Waking Up Pregnant(45)

                “Yes, he’s the climber. But you can’t seriously be suggesting this is a date? Now? He’s her doctor and she’s preg—” His words cut off when, pointing in Darcy’s direction, Jeff caught sight of her, stopped talking and straightened, his eyes going dark as he stared at her.

                “Hello, Jeff,” she offered lamely, not quite knowing what to make of the interaction she’d walked into. Particularly as she was the subject...and yet not really a participant.

                Jeff cleared his throat and wiped his expression clear.

                “Beautiful, Darcy,” he said, offering a polite smile that didn’t reach his eyes. His hands went into his pockets, and she could swear she saw them ball into fists beneath. “Looking forward to tonight?”

                There was any number of different ways she could answer. Most of them began with the word no. But out of respect for Gail and Grant as well, she was having difficulty voicing even one of them.

                Gail began to collect the rest of the outfits she’d brought for Darcy to try. “Of course she is. Grant is a lovely man, and I know how appreciative we all are for the way he’s given up so much of his time to personally check on her.”

                Ugh. The guilt trip. Even seeing it for what it was, her resistance crumbled. She had to go.

                Schooling her features the way she’d done at the bar, she offered a nod.

                Jeff stared at her a moment, a question forming in his eyes before his brows pushed high and he turned to his mother. “Oh, no way are you making her go out with him.”

                Darcy opened her mouth to defend Gail—but in a blink Jeff and Gail were going head-to-head.

                “Making her? Please—”

                “This is about that whole Mrs. Someone-suitable business—”

                “She’s a gorgeous, vivacious, available woman—”

                “—can’t even wait until after the baby—”

                “—any man would be lucky to have—”

                “I know that!”

                “And you’ve made it clear you aren’t—”

                “She’s not interested—at least not tonight. So she’s not going. Period.”

                The truth was, she was too beat to care that they were arguing over her life like she wasn’t there. Which really made Jeff’s next move—pulling out his phone and calling Grant himself—probably for the best.

                “Sorry, man, she’s exhausted...no, I don’t think a quick exam is necessary. Just some rest... Right. Mmm-hmm... No, you and Mom should go and have a great time.... I insist. I’ll make sure Darcy gets whatever she needs.” He shot her a wink and mouthed the words cake and pizza and something inside of her gave an almost painful twist.

                Gail let out an infuriated growl and stalked out of the room, leaving Darcy and Jeff alone.

                “I think I love you.” She sighed, using the words in a careless joking way to underscore their throwaway quality, so there was no misunderstanding what had to be a look of utter adoration on her face. Hero worship for the man who’d just rescued her night.

                Jeff flashed her his crooked smile, tucking the phone away.