The Bachelor's Baby Dilemma

“What other prom?”

“Your senior one. Did you go? Was it everything it was supposed to be?”

“It was okay, I guess. I took a girl who was the party type, but that’s what I was into by then. Mostly we got drunk and passed out in the hotel room all of us had rented.”

“All of you?”

“The group I went with. It wasn’t a lone date, like yours and mine. And if it’s any consolation, I had a horrible hangover the next day. Oh, and I got cussed out by my dad. I don’t remember what it was about. I just remember him yelling at me over the phone.”

Candy barely knew Tanner’s father. He’d traveled for work and was hardly ever home. But when he was there, she’d noticed how the family had to jump to his tune. Obviously, it had only gotten worse after the divorce. “You’re going to be better with Ivy than he was with any of you.”

“I’m sure as hell going to try. Maybe I can get some pointers from Eric. He’ll understand the father/uncle thing. It’s probably the same in his tribe.”

“When do you plan to talk to him?”

“I don’t know. But I’d like to meet Dana, too.”

She had a brainstorm. “I can arrange for the four of us to get together. Maybe I can have a barbecue here next Sunday, if everyone is available. They can bring Jude, their son, so you can get used to being around a baby. Or a toddler, in his case. He’s around fifteen months. But he’s still within the age range that Ivy will be while she’ll be under your care.”

“That sounds great. I agree that it might take a little pressure off me to be around their son. I don’t know anyone else who has a baby.”

“I’ll call them tonight, and if they can come, then I’ll text you and let you know what time to be here on Sunday.”

“Sounds like a plan. I can bring some steaks for us meat eaters to toss on the grill, if that’s okay.”

“Dana and Eric are both meat eaters, so I was going to provide something for the carnivores, but if you want to do it, I don’t mind. I’ll make plenty of salads and side dishes.” She paused to think about what was in store for her. “If this barbecue happens, it’ll be my last hurrah.” Her final party at the house. “As soon as it’s over, I’ll have to start packing and putting things in storage. That thirty-day escrow is going to smack me upside the head if I’m not ready for it.”

“And that baby is going to knock me upside mine if I’m not ready for her.” He stood up, ending the visit. “Hopefully I’ll see all of you on Sunday.”

Candy came to her feet, as well. “I hope so, too.” She wanted to say goodbye to her house in a festive way, but she also wanted to make things easier for Tanner, giving him and Ivy a chance to flourish here.

Chapter Four (#ulink_4494de2c-3563-51a4-9973-b8e7c896a341)

On the day of the barbecue, Tanner went to the market and picked up three porterhouse steaks. While he was at the store, he considered a hostess gift for Candy.

Maybe an assortment of candy in honor of his old nicknames for her? No, that wouldn’t do. She was too much of a healthy eater now. Besides, he didn’t want to make this about the past.

A bottle of wine? He shook his head. She might not even be serving alcohol at this get-together.

A bouquet of flowers? That didn’t seem right, either. She could pick flowers from her yard and put them in a vase if she wanted to. How about a potted plant, instead? Once again, he nixed it. A plant would be in the way while she was in transition from the move.

Finally it hit him: seeds. She could plant them when she was resettled and ready to start a new garden. Flowers, fruits, herbs, whatever he could find.

Pleased with the idea, he paid for the steaks, then checked his phone and located a nursery. Luckily, it was only a few blocks away.

He drove there, parked his truck and went into the main building, where he found an impressive display of seed packets. He selected them at random, hoping to get a nice variety.

He looked around and noticed a gift bag, already equipped with a bow, so he grabbed that, as well. Once he paid for everything, he put the seeds in the bag, ready to see Candy.

On his way to her house, he wondered if they were becoming friends, if this was the start of something new and fresh. And if it was, how would it affect the heat between them? Would their attraction get in the way? Or would they be able to rein it in?

By the time he turned onto her street and parked his truck, he was as confused as ever, unsure of what to expect when he was around her. But he wasn’t going to let it bog down his brain. Part of the reason she’d arranged the barbecue was to help him get comfortable in an environment where a baby was involved, and he was determined to do that.

He didn’t see Eric’s, car so he assumed that he and Dana weren’t here yet. There were quite a few other vehicles parked on the street, though. This was the type of neighborhood with lots of activity, especially on weekends.

After exiting his truck, he gathered his purchases, climbed the porch steps and noticed that the front door was open. Was that an invitation to enter without ringing the bell?

Splitting the difference, he knocked on the door frame, then poked his head in and called out, “It’s Tanner.”

No one replied. But maybe Candy was in the backyard, setting things up.

He stepped inside and Yogi came around the corner and flashed her big brown eyes. An untrained dog would have run out the door and down the street. This one obviously knew her boundaries.

“Hey, girl,” he said. “Where’s your mistress?”

She turned and looked in the direction of the kitchen.

Impressed, Tanner patted her head. It was like talking to Lassie. “Thanks. I’ll go on in there and give her the steaks I brought.” Yogi sniffed the market bag, and Tanner smiled. “I’ll give you some of mine after it’s cooked, if you’re allowed table scraps.”

On his way to the kitchen, he put the gift bag on the dining room table. He would give it to Candy in a little while, rather than hand it to her right away.

Upon entering the kitchen, he saw her at the counter, shucking corn. The butcher-block island was filled with food she’d already fixed: a relish platter, potato salad, diced fruit, cheese and crackers, chips, dips.

She was facing the window with her back to him. She was also listening to a music device that was clipped to her clothes and plugged into her ears.

She danced while she worked. A soft sway of her hips. The song must have been light and easy. He could have watched her all day. She was wearing a fitted top, khaki shorts and sandals. The bareness of her legs left him wanting more.

More skin. More of everything.

Guilty, he glanced around for the dog. Sure enough, Yogi was observing him while he admired Candy. Tanner made a sheepish expression. It was bad enough that he couldn’t control his attraction to her, let alone getting caught by a Labrador.

“Go tell her I’m here,” he said, making a motion he had no doubt the dog would understand.

Yogi did exactly what he asked and went over to Candy and nudged her leg.

Candy turned and spotted him, removing the buds from her ears. “Oh, my goodness. How long have you been there?”

“Not long.” Tanner tried to behave as if he hadn’t been ogling her. Thank goodness the dog couldn’t talk. “The door was open. I assumed it was okay.”

“It’s totally okay. But I lost track of time.” She glanced at the microwave clock.

He glanced at the clock, too. It was 2:11. The invitation was for two. “When do you think Eric and Dana are going to get here?”

She dusted the corn silk from her fingers. “They called a while ago and said they were going to be late. They wanted to be sure that Jude got his nap before they brought him over. Otherwise he gets more hyper than he already is.”

Jude was the kid who was supposed to make the baby thing easier, but he was starting to sound like a holy terror.

“He’s always into something,” Candy continued. “Perpetual motion, like his mother. But you’re going to adore him. Everyone does.”