“Mama, mama!” Ashley squealed, and Carmen carried her over to Gillian who took the baby on her lap.
“I think Mama is the only word you know, isn’t that right, cutie pie?” Mark playfully asked Ashley.
“She’s only eleven months old and she makes lots of sounds and knows the meanings of some other words,” Carmen chided, coming to Ashley’s defense. “You can’t expect her to recite the Gettysburg Address.”
“Carmen, honey, I don’t expect anyone to recite the Gettysburg Address,” said Mark.
“‘Fourscore and seven years ago...” Carmen promptly launched into a complete recitation Gillian and Mark applauded when she finished.
Carmen bowed. “I had to memorize it in sixth grade or lose recess privileges. Since recess was the only part of school I liked, I learned it fast.”
“I can sing the entire score of ‘My Fair Lady,’ ‘The King and I’ and ‘Camelot,’ just to name a few,” boasted Mark. “Shall I?”
“You wouldn’t dare!” shrieked Carmen.
Gillian laughed, caressing Ashley’s thick dark brown hair, so like Devlin’s in color and texture. She gazed into the baby’s gorgeous blue eyes, which were alert and bright and framed by dark lashes and well-shaped brows. Just like Dev’s.
Ashley was a pretty baby who would grow into a strikingly attractive woman, her good looks her father’s legacy to the daughter he would never know. From the moment she’d realized she was pregnant, just a week after engineering her preemptive breakup with Devlin, Gillian had been convinced secrecy was her only option.
But now—
A knock sounded at the door, abruptly ending their laughter.
“What if it’s him?” whispered Mark.
“We’ll deal with it,” Gillian said firmly.
She started to the door, Ashley in her arms. “We can’t sit in here cowering every time there is a knock at the door.”
Brave words, but her heartbeat was hammering in her ears. When she opened the door to see Dev, his brother-in-law, and a beautiful young brunette standing between them, her pulses speeded into overdrive.
“Hi.” Devlin smiled at her.
Gillian immediately recognized his social smile, the one he bestowed on the public at large. Having once been the recipient of his private, intimate smiles, she could tell the difference and felt oddly cheated by this impersonal one.
“We’re taking a break and going out for a late lunch,” said Dev. “Would you like to join us?”
“You’re all invited,” Cade said heartily, his gaze sweeping the room. “My treat.”
Gillian cast a questioning glance at Devlin.
“My brother-in-law is a real neighborly sort of guy,” Dev drawled. “Even toward my neighbors.”
“I’m Kylie Austin, Devlin’s sister.” The young woman spoke up, smiling at Gillian. “Your baby is adorable.”
“Thank you.” Gillian studied Kylie. Her resemblance to little Ashley was startling. The same coloring, the same delicate features, plus the distinctive dark Brennan hair and blue eyes. It wasn’t hard to imagine Ashley looking like her aunt Kylie when she was all grown up. “It’s nice to meet you,” Gillian said politely. “And thanks for the invitation, but we’ve already eaten ”
“Is there anything you need?” Cade persisted. “From the store for the baby?”
Gillian looked at him, feeling a sickening wave of anxiety chum within her as she observed Cade staring fixedly at Ashley. It was as if he knew! But he couldn’t be aware of her baby’s relationship to Devlin Brennan, she silently argued. Dev himself didn’t know.
“We don’t need anything.” Gillian knew she sounded nervous and tried to cover it by smiling widely. “But thank you for asking. I appreciate neighborliness.” Her face felt as if it might crack, her smile was so wide. “Uh, goodbye.”
She started to close the door. To her relief, Kylie and Cade started to walk toward the elevator But not Devlin.
“Gillian.” He angled his way to stand in the doorjamb.
“What?” She hadn’t meant to snap, but that’s how it came out.
“I feel I should explain.” Devlin smiled wryly. “My brother-in-law is one of those take-charge types who feels compelled to take charge of whoever he happens to be around. When he sees a young woman with a child, he feels he should offer them food or something, I guess.” He shrugged.
“You want to make it clear that this invitation wasn’t your idea? Duly noted.” His insouciance vexed her, though she knew she should be feeling relieved. Whatever Cade Austin’s suspicions, Dev clearly had none. Gillian sucked in her cheeks. “I don’t need anything from you or your brother-in-law.”
She started to close the door, despite Devlin’s solid presence there. Perversely, he didn’t move, not even when the edge of the door was touching him.
“I’m trying to close this door,” Gillian said crossly.
“I noticed.” Dev crossed his arms and relaxed against the frame, as if oblivious to the door pressing against him. “I wonder how determined you are. Will you give up and wait for me to leave? Or are you going to try to slam the door shut with me in it?”
“Gillian is not a violent person,” Mark piped up. “Never fear, she won’t close you in the door.”
Devlin seemed to notice Mark for the first time. “And you are?”
“Hoping you’ll leave, Dr. Brennan,” Mark replied sarcastically.
“You’re keeping your sister and brother-in-law waiting.” Gillian heaved an impatient sigh. “And you’re keeping us from...from—”
“Listening to the score of ‘My Fair Lady,’” Carmen called. “So get lost, Devlin. Now!”
“Sorry for interrupting.” Devlin looked down at Gillian, who assiduously avoided his eyes. But the baby grinned at him and flexed her little fingers.
“Are you trying to wave goodbye, little lady?” Impulsively, Dev offered her his finger and she closed her small fist around it. “Can you say ‘bye-bye’?”
“Ashley makes lots of sounds and knows the meanings of some words but the only one she actually seems to say in context is Mama,” Mark said, sauntering over to join them at the door. “Not that she’s stupid or anything, but she’s not even a year old and you can’t expect her to recite the Gettysburg Address, now can you?” He subjected Devlin to a scorching once-over, his gaze lingering on certain strategic areas.
“No, indeed,” agreed Devlin hastily, his eyes widening. “Well, see you around, I guess.” He disengaged his finger from Ashley who was trying to carry it to her mouth to sample.
“Say bye-bye to your new neighbor, Ashley,” cooed Mark.
“Ba,” said Ashley.
“Not bad.” Devlin patted her tiny arm. “Close enough to ’bye. Keep practicing, Ashley, you’ll get it.”
He left, and Gillian quickly slammed the door shut. The sound reverberated throughout the hall
“I think Dreamy Doctor Devlin was afraid I had designs on him.” Mark was scornful. “He is hot, I’ll grant you that, but I would never fall for the rat who abandoned my pregnant