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And it was ruining their lives
Carol felt they couldn’t go back and yet they couldn’t step forward, either The idea of seducing Steve and getting pregnant had, in the beginning, been entirely selfish She wanted a baby and she considered Steve the best candidate… the only candidate After their one shortat the restaurant, Carol knew her choice of the baby’s father went far beyond the practical A part of her continued to love Steve, and probably alould She wanted his child because it was the only part of hied on the outcome of this dinner Carol pressed her hands over her flat stomach and issued a fervent prayer that she was fertile Twice in the past hour she’d taken her te her body would do its part in this htly elevated, but that could be caused by the hot sensation that went through her at the thought of sharing a bed with Steve again Or it could be sheer nerves
All day she’d been feeling anxious and restless with anticipation She was convinced Steve would take one look at her and instantly know she intended for hiht The crux of her scheain and again, her plans for the evening circled herthe air
The doorbell chi breath, Carol forced a smile, walked across the room and opened the door for her ex-husband "Merry Christmas," she said softly
Steve handed her the poinsettia as though he couldn’t get rid of the flower fast enough His gaze didn’t quiteat her, which pleased Carol because it told her that the red dress was having exactly the effect she’d hoped for
"Thank you for the flower," she said and set it in the middle of the coffee table "You didn’t need to do that"
"I remes each year and figured one htful of you, and I appreciate it" She held out her hand to take his coat
Steve placed a sos," he explained aardly "I suppose they’re still your favorite candy"
"Yes I have a little so for you, too"
Steve peeled off his heavy jacket and handed it to her "I’ht the flowers and candy because I wanted to contribute soift isn’t much, Steve"
"Save it for someone else Okay?"
Her teed to keep it intact Her sing his jacket in the hall closet, but she hoped he hadn’t noticed
"Would you like a hot-buttered ruood"
He followed her into the kitchen and brought the bottle of rum down from the top cupboard while she put water on to boil
"When did you cut your hair?" he asked unexpectedly
Absently Carol’s fingers touched the straight, thick strands that crowded the side of her head "Several er"
Gritting her teeth, she ed to bite back the words to inform him that she styled her hair to suit herself these days, not him
Steve saw the flash of irritation in his ex-wife’s eyes and felt a little better The comment about her hair wasn’t what she’d wanted to hear; she’d been waiting for him to tell her how beautiful she looked The problem was, he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her from the moment he entered the house The wisecrack was a result of one flirtatious curl of blond hair that swayed when she olden lock Neither could he stop staring at the shape of her lips nor the curve of her chin, nor the appealing color of her china blue eyes When he’d ht he’d been on the defensive, waiting for her to drop her bombshell All his protective walls were lowered now He would have liked to blame it on the Christmas holidays, but he realized it was ave hi to him as she’d always been Perhapsto happen They would spend half the evening verbally circling each other in an anxious search for coht was an evening out of sequence, and when it had passed they would return to their respective lives
When Carol finishedroom and talked The alcohol seemed to alleviate some of the tension Steve filled the silence with details of what had been happening in Lindy’s life and in his career
"You’ve done well for yourself," Carol admitted, and there was a spark of pride in her eyes that warmed him
Steve didn’t inquire about her career because it would involve asking about Todd, and the man was a subject he’d sworn he would avoid at all costs Carol didn’t volunteer any inforround rules
A half hour later, Steve helped her carry theirall day"