He glanced around as though to make sure no one had heard her. “Who said anything about babies?”
“You did, sir. And I think I’d better tell you…”
“Wait a minute.” He glared at her. “I was not talking about babies. I was just trying to make conversation. And I’m definitely not in love.”
“Oh.” She sat back and pressed her lips together.
His glare lightened into a doubtful frown. “Why would I be talking about babies?”
She glanced up at him. “You said earlier that there was something magical about babies.”
“It was just a common observation.” His gaze sharpened. “Why would that make you think I was…in love?”
She shrugged, then looked at him searchingly. “Well, usually a man who is thinking about babies is planning to get married.”
“Hah!” He nodded knowingly. “There’s the problem right there. The marriage thing. That’s where everything always goes wrong.”
Maggie frowned at him. Her own marriage had been far from ideal, but she was definitely in favor of the institution. “What have you got against marriage?”
He paused while the waiter set a crab salad before Maggie and a steak sandwich in front of him.
“I’ve seen a lot of marriages,” he told her, nodding the waiter away. “I know a thing or two about them.” He took a bite of his garlic pickle and savored it as he thought over what he was about to say. “My uncle Joe, for instance, has been married seven times so far, and counting. And every single time, he’s sure that this is the one, the true love of his life. The honeymoon is terrific. He’s walking on air. And before the year is out, he’s headed for divorce court. Again.” He took a bite out of his sandwich as though he’d settled the matter for good.
She watched him eat through narrowed eyes. She couldn’t let his opinion stand as though it were proven fact. “Have you ever considered that the flaw might reside in your uncle, and not the institution of marriage?” she asked him crisply.
“Of course. I’m not naive.” He looked up and met her gaze.
As usual, that set off a tingle of reaction that she was beginning to wonder about. She could see that he was about to come back with something he obviously considered a zinger, but suddenly he hesitated. He seemed to remember that he was trying to charm her, not browbeat her, and he smoothly shifted gears.
“All this is just my opinion, of course. I know you’re married, and for all I know, you may be quite happy with that situation. It seems to agree with you just fine. You’re certainly blooming.”
Maggie blinked. Two years a widow and he didn’t know it. Well, that just about took the cake. It was beginning to look as if she wouldn’t dare go on maternity leave. He wouldn’t recognize her when she tried to come back.
Kane went on talking, but Maggie was having trouble following what he was saying. The food was delicious, but she couldn’t eat more than a few tiny bites, and she spent most of her time pushing food around on her plate with her fork, hoping he wouldn’t notice how little she was consuming.
She was getting very nervous. She had to find a way to tell him about her pregnancy. She’d tried once, but he hadn’t let her get her sentence out. She had to do it. Now.
“Mr. Haley,” she said when he’d paused for more than a few seconds. “There’s something I really have to tell you.”
“Say, look at the time,” he said, glancing at his watch. “We’d better get back to the office. We still have that contract to get out before five.”
She opened her mouth to try again, but he was already sliding out of the booth and reaching to help her. It was too late to do it now. Maybe back at work would be better anyway.
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