Page 29 of Baby Maker

He shrugs, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, his gaze intent on the television. "Eh, I finished up and sent her home."

"What a guy," I manage, although my dinner—and all the whiskey—threaten to make a reappearance.

Keegan laughs in earnest now, pushing a lock of my hair behind my ear. "I'm joking, Calli."

"You sure?"

"Quite positive. Actually, you interrupted a Fawlty Towers marathon, so you do owe me."

Now it's my turn to chuckle. "I call crap on that. You watch Fawlty Towers?"

"How is it easy to fathom that I was screwing some nameless woman but impossible to believe that I watch Fawlty Towers?"

"Like you said, you're a cad. Remember?"

"No, my words were that you thought I was one. I'm actually a gentleman."

The warmth floods through me, but this time, I know it's not the whiskey. It's him. Keegan’s proximity opens the gate to my heart, letting the blood flow unbidden through my body. It also calls to mind how very ungentlemanly he was the other night, as his hands and mouth claimed me. "You're an incredible man. But, I still think your claim of being a Fawlty Towers fan is bollocks."

"You'd be wrong. My mom loved the show, and I grew up watching the reruns. I still do when I go visit. It's my definition of family bonding time. I take it you don't like the show?"

"I love it, but Nigel hated it, so I had to sneak in episodes when he wasn't home."

He swivels on the barstool, facing me. "Tell me about Nigel."

"You don't want to hear about my husband."

"Sure, I do. We're friends, right? Friends know these things."

I nod, but the term friend is sticking in my craw in the most uncomfortable way, even though I'm the one who used the descriptor first. A part of me wanted him to negate my earlier words because a larger part of me, no matter how much I fight to admit it, wants more than friendship with Keegan.Much more.

Even if it's not a possibility.

Hell, at least he's a lovely distraction. Those heated moments the other night play through my dreams—both sleeping and awake. That man's tongue… all I know is that if he's that amazing kissing my mouth, what might he do kissing other parts of me?

"You okay?"

Keegan's innocent question jerks me from my x-rated daydream. "Sure. Why do you ask?"

"You're flushed. I thought maybe the whiskey was getting to you."

Sure, we'll go with that answer. "I'm good. You want to know about Nigel. Let's see… he was a banker—"

"Don't feed me the bullshit information. Tell me the good stuff. Why did you love him?"

With a sigh, I lean against the bar, letting my darling Nigel enter the forefront of my mind. "So many reasons. We met at a pub in Scotland. I was there with Simon, actually, not long after we broke up."

"You dated Simon?"

"For about a minute, and it was a terrible idea. But, we stayed friends because we loved each other too much to part ways. So, we went to this dank pub in Edinburgh, which was freezing cold. I think it was colder inside than out, and that's saying something. We walked to the bar, and I looked to my left and caught this man watching me. He was so obvious about it, not bothering to look away when I glanced in his direction. Suddenly, I wasn't cold anymore."

A muscle jumps in Keegan's jaw, but his face remains impassive. "Love at first sight. Isn't that what they call it?"

"I don't believe in love at first sight. I believe in recognition at first glance. Your soul recognizes something in the other person's soul. There's a familiarity there, and they're not a stranger to you, even if you've never said a word to them. It's such an unusual feeling, and it's rare."

"Once in a lifetime, huh?"

"I always thought that, and when Nigel died, I believed my chance at love died with him. But I hate to think that I'm destined to live out my life alone. I have a tremendous capacity to love, and it seems ironic that I no longer have anyone to give it to. Domino will only accept so many snuggles." I wipe my cheeks, unaware when the tears started. "God, I'm a mess. I don't cry in front of people. I didn't cry at Nigel's funeral. Yet here I am, bawling in front of you. Again."

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