“So, let’s get past the awkward first-date stuff.” Hugh’s dimples deepened when his smile reached his eyes.
Did the walls just start closing in? She’d been so relaxed. She hated that the minute she realized there would be questions about her personal life her chest constricted.
“I was kidding, Bree,” he said. “You look like I asked you for your deepest secrets.”
“I’m sorry. I haven’t been on a date in a very long time. It’s all a little scary to me.” She wrapped her hands around the warm cup. “I’m afraid I’m not very good at small talk, either.”
He put his arm across the back of the booth. “Then I’ll make it easy for you. I’m the youngest of six. I’ve always had to be a little loud just to be heard. Tell me what you’d like to know and I’ll answer as best I can.”
“Gosh, I don’t know. You have five siblings? That must be fun. I’m an only child.”
“It is fun. I’ve got four brothers and a sister, and I love ’em all.” He took a sip of his coffee. “How long have you worked at the Old Town Tavern?”
She looked down, biting back the nagging embarrassment about what her life had become. Then she thought of Layla and her confidence returned. She looked him in the eye so she could read his response before she heard it.
“I’ve worked there since I graduated from college. I got pregnant the week I graduated. It wasn’t planned, and the guy was just a guy I hung out with for the weekend. I know that sounds awful…” I sound like a slut. I might as well leave now.
“Why? Anyone can get pregnant by accident. It’s a miracle there aren’t more graduation-weekend babies around.”
He smiled again, and she had an urge to thank him for not judging her. “I’ve never looked at it that way, but you’re right. I mean, tons of college kids have sex, but condoms don’t always break.” She covered her face with her hands. “I can’t believe I just said that. I’m sorry.” She looked up at him and cringed. “I told you I’m not good at this.”
“Honesty is a good thing. Tell me about your daughter.”
She sat up a little taller. This, she could handle. “Layla is going to be six next week. She’s smart and funny, and she’s the most thoughtful child. She loves art and going to plays. I imagine she’ll want to be in the drama club when she gets old enough, and she is totally hung up on all things princess at the moment.”
“She sounds wonderful. Does she see her father?”
Brianna shook her head. “No. I never heard from him again after graduation. We’d met at a party, hung out for the weekend, and then he was gone. When I found out I was pregnant, I tracked him down, but…he was less than welcoming about the idea. He made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with me or with Layla.” She couldn’t believe she was telling him her darkest secret, but the confession came easily. “Sometimes I feel guilty that Layla doesn’t have her father in her life, but I can’t imagine forcing him to see her out of obligation.”
He nodded. “Brave.”
“What?”
“You must be very brave to take on raising a child alone right out of college. Weren’t you scared?”
His thoughtful gaze held her still. No one had ever called her brave before. “Um. I never really took the time to think about if I was scared or not. I loved her from the moment I found out I was pregnant, so I just…” She shrugged. “You know, you make a decision and then you do the best you can.”
“Trust me. Brave is a good word for you,” he said. “She’s with your mother tonight, so your mom lives nearby? Was she there to help when she was born?”
His voice was sincere, as were his eyes. Brianna was struck by his interest. “She doesn’t live far. She was pretty upset at first. I mean my dad left when I was eight, so she raised me and saved her money to send me to college, and then I come home pregnant and unable to find a job in my field. It was really hard for her, but she eventually came around, and she adores Layla. My mom’s taking her to a play tomorrow and now I’m working in the morning, so it worked out perfectly.”
Hugh leaned forward. “Tell me about you.”
Her stomach lurched. I’m exhausted and I spend every minute trying to make ends meet and make sure Layla’s okay. “There’s not much to tell.”
“Come on. I watched you in the bar. You’re really good at your job, but I can see the gears of your mind clicking away. What do you think about? What do you like to do?”
“I’m afraid I’m pretty boring. I work two jobs and take care of Layla. Until tonight, I haven’t been on a single date since I got pregnant, and I’m not sure why I agreed tonight, to be honest.” What happened to me? I can’t stop talking.
“It’s because you felt sorry for me for rescuing yourself from the dirtbag who grabbed you instead of letting me be your knight in shining armor.”
“Oh, is that it?” She laughed. “I wondered why I’d cave from my twelve-year-plan for some guy who sits in a bar all night but never drinks.”
“Wait. I’ll answer you, but what’s your twelve-year-plan?”
Shit. How could I let that slip? She wrinkled her nose. “Did I really say that aloud?”
“Yeah, I’m afraid so. Now you have to explain. I mean, twelve years is a lifetime. How do you plan twelve years ahead of time?”
She drank her coffee, debating her answer. She’d come this far and he hadn’t run away. She might as well expose it all. “Twelve years is how long it is until Layla turns eighteen.” She shrugged. “If I don’t date for twelve years, her life is easier.”
He drew his eyebrows together. “So you weren’t planning on dating until she was eighteen? That’s admirable.”
“I’ve made it six years already, so I’m a third of the way there.” God, has it really been that long? “I figure the less confusion the better. Besides, when it’s just me and her, I know where our emotions are.”
“So you haven’t dated since you got pregnant, and you’re doing this to avoid emotional contact?” Hugh’s serious tone caught her off guard.
“No, not to avoid emotional contact, just to protect Layla. You know how relationships are. They’re like roller coasters. They’re good; they’re bad; there’s jealousy and feelings taken for granted. And then when you finally relax, the other person takes off. So it’s just easier to avoid all of that when she’s growing up. I’ll have plenty of time after she’s eighteen. I’ll only be…thirty-nine.” Thirty-nine. Holy shit. That was the first time she’d calculated out her age in accordance with her plan.
He leaned forward again, and Brianna’s heartbeat sped up.
“Do you have any idea how commendable that is?” Then he took her hand and whispered, “Or how sexy?”
His touch sent a zing of excitement through her. His big, warm hand felt like heaven. It’s been way too long. I’m losing my mind. “Kat just calls me crazy.”
“My mother died when I was a baby, and my father has never been with another woman. He still talks to her.” He leaned back in the booth. “You know, I don’t think I’ve shared that with anyone. Anyway, you’re doing what you think is best for your daughter, and there’s nothing sexier than that.”
She covered her face. “You’re making me blush again.”
He reached over and pulled her hand away from her face. “Your face is too pretty to cover up.”
“You’re either a really smooth player or just about the nicest guy I’ve ever met. God, what have you done to me? I don’t ever talk about me and Layla, well, except to Kat or Mack.” She looked into her empty coffee cup. “Did you put truth serum in here?”
ON THE WAY back to her car, Brianna wore Hugh’s leather jacket, and she looked so damn cute that he couldn’t wipe the stupid grin from his lips. It was refreshing being out with a woman who wasn’t clamoring to be taken to fancy restaurants or to be photographed with the paparazzi. Hugh wondered if he could hide his identity a little longer.
“I had fun tonight. Thank you for inviting me for coffee.”
One look in her trusting eyes and he knew he wouldn’t lie to her. “Bree…” He didn’t know what he wanted to say, but when she stopped walking and looked at him, he had the desire to kiss her. He closed the gap between them, wrestling with the urge. He didn’t want to hurt her or her daughter. She was trying so hard to do the right thing, and Hugh knew that if he pushed, she’d give in, and then what?
“Yeah?” she said just above a whisper. She licked her lower lip.
Don’t kiss her. Don’t kiss her. “I’m glad you agreed to have coffee with me,” he answered.
Her lips curled into a half smile, and disappointment shadowed her eyes. Did you want to kiss me? He was so confused. They walked back to her car behind the bar, and a fist tightened in Hugh’s gut. He thought he understood women pretty well, but Brianna had knocked him off kilter.