Taste of Love - By Stephanie Nicole Page 0,15

found herself in this position and then figured it out.

She was still debating on whether to tell Cameron or not, but even if she wanted to, she had no idea how to get in touch with him. She would just have to cross that bridge when she came to it.

If she came to it.

That night at work, Austin kept a close eye on her, making sure she didn't push herself too hard. She could feel his eyes on her as she moved around the stoves and counters. She knew that she wasn't showing yet - she had spent a good hour in front of the mirror that morning, examining her belly and wondering if anyone would know - but she wondered if her decisions were showing in her face.

She pulled him aside halfway through the evening and gave him a solid, sure smile. "I'm okay," she said. "I promise."

"Cross your heart?" he asked.

"I am okay," she said again. "You'll see."

"Mother, I don't know why you had to pick me up. I could've just met you at the restaurant," Cameron told Bunny once he got into the town car.

"You know darling, most young men greet their mother with a 'Good Evening Mother, how are you doing?' I know I taught you better manners than that," she chided with a hint of disappointment.

"Sorry, Mother. How are you?" he asked politely as he leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"I've been well, thank you. I've been keeping busy; dining with the girls, tennis lessons, golf, and my charities. My social calendar is just packed full right now," she told him, glowing with satisfaction.

"Well, I'm glad to see old age isn't slowing you down. Most widows tend to let themselves idle after their husbands die," he commented with a smirk, knowing that she would take offense to the old age remark.

"Cameron Andrew Rome! I'll have you know that I'm only fifty! I have plenty of years ahead of me before I hit 'Old Age'," she protested.

"Mother, you're fifty-three. Don't deny it," he laughed.

"Whatever, fifty is close enough."

Not long after, they pulled up outside of the restaurant. Cameron looked up at the canopy overhead and saw the fancy calligraphy proclaiming them to be at The TigerLily. He groaned. "Oh, Mother. Couldn't you have picked a different restaurant?"

"I am just fascinated with this place. They have the best food, and such a wonderful atmosphere. You would think you'd indulge my desires, being so old and all," she pointed out.

Cameron shook his head. "I'm sure I'll be gone long before you will," he told his mother as he led her into the restaurant. Cameron was glad that he'd made himself look presentable. He didn't think there was much chance of seeing the owner, but just in case, he wanted to look good enough to eat. Then he smiled at his own pun.

Their meals came and went uneventfully as they shared pleasant conversation to pass the time. When dessert came, Bunny did something out of character: before the waiter could leave, she put her hand on his arm and asked if Madison was available.

Cameron's heart leaped in his chest. His face flushed with heat. He took a quick sip of wine to cover it up as he tried to think of a graceful way out of this.

The waiter left to find Madison, leaving Bunny very pleased, and Cameron completely mortified.

"Hey boss, there's a woman out there who was asking for you, table twenty-three," one of the waiters told Madison as he entered the kitchen.

"Is there a problem?" she asked. She liked to know beforehand if she was walking into a hornet's nest.

"No, she seems very happy. I think she just wants to say hello," he told her, then disappeared back into the dining room.

Madison removed her black apron and placed it on the counter near the door, then washed and dried her hands. She checked the mirror to make sure she was presentable before she went to the dining area.

She looked over to table twenty-three once it came into view, and saw one of the ladies she had met a few weeks ago. Madison smiled. She'd been coming in at least once a week ever since, and made sure to say hi each time she was in. There was also a man sitting at the table with her, but all Madison could see was the back of the man's head. Usually she came in with her women friends, so Madison was intrigued.

"Bunny, how are you?" Madison asked when she