Page 71 of Pipe Dreams
“Drooling,” Castro said quickly. “Watch your jacket, actually.”
But Lauren wasn’t worried. It wasn’t, as a matter of fact, one of her prettiest outfits. Elsa had pointed that out rather harshly, but it was half true. “What do you think, Xavier? Are you teething? Is that why you’re so drooly?”
He jammed one chubby fist into his mouth and seemed to agree with her.
“Dude, you passed my child to the first set of willing hands, didn’t you?” A woman with Castro’s coloring and a cheerful smile punched her brother in the biceps. “I’m Jackie,” she said to Lauren while Castro rubbed the spot on his arm that his sister had punished.
“Lauren,” she said, smiling at Jackie, who wore an empty baby sling over her dress and munched on a carrot stick. “I’m happy to hold him.”
“Still. I was trying to get my brother to do a little aversion therapy. How am I ever going to get any free babysitting out of him if he’s afraid of the baby?”
“I’m notafraid,” Castro sniffed. “Just... inexperienced. And Lauren asked.”
“I’m sure you put up a big fight,” Jackie teased.
“He did,” Lauren lied. “But I was adamant. In fact, I’m tempted to tuck him into my carry-on and take him home with me.”
“She does that,” a big, brassy voice cut in. “The baby is a boy, right? So be careful. Lauren is famous for helping herself to men that aren’t hers.”
Lauren’s face began to flame even before she heard other conversations stop around them. Embarrassed, she lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “Miranda,” Lauren said icily. “How’ve you been for the past two years?” She gave her old adversary the once-over. The woman was draped in diamonds, because her husband had had a good run in the NHL before he retired from the team last year.
Miranda Chancer tossed her hair and grinned. “Good,” she said with a chuckle. “Same old, same old.”
“Is that right?” Lauren said, easing little Xavier back into his mother’s arms, because her hands had begun to shake. “I would ask if you had any new hobbies. But I can tell that spreading lies is still your favorite pastime.”
In the dreadful silence which followed, Lauren turned away, her heart racing. She took three steps toward the elevator banks, but someone squeezed her elbow. Hyped up on adrenaline, she whirled toward her captor.
Mike.
“Hey,” he said. “God. That was... Are you all right?”
She didn’t let him finish. “I’m fine.” She jerked her arm out of his grasp and made her escape.
He followed her, but Lauren was fast. She made it into an elevator, and as the doors slid closed she saw him halt, his worried face studying her as she disappeared.
Lauren felt a hot slap of shame for sinking to Miranda Chancer’s level. She’d delivered an artless insult—even less clever than the one a thirteen-year-old had delivered only moments earlier. And,hell. At least Elsa had a shot at growing out of such uncouth behavior.
Damn it. She’d lost her cool, and right in front of the team. And Mike.
As the elevator slid higher, she wondered how much he’d heard, and whether he’d seen her fawning over that baby, too.
Life was simpler five weeks ago when he wasn’t around all the time.Please, Lord, she prayed.Let them win this next round in five? I’m trying to move on, here. But I need your help.
An hour later she’d managed to relax. This was accomplished via the overpriced single-serving bottle of cabernet she’d removed from the minibar, and the spread of magazines across her lap. The television was tuned to a singing competition of some kind. It wasn’t interesting but the laughter made her feel less alone.
She heard a rapping sound, like someone knocking on the door.
Lauren muted the TV to see if it would repeat.
It did.
With a sigh, she tiptoed into the suite’s living room and crept closer to the peephole. Since her phone was off, she had no idea if Nate was looking for her.
It wasn’t Nate. Lauren froze there and waited for Mike Beacon to give up and retreat back down the hall.
But he knocked again. “Come on, Lo. I heard the TV mute. It was one of those talent shows you used to watch. Open the door.”
Damn him. “Don’t kill my buzz,” she said through the door. “I’m over it already, if you came to apologize for...” Miranda? Elsa? Abandonment? He could really take his pick. “...for whatever.”
