Page 43 of About that Fling (The Can’t Have Hearts Club #2)

“She doesn’t have to know. We’ve been careful. Besides, a lot can happen in a few weeks. I just—I don’t think it’s the right time.”

Gert looked at her and nodded. “Fair enough. I can respect that.”

“Thank you.” Jenna squeezed her aunt’s hand. “So do you want to talk about this TV appearance?”

Gert smiled. Jenna could tell she was trying not to, but she practically glowed with it. “ Good Morning America . Can you imagine?”

“I can. You’re famous, Aunt Gertie. I’m proud of you.”

“I know it’s big, and I know everyone you work with would probably see it, but I just thought?—”

Ding-dong!

Jenna frowned at the door. “Who do you suppose that is?”

“Could be Mia. She forgot her overnight bag. That’s what I came out here to tell you. It’s over there in the corner.”

Jenna stood up and grabbed the bag, reminding herself to get back on track with this conversation the second Mia scurried off to her birthing class.

But when she flung open the door, it wasn’t Mia standing on the threshold.

“Adam? What are you doing here?” Her traitorous heart leapt at the sight of him, thudding in her chest and trying to crawl its way up her throat.

“My laptop,” he said, shuffling a little on the front porch. “I’m sorry, I forgot it in your backseat. I tried texting, but?—”

“I’ve been catching up with Gert.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I wouldn’t have come, except that I need it and you mentioned Mia had a class at three. I figured the coast was clear, especially since her car isn’t here.”

“Sure, no problem.” She felt more than a little bit bad about forcing the man she loved to act like a secret agent.

She glanced at her watch, relieved to see it was after three and Mia would be safely in her birthing class.

“I haven’t unpacked the car yet, but it’s in the garage.

You can come through the house to grab it. ”

“Thanks.”

She waved him through the door, pointing toward the kitchen. “Garage door is right over there next to the kitchen.”

“I’ll be quick,” he said, dipping his head a little as he stepped into the living room. “Gertrude—or should I say Gigi? Lovely to see you.”

“Lovely to see you, too, dear. And please, just call me Gertie.”

“Gertie, you’re looking ravishing as ever. I’ll just grab my laptop and be on my way.”

“Oh, please—stay!” Gert jumped up and followed him to the kitchen, trailing behind as he headed for the garage door. “I feel like I owe you a cup of tea at least. You missed out on the pot roast the other night.”

“I didn’t miss out.” He darted a look at Jenna that left her blushing to the tips of her hair.

“Right,” Jenna said, hurrying to the kitchen. “I’ll get the tea going. I left the car unlocked.”

“Thanks,” he said, scooting by her on his way to the garage. His elbow brushed her breast as he moved past, and Jenna felt faint all over again. She watched the door close behind him, wondering how it was possible to crave him this much after a weekend of having him over and over.

“Wow.”

She turned to see Aunt Gertie studying her with frank interest.

“What?”

“You’ve got it bad,” Gertie said, leaning against the counter with a Cheshire cat smile. “I’ve never seen you look at a man like that before. I didn’t realize things had become serious between you. That must have been some weekend.”

Jenna thought about demurring, but her smile broke through. “It was,” she said. “It was incredible. His family was amazing, and we talked for hours and hours about everything.”

“From the way you’re glowing, I’m guessing you did more than talk.”

She laughed and shot a glance toward the garage door. “I guess you could say that.” She lowered her voice. “He told me he loves me.”

Gert blinked. “Really?”

“And I said it back. I know this is fast, and I know we’ve only had a few weeks together, but?—”

“You don’t have to justify anything to me, sweetheart,” Gertie said, squeezing her hand. “Sometimes the chemistry is just there.”

“You’re telling me.”

The old woman smiled. “So you’re keeping things quiet for now?”

“For now.” Jenna bit her lip. “There are rules against colleagues dating at Belmont, and then there’s the other complication of Mia and?—”

Ding-dong!

Jenna frowned at the front door. “Now what?”

“Probably Jehovah’s Witnesses. I made the mistake of giving them some cookies last week, and now they keep coming back.”

Jenna glanced at her watch. It was only ten past three, so it couldn’t be Mia yet. Her birthing class was a full hour long. Jenna reached for the knob, ready to announce that her soul was beyond salvation and no, she wouldn’t like a copy of their special magazine.

But as she yanked open the door, a cold gust of wind hit her in the face.

So did the full force of what was about to happen.

“Mia.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said, wiping a smear of rain from her cheek. “I just couldn’t do it. I know it’s my last birthing class and this probably makes me a terrible mother. But I got halfway there and just couldn’t stand the thought of going in there alone without my husband when—Adam?”

Jenna turned slowly, knowing before she did that she’d see him standing behind her, looking as perplexed as his ex-wife did.

She held her breath as she watched the wave of emotion wash over his face, from recognition to anger to guilt all in the blink of an eye.

“Mia.”