Have Baby, Need Beau (11 page)

His eyes darkened. “Hannah never told me. But you’re right, we should get married.”

“No, I wasn’t suggesting marriage!” She struggled to sit up, but Seth gently eased her back down.

“Listen, Mimi, we’re two decent people here. We’re both fairly responsible and care about the future of this child. It’s the right thing to do.”

“It would never work.”

“We can make it work.”

“No, we can’t.”

How can you be so sure?”

“I overheard Mom and Dad arguing the day Mom left. She said she only married Dad because of the pregnancy. They were too different and they ended up hating each other.”

Seth fisted his hands by his sides. “So you think we’ll end up hating each other?”

“I don’t know. Yes. No. Probably.” Mimi took a deep breath. Fortunately the worst of the nausea had subsided. She felt weak, but better. “I don’t want you feeling some misguided sense of responsibility. I can take care of myself.”

His gaze slid over her. “Yeah, you’re doing a great job.”

Mimi hissed. “I’ll be fine.”

“What about the baby?”

She pushed herself to a sitting position, grateful the room had finally stopped spinning. “I’ll take care of him, too.”

His eyebrow arched. “It’s a boy?”

“I don’t know. That was just a figure of speech.” Had his voice actually sounded wistful? “It’s too early to tell.”

He nodded and she stood, brushing away his hands when he tried to help her. “I … I should go clean up.”

“I’ll clean up the damn dishes. You are going to rest.”

She struggled for a calming breath. “Seth, I’m okay now. I intend to do my job.”

“I said I’ll clean up. You can sit in the chair and watch.” He folded his arms across his chest, towering over her, looking impossibly masculine and tough, especially for a boring shrink. Only, she had trouble seeing the boring part now. He was hot and rough-looking, emotion adding color to his cheeks, his square jaw set firmly, his eyes flashing anger and turmoil. And God help her she wanted him again. Just once more, wild and hot, right here on the sofa in the ladies’ room.

She must be sick again—no, she was a sicko. A pathetic pregnant hormonal sicko.

“I don’t like orders, Seth.”

A muscle ticked above his eyebrow. “And I don’t like the fact that Hannah thinks my baby belongs to some criminal.”

Mimi’s heart capitulated briefly at his possessive tone—he almost sounded as if he wanted the baby. But she must be fooling herself. He’d made himself clear the night they’d talked; he simply felt responsible now. She’d injured his male pride. And if he cared so much about what Hannah thought, he must still have feelings for her…

Chapter 10

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S
eth contemplated what to do while he cleaned up. Unfortunately no earth-shattering revelations hit him. He insisted on following Mimi back to her house, his mind still grasping for answers as he parked behind her on the drive. Here he was, with a 130 IQ, a doctorate in psychology, a man who counseled people with all kinds of disorders and situations, ranging from complex schizophrenia to single parenthood, but he had no idea how to handle his own problem.

Not that the baby was a problem. He would never think of his own child as anything but a little miracle. But this strained relationship with Mimi was another story. Part of him wanted to throw her down and make love to her again until she admitted how perfectly they complemented each other, which unfortunately he still didn’t know if he believed, while part of him wanted to hold her gently and promise her everything would be all right.

But how could it be when she didn’t want him around? When she was so upset over the pregnancy and so against Hannah knowing and so not attracted to him?

* * *

He followed Mimi up the steps, juggling the box of leftover paper products and the coffeepot.

“Thanks, Seth, but you didn’t have to follow me home.”

“I didn’t mind.” He considered asking Mimi if he could come in and talk when he heard another car drive up.

Mimi groaned and threw a frustrated look over her shoulder. “It’s Hannah and Alison.”

“You want me to get rid of them?”

“Of course not.” Mimi unlocked the door and pushed inside while her sisters climbed from Hannah’s Volvo. “But I know they’ve come to check on me like little mother hens.”

“They care about you,” Seth said, shifting the box so he could set it down as he followed her inside. “And so do I.”

“Seth, don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

Mimi’s eyes trapped him with a pleading look. “Don’t say things like that. I know you feel responsible, but—”

“But—”

“Hey, Mimi.” Hannah poked her head through the opened door, confusion registering on her face when she spotted Seth in the foyer. “I thought that was your car.”

“Come on in,” Mimi said in a cheery voice. “Seth was just leaving.”

Seth stiffened. She obviously wanted to get rid of him.

Wrangler ran up and barked at him, and Mimi knelt to calm the pug while Alison bustled in. An odd sparkle lit her eyes when she saw him, and he wondered if she knew about his night with Mimi. “Hi, Seth.”

“He helped me bring things back from the support group,” Mimi quickly explained.

“What kind of support group?” Alison asked.

“It’s for single parents,” Mimi said.

Hannah arched a brow while a sly grin tugged at Alison’s face.

“I catered it for him,” Mimi said, apparently not wanting them to know that Seth knew about the baby.

Hannah grinned at him. “Sounds like a great program, Seth. I hope it’s successful.”

“If tonight’s any indication, I think it will be,” Seth said.

Alison held up a grocery bag. “We brought ice cream. Mint chocolate chip.”

Mimi smiled weakly. “Great. Go get three spoons.”

Seth frowned, said good-night and left. It didn’t take a genius to realize she didn’t want to discuss her pregnancy in front of him. Hurt once more suffused him. She’d rather her sisters believe Joey had fathered her baby.

A few minutes later, Mimi curled on the couch in her terry-cloth robe, eating ice cream from the carton with her sisters just as they’d done when they were little girls.

“I’m starting the renovations for the bridal shop,” Alison said.

“Cool.” Mimi dug into the carton. “We need some more businesses downtown.”

“Let me know if I can help, sis,” Hannah said.

Alison took the carton from Mimi and picked a chocolate chip from it, popping it into her mouth. “Thanks, but I have things under control for now.”

“So how are you feeling, Mimi?” Hannah asked.

Mimi licked her spoon and confided about her earlier bout of nausea.

“That does it. I’m writing you a prescription.”

“I won’t take anything that might hurt the baby.”

Hannah smiled and patted her back. “This is safe, sis, trust me. We give it to a lot of pregnant women.”

“I still can’t believe I’m pregnant,” Mimi said, her spoon in midair. “I … feel like such a mess-up.”

Hannah and Alison traded sympathetic looks. “You used birth control?” Hannah asked.

Mimi nodded. “Well, I … we forgot once.”

“That’s all it takes,” Hannah said dryly.

“Uh-oh. I heard this lecture when I was twelve,” Alison said. “Mother Hannah.”

The girls laughed in unison. “I guess I was bossy,” Hannah admitted.

Mimi squeezed Hannah’s hand. “When Mom left, you obviously felt responsible because you were the oldest. I’m sorry I wasn’t more help.”

“I never minded,” Hannah said softly. “And I’m here for you now, Mimi.”

Mimi’s eyes filled with tears. “I know. But I don’t want you to keep cleaning up my mistakes. I’m a big girl now. I can take care of myself.”

Hannah smoothed a strand of hair from Mimi’s cheek. “That’s ridiculous. I love you. I don’t mind helping you. Besides, I’ve always admired you, Mimi. You’re creative and fun and you have so much spunk. I wish I was more like you.”

“What?”

“It’s true,” Hannah said. “You have a lot going for you, sis. This baby’s lucky to have a loving, caring, talented mom like you. And I promise to baby-sit if you get that part on the soap.”

“Me, too.” Alison stretched her jean-clad legs in front of her. “Hannah’s right. You’ll make a great Mom.”

Mimi took the compliment to heart, perking up at the reminder of the soap opera. Tomorrow after work she’d rehearse the belly-dancing routine.

Hannah frowned and once again dug into the carton of ice cream with her spoon. “Have you decided if you’re going to tell Joey?”

Mimi glanced at Alison’s raised eyebrows. What should she do? Confess the truth to Hannah? Chance her relationship with her sister for her nonrelationship with Hannah’s old boyfriend? For the best sex … man she’d ever been with?

“Mimi?” Hannah sounded worried.

“No, I’m not going to tell Joey.”

Because he’s not the father.
She tried to say the words out loud, but they refused to push past her lips.

“How about…”

Mimi narrowed her eyes at Alison, afraid she intended to spill the truth.

“How about Dad?” Alison asked. “And Mom?”

Mimi frowned. “I’ll have to tell Dad sometime, but I don’t know about Mom. Besides, she hasn’t stopped by to see me since she moved back.”

Alison spooned up another bite of ice cream. “Dad said she went back to L.A. to tie up her affairs before the move.”

“Affairs?” Hannah asked.

“Does Mom have another man in her life now?” Mimi asked.

Alison shrugged. “I don’t know. I assumed he meant her business. She put her condo on the market. She’ll be back any day.” She paused, angling her head in thought. “I wonder what it’ll be like with her living in Sugar Hill.”

“Awkward,” Hannah said quietly.

“Definitely awkward,” Mimi agreed. Just as it would be when everyone found out Seth, not Joey, was the father of her baby.

* * *

“Here, I brought you breakfast.” Seth placed a paper bag on the counter of the coffee shop and grinned at Mimi.

Mimi simply stared at him. “Why?”

“Because breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and I wasn’t sure you ate it.” One of the many things they didn’t know about each other. But he was determined to rectify that situation. After all, two people who’d made a baby together should know a few things about each other. He had nine months to do his homework.

Mimi shook her head. “Have you forgotten that I work at a café?”

“You sell desserts, not nutritious meals. And you need to eat a regular, balanced diet now—”

“Shh.” Mimi put her finger over his lips for emphasis. He couldn’t help but smile at her touch. Warmth seeped into him, generating enough heat to set him on fire. But Seth ignored his clamoring libido and pulled out a container of grits, a plate of eggs, bacon and toast.

“We serve bagels and fruit and muffins in the morning, and soup and salads for lunch.” Mimi frowned at the huge breakfast. “Besides, I couldn’t possibly eat all that.”

He reached for her hand, concerned. “You aren’t sick again this morning, are you?”

Mimi pulled away. “No, Hannah gave me something for the nausea, but I ate already.”

He raised a brow in question. “And?”

“I can take care of myself, Seth.”

“So I keep hearing.” Seth leaned a hip against the bar stool, wondering how she could look so sexy and sweet at the same time. Her skin was rosy this morning, her eyes perky, her body voluptuous in her little black skirt and white blouse. One of the top buttons had slipped though its casing, giving him a glimpse of soft, inviting flesh. He knew what lay below…

“Look, I have work to do, Seth. So why don’t you run on to your big office and analyze someone?”

He placed a book on the counter. “I don’t have an appointment until ten. Thought I’d stop by and have a cup of coffee and read a little.”

Her gaze fell to his book,
A Hundred Questions about Pregnancy
, and she rolled her eyes. “Put that away.”

He opened it. “I’ve gathered all kinds of information on pregnancy and raising kids. I thought I’d study the material while you eat your breakfast.”

“I’m not eating all that cholesterol and fat.”

“All right. Next time I’ll bring fresh fruit and—”

“There won’t be a next time, Seth.” She snapped his book shut. “And I told you to put that thing away.”

“I’m simply trying to understand you and your … condition. We could read the book together.”

The door swung open and two businessmen strode in. Mimi moved away to wait on them, but the young girl who worked for her handled the order, forcing her to remain with him.

“It says here pregnant women are emotional—”

“I’m always emotional.”

“And moody.”

“That, too.”

“They have food cravings. Are you craving anything?”

She glared at him. “Peace and quiet.”

He nodded. “Sometimes they don’t sleep well. Especially in the later months when—”

“When they get big and fat and unattractive.”

“I don’t think pregnant woman are unattractive.” Seth accepted the cup of coffee, studying her. “And I hate skinny women.”

Mimi shrugged. “I really don’t want to talk about this with you, Seth.”

“So who are you going to talk about it with? Your father? Alison and Hannah?”

She refilled the sugar container as if she needed something to do, spilling sugar over the sides. “I don’t know.”

“I’m a good listener, Mimi.”

“You’re a shrink. You get paid to listen.”

“You can lie on my couch for free.”

He didn’t try to hide the suggestive tone in his voice. He’d dreamed about Mimi last night and he felt wicked this morning, unable to keep himself from teasing her. In his dream she’d been lying in his bed, naked and warm, curled in his arms, her hair tickling his chest, her hand… The dream had been so erotic he’d thought it was real. He’d felt her soft skin, tasted her delicious mouth, rubbed his hand over the soft roundness of her belly where his baby lay.

He leaned closer. “I’m going to be a part of this baby’s life, too. You might as well get used to it.”