seeped out of every pore in Wendy’s body.
“Oh, thank goodness,” she muttered.
Claire smiled wryly. “Did you get any sleep at all last night?”
“A couple of hours here and there,” she admitted. “This caring for a baby gig is way harder than I expected.”
“Oh, honey, you said a mouthful there.” Kitty gave a low whistle, no doubt remembering her own new-to-mothering days. Walking with an exaggerated sway, Kitty crossed to the bassinet, so she could lay the baby down. “And at least I had seven months to get used to the idea.”
The room fell silent as Kitty eased the sleeping Peyton down. Claire trotted off to the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with a steaming cup of coffee. “With cream and sugar,” she said as she handed it over. “I assume all sane people take it that way.”
Wendy took a grateful sip as Kitty asked, “Can we get you anything else? Something to eat maybe? I can’t cook worth a damn, but Claire could McGyver a feast out of the barest cupboard.”
Wendy didn’t doubt it. “I think I’ll save room for another doughnut.”
“You sure?” Claire asked, in hushed tones so as not to wake the baby. “I could whip up an omelet. Or something else? I saw some nice Gouda in the fridge when I was foraging for cream.” With a smile she added, “I could make you a grilled cheese sandwich so good you’ll cry.”
“No, thank you.”
“You should try the grilled cheese,” Kitty urged. “It’s amazing.”
“No, really. I’m okay.” Wendy looked from Kitty to Claire, suddenly suspicious. “Why do I get the feeling I’m being plied with food for nefarious reasons?”
Kitty and Claire exchanged a look.
Wendy raised an eyebrow. “Come on, spill. What’s up?”
Claire’s cheeks reddened with what Wendy could only assume was guilt. Kitty played her cards closer to her chest. Her expression revealed nothing.
“Okay, obviously you have some bad news for me. Either that or you’re going to try to get me to join a cult. Which is it?”
Claire bit down on her lip, her chin jutting out at a rebellious angle.
Kitty gave a little eye roll and sighed with obvious exasperation. “Fine,” Kitty said, managing to flounce a bit while sitting almost perfectly still. “We’re worried about Jonathon.”
Wendy gave a little grunt of surprise and sat back against the sofa. “Worried? About Jonathon?”
“Whatever is going on between you and Jonathon,” Claire began, “obviously has something to do with Peyton.”
Wendy opened her mouth to protest, but Kitty didn’t give her a chance.
“Jonathon wouldn’t talk about it, so I assume you won’t either. That’s fine. But we’re not idiots. Don’t forget, you told Ford why you were resigning just twenty-four hours before you and Jonathon announced you were getting married. If I had to guess, I’d say you’re pretending to be some happily married couple so your family will let you keep Peyton.”
Well, so much for hiding the truth from their friends.
“As convoluted and bizarre as that seems,” Kitty continued. “We’re not going to try to stop you.”
“We’ll even play along,” Claire added in. “Anything you need from us, you’ve got.”
“But when you’re off playing house together, just be very careful.”
For a long moment, Wendy had no idea what to say. She turned away from their careful scrutiny and walked over to the bassinet where Peyton lay sleeping.
She thought about the conversation she’d had with Jonathon before they’d signed the prenup. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who thought she was in danger of falling in love with him. And here she’d thought she’d hid her attraction to him so well over the years. Was she really so transparent?
Glancing back at Kitty and Claire, she forced a perky smile. “Look, I admit Jonathon is a great guy. I’ve always thought so. But I know his dating history probably better than either one of you. I know he doesn’t open up easily. I’m not going to make the mistake of falling in love with him.”
Claire and Kitty exchanged nervous glances, seeming to have an entire conversation with just their eyebrows.
“What?” Wendy demanded after a second, crossing back to the sofa to get a better view of their unspoken exchange.
Claire kept her mouth shut.
But it was Kitty who admitted, “Actually, it’s him we’re worried about.”
Wendy sank back to the sofa. “You’re worried about Jonathon? Falling in love with me?”
Claire nodded.
“Not me falling in love with him, but him. Falling in love.
With me.”
Kitty gave an elegant wave of her hand. “Obviously we don’t want to see you left brokenhearted either. But you’re a smart woman. Very practical. We just assumed you can look out for yourself.”
“But you’re worried that Jonathon, the brilliant, analytical CFO is going to get his feelings hurt?” Wendy fought back a giggle.
“Well,” Claire hedged. “Yes.”
Wendy looked from one woman to the other, her amusement fading. “You’re serious?” They nodded.
“I know that Jonathon seems…” Claire trailed off, searching for the right word.
“Detached,” Kitty provided. “Ruthless.” Claire glared her into silence. “You’re not helping.” “Like a heartless bastard,” Wendy offered quietly. “Yes!” Kitty agreed.
“But he really isn’t,” Claire said quickly. “Don’t forget, I’ve known him longer than you have.”
Which was technically true. Claire had grown up in the same small town as Matt, Ford and Jonathon. “But you’re younger than he is. You didn’t even go to school together.”
“We overlapped some,” Claire argued. “And I’ve seen him in love. Senior year, he was…” she trailed off, apparently struggling to convey the full force of his emotion. “He was just head over heels in love. Crazy in love with this girl. He would have done anything for her.”
“Who was she?” Wendy found herself asking.
Claire hesitated. “Just a girl at school. Kristi hadn’t grown up in Palo Verde. Her parents were divorced and she moved there to live with her dad her sophomore year.”
“And they dated?”
“A little.”
