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she wasn't letting Baz force her into hibernation. She wasn't
letting him push her out of her own life.
The door from the butler's pantry swung open. Baz and
Cameron entered together. Each was devastating in his own
right. Together they were enough to hot-wire any woman's
hormones.
"Happy New Year," she said, forcing a bright smile.
Cam echoed the greeting. Baz grunted and headed for the
coffeepot. He poured himself a cup and stood looking out the
kitchen window into the snow-covered courtyard. He drained
the cup in one long swallow.
"Good grief," she said. "Why don't you take it in an I.V.?
It'd be faster and wouldn't cauterize your entire digestive
system."
Cam poured some for himself and took a seat at the table.
Baz said nothing. He poured more coffee and made his way to
the table, his gait careful, his face tight.
"Brother Baz overindulged last night," Cam explained.
"Celebrating the New Year early."
117
About a Baby
by Ann Yost
Baz shot him an annoyed look as he lowered himself into a
chair. He did look kind of pale. Without thinking Hallie
reached over to touch his wrist. "Are you all right?"
"I'm dandy," he growled. He didn't pull away but he didn't
look at her either.
"Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed," Cam
teased.
"Somebody got up in the wrong bed," he muttered.
Hallie went very still. Surely he wouldn't refer to their
physical relationship right here at the breakfast table in front
of God and his brother.
Cam lifted his eyebrows at Hallie but he didn't speak.
Baz chugged his coffee then he turned to Hallie. He moved
his head as if it were a prize piece of china he was trying not
to jostle. "I'll check on the farm stock."
She studied his face. How hung over was he? Would he be
all right driving down the twisty country roads in his current
condition?
"I'll go with you," she offered.
"No. Thank you." His response left no room to maneuver.
The sheepskin coat he'd taken into the river hadn't been
cleaned. Baz shouldered into a bright green parka that was at
least a size too small. A minute later he was gone. They
heard the truck's engine turn over then the sound of Baz
backing out of the driveway.
"What do you think the chances are he'll hit the mailbox?"
Cam asked.
"Seventy-five percent? He's pretty coordinated. Whose
jacket was that?"
118
About a Baby
by Ann Yost
"I have no idea. One of Lucy's college boyfriends probably
left it here." Cam seemed to study her face. "Something new
happen between you, two?"
"Not really. Another heated discussion. Your brother
doesn't take no for an answer."
"His stubbornness is well documented. Look how long he
held out before he came to Maine. Twenty years. For most of
that time he was alone, Hallie. I think he'd gotten used to it.
When you came along it must have given him a hard enough
jolt to re-wire his circuits. I can understand why he wants you
back."
She probably shouldn't have been surprised at Cam's
perception. She'd seen the same quality in his father and his
brother.
"He'll find someone else." She spoke with a lightness she
didn't feel.
"Are you sure that's what you want?"
She nodded. Baz's presence just reminded her of what
she'd lost. There was another consideration, too; she'd
realized last year that he needed a family. He needed children
of his own.
She smiled, faintly. "Sometimes I think the hardest person
to build a relationship with is an ex. It's like all the bridges
were burned or something. You've got proof that you don't
work as a couple."
A shadow passed over his well-defined features. "I hear
you."
She was more than ready to change the subject. "Who're
you taking to the Grange Hall Dance tonight?"
119
About a Baby
by Ann Yost
"Leila Gunderson. She married one of my high school
buddies who was killed in Afghanistan."
"Wow. That must have been so hard."
"I'm sure it was. I was down in Boston at the time." He
smiled at her. "You're going with Jake?"
"We made the date a couple of weeks ago." She didn't
know why she felt it was important to point that out. She'd
just told him she wasn't interested in his brother.
"Save me a dance?"
"Absolutely."
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