“He’s into real estate. He had to do something with all his winnings.” She tilted her head. “Is it tough for the two of you to share the spotlight? I mean with your large egos and all.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’ve seen my ego—you tell me.”
“Very funny. I guess if anyone would have the problem, it would be Josh. He’s been the favorite son for years. But I don’t think he’s the type to care if you get more of the attention.”
“You like Josh.” Raoul didn’t seem to be asking a question.
“Sure. I’ve known him most of my life. He was a few years ahead of me in high school. Very crush-worthy.”
“Did the two of you ever…”
She looked at him, pretending confusion. “Did we ever?”
“Get involved. Date.”
“Oh,” she said with mock understanding. “Did I ever see his ego?”
Raoul stared at her without speaking. She wanted to believe his interest was an important clue into how he felt about her. That even as they sat there, he was realizing he was wildly infatuated with her and seconds away from falling in love.
Or maybe not. Did she really need a guy in her life right now? Weren’t three potential children enough?
“We never dated,” she said. “I’ve never seen his ego.” She grinned. “Although his butt is on a screensaver, so I’ve seen that.” She lowered her voice. “Yours is better.”
“It’s not a competition,” he grumbled.
But he had been asking, she thought, amused. Raoul was such a guy.
She sipped her water, studying him. His dark hair fell across his forehead.
“You need a haircut,” she told him.
“No, thanks. It sounds too complicated, what with the warring hairdressers and all.”
“I’ll take you. Show you off.”
“Thanks.” He leaned toward her. “Have you told anyone about the embryos?”
“Marsha knows. She may or may not have told Charity. I’m waiting. I guess until it’s sure. I just didn’t want a lot of people speculating until there was something to speculate about. It seems wrong. This is Crystal’s moment, not mine.”
“You’re the one who’s going to be pregnant.”
“I’ll be peeing on a stick in a few days,” she said. “I’m thinking that will be a wake-up call.”
“I want to be there.”
“Okay, although that’s lovely, we’re really not that close.”
He shook his head. “In the house, not in the room.”
She wasn’t sure about peeing on command, especially with someone waiting to know the results, but she supposed she could run water or make him hum loudly.
“Okay.”
“Good.”
He handed her the last egg roll. The overhead light caught the thin scar on his cheek.
“What happened?” she asked, pointing to the scar. “Let me guess. You were helping an old lady across the street.”
“Would you feel better if I told you I got it in a bar fight?”
“Yes, but I’d think you were lying.”
“How about if I ran into a fence during practice.”
And impaled his cheek? She shuddered at the thought. “Maybe the bar fight makes a better story.”
“Whatever makes you happy.”
After dinner, he insisted on walking her home.
It was already dark and the night was cool. Pia pulled her sweater around her and crossed her arms over her chest. “We’ll have snow by November,” she said.
“Do you like winter?”
“Most of the time. We don’t get a ton of snow, which is nice. The resort is only a few miles up the mountain, but even a couple thousand feet can make a big difference. They usually get several feet. At least I don’t have to worry about shoveling a driveway. I can walk everywhere.”
He put his arm around her and drew her against him. “If you have any shoveling needs, just let me know.”
“More pregnancy-buddy duties?”
“Absolutely.”
“You should put out a brochure, so I can know what to expect.”
“I’ll do that.”
He felt warm, she thought as she leaned into him. Safe. All the things a pregnant woman could want in a man. Or a nonpregnant woman.
Once again she thought about the woman he’d been married to before and wanted to ask what had happened. But she wouldn’t. For reasons she couldn’t explain, Raoul wanted to take care of her for a little while. For someone who had been on her own since she was seventeen, having someone to lean on felt good. Especially now, she thought, pressing her hand to her belly.
They reached her apartment building. He held open the front door, then followed her up the stairs. When they reached her door, he turned and faced her.
“You going to be okay by yourself?” he asked.
“I’ve been living here for years. I can handle it.”
“If you need anything, call me.”
“I don’t want to interrupt your hot date.”
He adjusted the front of her sweater. “You’re my hot date.”
Words to make her heart beat faster, she thought, knowing giving in to emotional temptation would be a really bad thing.
“Raoul…”