, aren’t I?”
He swallowed. “You look perfect. Absolutely beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Breathe, damn it. He looked pretty gorgeous himself in an indigo-blue cotton shirt and black knee-length shorts. “Shall we go?”
Emma slipped on flat sandals. Darcy carried Billy in his car seat. And for once the elevator cooperated by showing up quickly.
In the foyer of the apartment building, Emma started for the door to the parking garage. “We should take my car since I’ve got Billy’s seat.” She hadn’t thought about having to drive when she’d written her index cards.
“I bought a car seat of the same model yesterday and installed it in my truck so we can transport him in either vehicle.” Darcy pushed open the entry door for her to go through.
“Aren’t you full of surprises?” she said, moving past him.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” He secured Billy in the truck cab. Then he turned to her with a bandanna in his hand. “And you’re not going to see anything else until we get where we’re going.”
“What? No way. I need to see.” She stepped back, hands out to ward him off as he advanced on her. “You can’t— Hey!”
He spun her by the shoulders and quickly tied the folded cloth over her eyes. “Resistance is futile.”
“This is kind of kinky.” She touched the cloth. But how was she going to study her index cards? “Or is this your answer to my alleged backseat driving?”
He opened the door and helped her inside and with her seat belt. She felt her handbag being placed in her lap.