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“You ood at your job”

He slipped the phone back into his pocket “I hope o I hate to miss out on that meal, but babies don’t wait”

“I understand”

“Would it be all right if I coet in on leftovers?”

“That sounds fine to me After lunch?”

“Then it’s a plan See you then” He turned to head out the door and stopped Co back, he offered her his hand “If I don’t help you up, I’ht still be on the floor when I return tomorrow”

“Are you iet up off the floor by myself?” She accepted his hand He helped her rise She did it with grace

With her on her feet, he put up his hands as if defending hinant woo See you later”

Her soft laugh followed hirin on his face, so he’d done more in the last few days than he had in years

The next afternoon Phoebe wasn’t sure as happening but she was going to take Ryan’s help while it was being offered She’d sat around for too long with no direction Well aware that she needed to be getting the baby’s rooether, she hadn’t had the heart to do so It was just too sad to work on it by herself Having the bed assembled made her want to do more It needed sheets, blankets There should be other pieces of furniture, pictures on the walls

Next weekend she’d go to soe sales and see if she could find a few ite so athe room painted

She’d hardly finished her lunch sandhen there was a knock at the door Ryan stood there Dressed in cargo pants and a white T-shirt that hugged his well-defined physique, he was a fine-looking man Mrs Rosenhei Ryan proved that just because she was pregnant it didn’t mean that she couldn’t be affected by a h breath to say hello

“Hey,” he said in that drawl that left her feeling like she was sitting beside a cool streaI’ll still have tio to the store before it closes”

“Okay It’s this way” This was the first ti He seemed focused on the project She kind of liked the fact that he didn’t see her as only a pregnant woman

At the shed, she started to raise the roll-top door Ryan stopped her by placing his hand over hers His hand wasn’t smooth, l

ike she had expected for a midwife Instead, it had a coarseness to it that spoke of a loves all the time

“Hey, you don’t need to be doing that Let et it”

What would have taken her great effort see a blind

“The paint stuff is stacked up over there” She pointed to the right and toward the back of the shed

“I see it” He leaned over soather the ite her with a nice view of his behind

“Would you s?”

It took her a second to answer “No”

Ryan looked over his shoulder and gave her a speculative look “Here” He handed her a few brushes and a package of rollers, then ca an armload of drop cloths and a paint tray “I think this is everything I need”

They walked back to the house Phoebe held the door open for hi supplies on the floor of the baby’s room by the time she entered He took what she carried from her and added them to the pile

Scanning the roo in here?”

She looked at it Ryan’s drive to get things done was surpassing what she had thought through “I had planned to put it in the living roos around so it’ll have a place Give me a minute and I’ll see what I can do”

“You’re notby yourself”

Phoebe faced him with her hands on her hips “I appreciate your help Really I do, but up until a few days ago I had no help No one telling me what I should and shouldn’t do I ae for me to do so, I’ll call you”

Ryan’s look ot his attention

“I’m sorry I stepped over the line, didn’t I?”

She nodded “Yes Just a little bit”

“Then please let htly

“Thank you I will” She left the roorateful for Ryan’s help but she wasn’t needy, despite what her behavior at his house had implied

In the living roo small items off an end table Ryan’s soft whistle drifted up the hall It was nice to have sorew It would be nice to have a baby in the house