Page 55 of The Bad Girl and the Baby

Regan gave a sly grin. “How was it?”

“None of your business.”

“Leave her alone,” Summer said. She got up and went to the fridge, pulled out a bottle of white wine then three glasses from the cabinet. She opened the bottle, poured wine into each glass, and handed them around. Then she took her seat again and grinned. “So how was it?”

Darcy downed the wine, held out her glass for more—there was just the one class on Sunday, so the rest of the day was her own. She’d drink wine and lie on the sofa, maybe watch a movie. Summer filled her glass.

She realized the other two were waiting for an answer. She wasn’t going to discuss sex with Matt, but just to keep them off her back, she offered… “The best.” She drank some more wine. “But we’ve both agreed that it’s no big deal. Neither of us is looking for anything long term. We’ll just have…some fun.”

“Sounds like a plan. Except Mr. Serious Soldier Boy doesn’t look like the fun type.”

“He’s not the long-term relationship type, either.”

Regan cast her a sharp glance. “And are you? You planning to marry Soldier Boy?”

She gave Regan her best withering look. “Hardly.” She shrugged. “I don’t plan to marry anyone. And I’ll be careful. I won’t risk messing things up with Matt because of Lulu.”

The other two cast each other a meaningful glance. Trouble was, Darcy had no clue what it meant. “What?” she snapped.

“Well, honey, we’ve been there. We’ve done the whole ‘we’re not getting involved, it’s only sex’ thing. And it didn’t work.”

“Yes, but it was different for you two. You were both in love, and now you’re both getting married. That’s never going to happen with me and Matt.”

“Why?”

“Because he told me so.” She gave another shrug. “He doesn’t do marriage, and I don’t do love. We’re safe.”

“Except you’re more than halfway in love already,” Summer said.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I didn’t mean with Matt. I meant with Lulu. You make out you’re such a hard-ass, but we’ve seen you with her. You’d do anything for that little girl.”

Darcy wasn’t ready to go there. She was still trying to get her feelings about Lulu sorted out. But she knew Summer was right. And that scared the hell out of her. Lulu was so small, so vulnerable. She needed love and stability and a proper home. And Darcy could give her none of that. She hadn’t been able to keep Emma safe. Why would she think she could do any better with Emma’s daughter?

Luckily, it wasn’t down to Darcy. Matt would do his best for Lulu. Unless something happened to him. He’d all but admitted that his job was dangerous.

Don’t think about the future.

That was the best option. For now, at least. This would be a time out.

“I am a hard-ass. And I don’t need to do anything for Lulu. She’s got Matt.”

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