boom, aren’t we?”
Milla chuckled wearily. “I think the population of Binghamton almost doubled in the past week alone.”
“We’ve sure got a boatload of Binghams represented here tonight,” Vanessa murmured in a bit of a non sequitur as she surveyed the crowded room. “There’s dear Miss Myrtle and Mr. Ron. And Mari and Geoff. You know this event’s a big deal if they brought him home for it. Then there’s Hannah, of course, I suppose she counts as a Bingham. Don’t she and your brother look happy, Cecilia?”
Cecilia smiled mistily across the room to where her handsome and utterly adored younger brother, Eric, stood attentively next to a lovely, and very pregnant, Hannah. The couple were so visibly in love—and so excited about the child they would soon welcome into their lives.
Eric was another exception to Cecilia’s general theory that most men weren’t interested in long-term family obligations. There was no question in her mind that Eric’s commitment to Hannah and her baby would last a lifetime.
And as happy as she was for her brother, she couldn’t help envying…
“Oops. Almost missed a Bingham,” Vanessa added cheerily. “Dr. Kyle is posed broodingly on the other side of the atrium, looking like he stepped off a GQ cover. He is one fine-looking young man, isn’t he?”
Cecilia’s smile deepened. “If you happen to appreciate blond hair, blue eyes, a pretty face and a perfect body. And who doesn’t, right, Milla?”
Her formerly pale face now bright pink, Milla murmured an answer, then made an excuse to move away. Something about seeing someone she needed to speak to.
With a slight frown, Cecilia watched Milla hurry away. Like others who worked closely with them, she hadn’t missed the sparks between the young nurse and Dr. Kyle Bingham. But something other than a possibly complicated attraction seemed to be haunting Milla, and, worrier that she was, it concerned her. “Does it seem to you that Milla’s been acting oddly lately, Van?”
“Who wouldn’t be, with that stupid lawsuit hanging over her? But she’ll be okay, don’t you worry. Mari and the legal staff will take good care of her.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” Telling herself to let the experts worry about Milla’s problems, Cecilia glanced discreetly at her functional, easily readable stainless steel watch. “Wonder how soon before we can make an escape? I’m ready to get home and crash.”
“I’ll try not to take that as a comment on my sparkling companionship.”
Smiling, Cecilia shook her head. “Like Milla, I’m just tired. It really has been a long day.”
“I’m about ready to head home, myself. George is supposed to have the kids fed and homework supervised, but you know how it goes. I’ll probably have to check to make sure it all got done. And I want to read Damien his bedtime story tonight.”
Vanessa couldn’t have known, of course, that her lighthearted words would go straight to Cecilia’s heart. Though Vanessa knew Cecilia wanted children of her own, she had no idea just how strong that longing had become.
It was with some relief that Cecilia was able to change the subject of the conversation. “I think someone wants to speak to you,” she said, nodding toward a young nursing student who was trying to get Vanessa’s attention. “Looks like a lively discussion is going on over there.”
Vanessa sighed. “I’m sure there is. That group is always getting into a debate about something—and I always seem to get called in as referee.”
“Mama Vanessa,” Cecilia teased. “Go take care of your chicks. I’m going to try to score another chocolate-dipped strawberry.”
“Okay. Catch you later.” Vanessa moved to the group of nursing students and was soon engaged in an animated conversation with them.
Cecilia worked her way slowly across the crowded atrium, pausing several times to chat with co-workers. She made sure she spoke to enough people to leave no doubt that she had attended the gathering—standard office politics. On the other side of the room, her brother and his fiancée were surrounded by well-wishers. She managed to swap smiles and waves with them, but she made no effort to join them. As a rising young executive in the Bingham corporation, Eric had his own politics to practice this evening.
And, speaking of Binghams…
She smiled when Geoff stepped in front of her again. “Still looking for a cheeseburger, Mr. Bingham?”
He chuckled. “Actually, I’m hungry enough now for a thick slab of steak and a huge baked potato. These little finger foods aren’t going to hold me any longer.”
“I know what you mean. I haven’t had time to eat since breakfast this morning.”
“So, how about it? Want to go find a steak?”
She blinked. “Um…now?”
“Of course. We’re both hungry. We’ve dutifully made our appearances at this official reception thing, and there’s no reason for either of us to stay any longer. So, if you have no plans for the remainder of the evening, I would be honored if you would join me for dinner.”
She could hardly believe that Geoff Bingham was impulsively asking her out within a few minutes of meeting her. Heck, she couldn’t even say they had met, officially. She was quite sure she hadn’t even told him her name. “We haven’t even been introduced.”
His grin deepened, pushing intriguing creases into his lean cheeks. “We haven’t, have we? Of course you already know I’m Geoff Bingham, and I know you’re Eric Mendoza’s sister, Cecilia. You’re a valuable member of the midwifery team here and highly respected by everyone who mentions you. I’d like to get a chance to know you myself.”
So he did know who she was. Maybe, she decided, he just didn’t like eating alone. Maybe he was using her as an excuse to get out of this reception—being the gentleman by feeding a hungry guest, being a good executive by getting to know one of the subordinates in the organization, getting better acquainted with the sister of the man who was marrying one of his cousins. All sorts of rationales could apply. The question was, did she want to accept?
Rather surprisingly, considering her earlier weariness and eagerness to get home, the answer was yes.
Maybe she was simply trying to postpone going home alone—again—to contemplate her life and her future. Maybe watching Eric and Hannah from across the room made her aware again of her own depressing lack of a social life, if she discounted a few disastrous blind dates—which she did. Or maybe she simply liked the idea of spending a couple of hours with an attractive, charming and interesting man.
Deciding she had no reason at all to turn him down, she smiled. “Would you mind if I order chicken instead of steak?”
Satisfaction gleamed in his clear hazel eyes. “That can definitely be arranged.”
Chapter Two
If he had known when he’d dressed for the evening that he would end up dining with a beautiful brunette, he wouldn’t have been so reluctant to attend the reception, Geoff mused as he studied Cecilia Mendoza across a cozy table a short time later. Melinda’s was busy this evening, as
