A Baby Under the Tree Read Free Page A

lot.”
    He’d also had a competent—and beautiful—female partner who’d managed to gain the respect of the entire precinct, and a wife who’d been jealous of the time they’d spent together, even though it had always been work-related. But there really wasn’t any reason to go into that.
    â€œMy husband,” she began, “or rather, my ex- husband, traveled on business, too. But I hadn’t bargained on his infidelity while he was on the road, and I refused to forgive him for it.”
    Something in her eyes, in the gentle tone of her voice, convinced him she was being honest.
    Again, his conscience rose up, suggesting he unload his whole story on her. But what was the use? He knew nothing would amount from this…whatever this was. A mere conversation, he supposed. A pleasant diversion for two battered ships passing on a lonely night.
    It was too early to predict anything more. And with him living and working two hours away in BrightonValley… Well, there wasn’t much chance of this becoming anything else.
    She leaned forward. “Can I ask you a question?”
    â€œSure, go ahead.” But Shane couldn’t guarantee an answer.
    â€œDo all men cheat?” Those brilliant tropical-blue eyes nailed him to the back of his seat. “Did you? ”
    The raw emotion bursting from her question—both of them, actually—took him aback, but he was glad he could be open and honest with her, at least about that. “I suppose a lot of men are tempted, and some give in to it. But I didn’t.”
    He’d been brought up in the church and had been an altar boy, which didn’t necessarily mean anything. But more important, his parents had been happily married for nearly forty years. Divorce had never seemed like an option to him. And neither had lying to or cheating on a spouse.
    â€œI’m glad to hear that.” She slid him a pretty, relief-filled smile, as if he were some kind of hero.
    A man could get used to having a woman look at him like that. And while Shane had never really thought of himself as particularly heroic, even when he’d been one of Houston’s finest, it was nice to be appreciated for the values he did have.
    â€œI don’t suppose you’d like to join me for dinner,” she said.
    Her suggestion, which was more than a little tempting, knocked him off kilter, especially since he had other plans.
    He didn’t need to look at his watch again to knowthat it was time for him to head across town to Jack’s house for that party. Nor did it take much for him to envision a houseful of kids on sugar highs.
    But that kind of scene didn’t bother him too much. What really got to him, what shook him to the core, was the sight of an infant nursing at its mother’s breast or a toddler bouncing on daddy’s knee.
    He loved his nieces and nephews—even the babies. He really did. It’s just that whenever he was around them, he was reminded of his loss and his pain all over again.
    â€œIt would be my treat,” Jillian said, those azure eyes luring him to forget what he’d set out to do in Houston today—and soundly winning the battle.
    â€œEither I pay for dinner or we split it,” he said. “I’m old-fashioned about things like that.”
    â€œAll right. We’ll split it, then.” She blessed him with an appreciative smile. “I’ve never liked eating alone.”
    Riding solo—at meals or through life—had become a habit for Shane, but right now, he was looking forward to spending a little more time with Jillian, even if he knew that’s as far as things would go.
    â€œWhere do you want to have dinner?” he asked.
    â€œI have a room at a hotel down the street. Why don’t we eat there?”
    In her room?
    Or at the hotel?
    â€œThey have a couple of nice restaurants to choose from,” she added.
    Okay, so she hadn’t issued a