A Clandestine Corporate Affair(33)

What had happened to the carefree party girl? The one who would crawl out of her skin at the thought of a night at home? The one who had always been in motion, always in high gear and looking forward to the next adventure. Had motherhood really changed her so much? Or had it been Nathan? Back when they had first begun dating, she suddenly became not so opposed to the idea of settling down.

“So I guess tonight wasn’t such a hot idea,” Beth said on the way home.

Was she really that transparent? Beth sounded so disappointed, Ana was overwhelmed with guilt. “I’m sorry. I guess I just miss Max.”

“We’ve been out lots of times since you had Max and missing him never stopped you from having a good time.” She glanced over at Ana. “When a drop-dead gorgeous man asks you to dance and you barely give him a passing glance, I’m guessing it has more to do with Max’s babysitter.”

“I slept with Nathan.” She hadn’t even meant to tell her. She just sort of blurted it out.

Beth winced. “Okay. I guess I saw this coming.”

“It’s not going to happen again.”

Beth shot her a look. “Of course it isn’t.”

“I mean it. We both agreed that it was just something we needed to get out of our systems, and now it’s over.”

“That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Get him out of your system? With sex? You love the guy. Sleeping with him is just going to make you want him more.”

“Unfortunately I didn’t figure that out until after I slept with him. It wouldn’t be half as humiliating if I hadn’t been the one doing the seducing. Why do I keep doing this to myself?”

Beth reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, sweetie. Guys are scum.”

“He’s actually not. That’s the really awful part. He’s a great guy. A good man. He’s just not the man for me.”

Beth pulled up in front of her condo. “But you definitely aren’t going to sleep with him again. Right?”

“Definitely not.” Especially if that meant making the first move again. She had degraded herself enough.

“You want me to come in with you and stay until he leaves? Just in case?”

“It’s after midnight. You should get home.” She grabbed her purse from the floor where it had dropped. “Besides, I think I learned my lesson.”

Beth kissed her cheek. “Love you. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Ana got out of the car, waving as Beth drove away, then she made her way, a bit unsteadily, to the front door. What a lightweight she’d turned out to be. In her party days she could single-handedly drain an entire pitcher of drinks and still ace a sobriety test. Tonight she’d had three margaritas and she could barely walk a straight line.

She unlocked the door and stepped inside, surprised that all the lights were off. So was the television. From the glow of the fire she could make out Nathan’s form lying on the couch. He had looked beat when he got there. He must have fallen asleep.

She wobbled on her spike heels, so she tugged off her boots and crossed the room to wake him. But as she got closer she realized it wasn’t just Nathan there. Max lay curled up on his chest, head tucked under Nathan’s chin, sound asleep. One of Nathan’s arms was flung over his head, and the other was wrapped protectively around his son. Sudden tears welled in her eyes, and a lump the size of the entire state of Texas plugged up her throat.

It was, hands down, the sweetest thing she had ever seen in her life.

She sat on the edge of the couch and stroked her son’s soft little cheek. He was out cold, and so was Nathan. She rubbed Nathan’s arm to wake him.

His eyes fluttered open and he gazed drowsily up at her. “Hey, what time is it?”

“A little after midnight. I take it Max couldn’t sleep.”

Nathan rubbed Max’s back. “He woke up around ten,” he said softly. “I think he was upset that you weren’t here. He wouldn’t go back to sleep, so I brought him out here with me. I guess we both fell asleep.”

“I hope he wasn’t too much trouble.”

“Not at all. Did you have a good time?”

“Yeah, it was great,” she lied. “It’s always nice spending an evening with the girls.”

“I guess I should get him into bed.”

Ana rose from the couch. “You want me to take him?”

“I’ve got it.” He pushed himself gently up from the couch, cradling Max against his chest.