A Clandestine Corporate Affair by Michelle Celmer Read Free Book Online Page B

took a sip of wine, noticing the lip balm mark on the empty glass. That must be her glass, meaning she was drinking out of Nathan’s glass. The idea of putting her lips on the rim where his had been sent a warm shiver down her spine.
    Ugh! She was hopeless. She dumped it down the sink and set the glass down.
    â€œI probably shouldn’t have invited him to stay for a glass of wine either,” she told Beth.
    â€œMaybe this is a stupid question, but did you want him to kiss you?”
    â€œNo.” She paused, then blew out a frustrated breath. “And yes . I still have all these feelings for him. But damn it, he already eviscerated my heart once. I would be a moron to go back for seconds.”
    â€œYou know I’ll stand by whatever you decide to do, hon, and this probably goes without saying, but be careful. Don’t jump into anything without thinking it through first. Okay?”
    â€œI won’t, I promise.” At least, she would try. “The problem is, when I’m close to him, it’s like my brain ceases to function. Like…animal magnetism or something. It’s been that way since the day I met him.”
    â€œWhen are you going to see him again?”
    â€œHe’s stopping over to see Max tomorrow evening around seven.”
    â€œAnd Max goes to bed at eight-thirty?”
    â€œYeah, why?”
    â€œWell, if something was going to happen, it would be after that, right?”
    â€œI suppose.”
    â€œThen why don’t I call you around eight forty-five. That way if you need moral support, I can talk some sense into you.”
    She hated to think that she would be that weak, but why take chances? “I think that sounds like a pretty good idea.”
    â€œYou’re tough, Ana. You can do this.”
    Beth was right. She had been through worse things than this, so why, right now, wasn’t she feeling so tough?

Five
    A ny time Ana had spent worrying that Max and Nathan might not bond had been a big fat waste.
    Max adored Nathan. He’d been utterly fascinated with him since the second Nathan walked in the door, and spending the last two hours watching them play had flat out been the most heartwarming, confusing and terrifying experience of Ana’s life.
    For someone who had so little experience with babies, Nathan did everything right. He was gentle and patient, but not afraid to play with Max, who was used to—not to mention lived for—roughhousing with the older kids in the playgroup. “He’s all boy, isn’t he?” Nathan said, his voice full of pride as he swung Max up over his head, making him squeal. He didn’t even seem to mind when Max smashed gluey bits of partially chewed zwieback into his designer shirt, or spilled juice from his sippy cup on Nathan’s slacks.
    Nathan was a complete natural with Max. So much so that Ana couldn’t help feeling a bit like the odd man out. Max was so focussed on Nathan, she had ceased to exist. She was actually a little relieved when it was time to put Max to bed. At least she would get a few quality moments with him when she tucked him in, but then Nathan asked if he could help get Max ready for bed. Since the day he came home from the hospital, Max’s bedtime was a ritual that had always been just the two of them. She knew she was completely unjustified in feeling that Nathan was overstepping his bounds. After all, they were supposed to be getting to know one another. Still, she couldn’t help feeling a little jealous. Especially when she got Max changed and into his pajamas, and it was Nathan he reached for to put him into bed. That was tough.
    â€œWhat should I do now?” Nathan asked her.
    â€œJust lay him in bed and cover him up.” She gave Max a kiss, then watched from across the room as Nathan lay Max, a little awkwardly, into bed, then pulled the blanket up over him.
    â€œGood night, Max,” he said, smiling down at him with the same