Page 44 of Flynn

“He has.” Ryleigh busied herself with her meal and avoided the woman’s eyes. Flynn had told her his mother knew about them, but she did not want to give the woman hope. She had no idea what it was between them and refused to ponder it.

Lifting her eyes to look at Julia, she added. “I don’t want you to read anything about what is happening between us.”

“My dear, I am pleased with how things turn out.”

“It’s not a relationship.” She hated to burst the woman’s bubble, but she respected and liked Julia and did not want her to have high hopes about something that would not last after she delivered the baby.

The sex was convenient, and she was woman enough to admit that it was the best she had ever had, but the fact remained that after the baby was born, they would both be going their separate ways. She was not in the market for a relationship, and that was that.

“My son spends his nights with you.” Julia pointed out with equanimity, a knowing expression on her lovely face. “And he is happy. I never thought he would be again after the incident with that woman and my brother.”

Ryleigh refused to be flattered or react at all. “I am sure it’s the fact that he will be holding his baby in his arms in several months. It has nothing to do with me.”

“Is that really what you think?” The quiet voice had her squirming on the chair. The restaurant was not complete, something she was grateful for. After the harrowing experience of the night before, she had wanted to stay home and just relax. She still had the bruises, and her ribs were hurting.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” She said firmly, shaking her head as the woman opened her mouth to say something else. “Let’s talk about the doctor’s report.”

*****

“You cooked.”

“I cooked,” she glanced at him. “Don’t look so surprised. I can cook; I just never have the time to do so.”

“It smells good.” He had called and said he was on his way, and she had disengaged the alarm and left the door unlocked. She had to admit that his presence made her feel safe and secure, and she was becoming accustomed to having him here.

“What is it?”

“Beef stew.” Dipping the wooden spoon into the thick liquid, she took a careful sip and decided it needed more seasoning. “Lots of vegetables.”

“Good.” He had shed his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt.

“What can I do?”

“Set the table. I bought French loaf to go with the stew.” She nodded to the breadbasket. “And I made a salad.”

“Where are we having the meal?”

“The dining room. I think it’s time I made use of it.”

They worked together in companionable silence. After she finished preparing the meal, he set the table with the snowy white tablecloth and her finest china. He also brought out the salad bowl and the wicker breadbasket. She insisted on him having wine with his dinner while she poured herself a glass of fruit punch.

“Your mother and I had lunch.”

He looked up from the stew he was enjoying.

“What did she want?”

“The usual report on the pregnancy.” Ryleigh took a bite of the delectable beef. “And to tell me how delighted she is with how things have progressed between us. I could tell from her expression that she expects to hear wedding bells soon. I had to disabuse her of that train of thought.”

“What did you tell her?” Not by any change of expression did he hint at what was going through his mind.

“I told her that it was just something physical between us and she should not expect anything.”

“I see.”

He just said those two words, but it was like he had told an entire sentence. His face was expressionless, and he was still calmly eating his meal, but the silence spoke volumes.

“Isn’t it?” She felt compelled to ask as the silence stretched out further.