Dreams of Her Own (14 page)

Chapter 18

The following day, Millie carried a tray up to Darcy’s bedroom. No soup this time, but a hearty beef stew. Maybe she could escape unscathed.

Darcy set aside her Kindle when Millie walked in. “Ooh! That’s smells good. I’m starving!”

Her words, and the fact that she hadn’t lost her appetite, warmed Millie’s heart.

Millie placed the bed tray across Darcy’s legs, below her belly, and draped the napkin across what was left of her lap. “Just let me know when you’re finished and I’ll come back for the tray.” She turned to go.

“Wait. Come sit.” Darcy patted the other side of the bed next to her.

Wondering what this could be about, Millie rested a hip on the mattress while Darcy took a bite of stew. “Mmm. Delicious!”

Millie waited patiently as Darcy swallowed.

“So, Laura’s Super Sex Sensor was right yesterday,” she started, eyeing Millie’s face.

A flush crept up her throat, spread over her face, all the way to her hairline. Why did she suddenly feel like a sixteen-year-old who’d been caught making out with her boyfriend? Only she and Ian had done more than make out. Way more.

“And I think Ian is the likely suspect.”

Suspect?

Before she could say anything, Darcy continued. “I’ve seen how you look at him. And quite frankly, how he looks at you. Like you’re the tastiest dish he’s ever seen.”

Millie’s flush bloomed into a full-on hot flash.

“I think it’s great.” Darcy laid her hand over Millie’s. “I just want you to be careful. You’re not the one-night-stand type, and, as much as I like Ian, I’m not sure he’s the white-picket-fence type.”

Mortified at first, Millie began to see that Darcy’s heart was in the right place, but she didn’t want Darcy worrying about her. She had other more important things to concern herself with. Like recovering from a concussion. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine. I have no expectations where Ian is concerned.” In fact, she had no expectations where
any
men were concerned. They just didn’t fall for women like her.

Darcy held her gaze. “Well, if you want to talk about it, I’m here.” Taking another bite of her stew, she rolled her eyes in pleasure. “Now,” she said around a mouthful, “what are your plans for Christmas?”

Millie shrugged. She had none. But she didn’t want to horn in on Josh and Darcy’s first Christmas as a married couple. “I’ll probably spend it at my parents.”

Darcy lifted a brow. “I thought your parents didn’t do Christmas.”

“They don’t,” Millie prevaricated. “I’ll just spend the day there.”

“Well, if you change your mind, my family’s coming here, since I can’t go to them. You’re welcome, too.”

“Thank you.” Millie left it at that. She didn’t expect to go to her parents. She would settle in with a good book, maybe work on her manuscript. Write her first authentic sex scene, she thought with glee, and dine on leftover roast turkey and mashed potatoes from the diner.

Ian entered the kitchen in search o
f coffee. And, truth be told, Millie. Instead, he found Josh working at the kitchen table. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were here,” Ian said as he left the room.

“You’re not disturbing me.” Josh ran two hands through his hair, looking a little frazzled. No surprise there, after the last two days. He rose and walked over to the coffeemaker, poured himself a cup and invited Ian to do the same.

“I, uh, I’m glad you’re here,” Josh said, discomfort written all over his face. “Have a seat.” He indicated the chair across from his.

Ian frowned, wondering what this was all about. A problem with his work? “What can I do for you?” Might as well clear the air.

“Well, you see,” Josh hedged, “Darcy asked me to speak to you. And when your pregnant wife, who is filled with raging hormones and recovering from a concussion, asks you to do something, you do it.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “No questions asked.”

“Shoot.” Ian looked Josh in the eye. If this
was
about his work, he wanted to know so he could fix it. He had a reputation to protect.

“It’s about Millie.”

Ian felt his brows wing up.
Millie?

“Darcy thinks you two are a . . . thing.”

“I see.” He should be pissed that Josh sat him down to talk to him like a father would the horny teenager dating his daughter, but Josh’s actions spoke volumes about how much Millie meant to Darcy. And to him.

“And, I’m not just speaking for Darcy here. Millie is a good and loyal friend to Darcy, but I think of her as the baby sister I never had. And I wouldn’t want to see my sister hurt.”

Ian waited for Josh to continue.

“I know you’re both adults, but Millie has lived a, shall we say, sheltered life, and may be more vulnerable than most women her age. So, I’d appreciate it if you would keep that in mind. I’d hate to have to kick your ass,” he finished with a warm smile, but his eyes held the truth of that statement. He wouldn’t hesitate to protect Millie.

Ian nodded. He didn’t want to hurt Millie either. “Understood. I’d hate for you to have to kick my ass, too.”

“So, we’re good then?” Josh asked as his hands slapped the table.

“We’re good.”

Later that evening, after several hours trying to ma
ke sense of the RFP instructions, Ian had had enough. His stomach growled, and with nothing in the fridge, he’d have to go out. But the thought of eating dinner out alone depressed him. Caleb and Jillie had gone to Buffalo for Christmas, and Ruby was likely asleep by now.

He wondered about Millie. Would she be home alone? He’d promised himself he’d leave her alone. Not lead her on. But truth be told, he missed her company.

What the hell. It was only a burger.

Taking a chance, he called up her number on his cell phone and tapped the call option.

“Hello?”

He smiled at the sexy, throaty voice on the other end. “Millie, hi, it’s Ian.”

“Ian? Is everything okay?” she replied, her voice anxious.

He realized he’d never called her before. No wonder she sounded worried.

“It’s fine. I’m going to grab some dinner. Care to join me?” Crickets. “Millie?”

“Oh. Yes. Sure.”

“Great. I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes. That enough time?”

“Uh, sure.”

“See you in a few.”

Ian’s face split into a big grin.

Thirty minutes later, after picking up Millie, Ian pulled up in front of Sea Witch. Helping her from the truck, he ushered her into the warmth of the pub.

Finding a booth in the corner, he slid in across from her. Dressed in her usual brown, her hair in a bun, her cheeks pink from the cold, she surveyed the room, taking in the large oval fish tank on one wall and the bold mural on another.

He’d never brought a woman here. It had always been his and Caleb’s place. “This is my favorite burger joint,” he offered.

Millie nodded as the waitress came over to take their drink orders and drop off menus.

“Hi there, Ian. Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Hi, Kendra. Been pretty busy.”

“You’re usual?”

“Yeah.”

“And for you?” Kendra turned to Millie.

“I’ll have what he’s having.”

Kendra lifted a brow, then shrugged. “I’ll get your orders in.”

Millie watched with great interest as Kendra walked over to a comput
er to punch in their order, wondering if she and Ian had a . . . relationship.

“Kendra’s a single mom, working here and putting herself through school,” Ian volunteered. The corner of his mouth twitched. “And, no. We’ve never dated.”

She couldn’t say why, but relief swept over her. Not that it was any of her business who Ian had dated, or was currently dating for that matter. They’d only had sex, right? Ian had never promised or even alluded to anything more than that. Look at her, being all Laura-esque. “She’s pretty,” Millie murmured, finally shucking her coat and gloves.

Feeling Ian’s eyes on her, she asked, “What?”

“For a native New Yorker, you don’t seem to handle the cold very well.”

“No. Winter is not my favorite time of year.”

“I like the spring and fall. Great time to have a motorcycle.”

“Ian, why did you ask me to dinner?”

Clearly surprised by her forthrightness, he paused. “Because I consider you a friend. And I like your company.”

She glanced down at the table, then couldn’t suppress the smile that played around the corners of her mouth as she reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Thank you.”

“And I think you like mine.”

She gazed down at the table again, before nodding. “Yes. I do,” she whispered, tempering her excitement.

Recalling his conversation with Josh, he added, “But let’s keep things light, okay? No promises, no commitments.”

Her hopes took a bit of a hit. But what had she expected?

He tilted his head sideways to get her attention. When she looked up and nodded, he said, “Good. We’re on the same page, then.” Picking up his root beer, he threw out what was clearly intended to be a conversation starter, “So, what book are you currently reading?” He took a swig of his drink.

Masters and Johnson
! As if the flush in her cheeks weren’t enough, she felt he
r face go up in flames at Ian’s innocent question. She couldn’t tell him she was alternating between
The Joy of Sex
and the
Kama Sutra.
She’d been especially interested since she and Ian had . . . Well, since she’d had sex. She went with the other book she’d been reading. “
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
.”

Ian blanched, choking on his root beer.

Appalled at what he must be thinking, she stammered, “Oh. No. I mean, I’m not. It’s for Darcy.”

“Good to know,” he said, nodding, as his eyes watered.

“What about you? What are you reading?”

“
How We Die
.”

“Oh.” Sorry she asked, Millie searched for a change of subject, then decided to be direct. “So, your friend, Ruby, she’s not doing well?”

He spun his glass in a circle on the table, contemplating it as if it held the secret to life. “She’s holding on, but the reality is she’s not going to recover from this.”

Hesitating, she bit her lip, then reached out her hand, covering his. “I’m so sorry, Ian. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.”

He regarded their hands. “Thank you, but unless you’ve got a miracle up your sleeve, there’s nothing anyone can do.”

A pall fell over the table, then Kendra arrived with their orders.

“Holy cow!” Millie blurted, as Kendra placed the mile-high burger down in front of her.

Ian’s mouth lifted in a half grin, “Literally.”

“I don’t know how to eat that.”

“One bite at a time,” he instructed as he hefted the burger to his mouth.

After paying the bill and helping Millie on with her coat, Ian was reluctant for the night to e
nd. The only thing he had to look forward to was the RFP with its
War and Peace
version of
instructions.

“Hey, can you keep a secret?” Ian asked.

“I work in the home of a best-selling romance author, and as you know, overhear all manner of things, of course I can keep a secret.”

“Right. Well, I’m working on a surprise for Darcy. Josh asked me to build a crib.”

Millie turned to him, a look of wonder on her face. “Really?”

“Yep. Almost finished. Just needs another coat of varnish. Would you like to see it?”

Eyes beaming, she nodded.

A short time later, Ian drove into the loft’s garage space and shut off the engine.

“You live in this huge building all alone?”

“For now. There are plans in the works to convert the upper floors into apartments.” He showed Millie to the heavy oak door he’d found at an architectural salvage store and opening it, tried to see the space through Millie’s eyes. Did it appear cold and unwelcoming?

“Wow,” Millie said. “This is so spacious.”

He directed her to the western corner of the building where he’d set up his residence. “This gives me space for everything all in one place.” He pointed out his office, living area, kitchen, and finally his shop. Flipping on a light, Ian indicated the crib.

Millie looked up at him and then walked over to it, reaching out to touch it. “Can I?”

“Sure. The varnish is dry.”

“It’s beautiful. And you built this yourself?”

“Yes. Some people crochet to relax, I build and restore furniture,” he said with a shrug.

After inspecting the crib, she wandered over to a burled walnut dining table. “And this?” Her hand skimmed the stripped surface of the table.

“I’m refinishing it. Found it in a renovation I completed last year. The new owner didn’t want it. It’ll be beautiful once I’m done.”

“You’re very talented.”

“Thanks. Can I get you something to drink?”

“You wouldn’t happen to have any tea would you?”

“I think I can scrounge up a bag or two.” Allowing her to precede him into the living area, he said, “Take off your coat. Make yourself comfortable.” Another first, he’d never had a woman in his loft before. Course he hadn’t lived there for very long.