Small Town Secret: Mayfield Springs Book 1 by Carrie Curtis Page B

seemed to smile a little at that answer. Or did I imagine his smile because I so desperately wanted to be with him again?
    "I'm pleased for you," he continued. He clearly thought about what he'd just said and how it could be interpreted. "Um. That didn't come out quite right. I didn't mean I was pleased you were single. I meant I'm pleased that you're a mother. I always thought I'd like to have kids one day."
    I balled my fists up and dug my fingernails into the palm of my hand to make sure I didn't blurt out, She's yours! Chris, you're her father . I wanted to say it so much, wanted to yell it to the entire room, but I sat in silence and politely nodded.
    "Thanks," I said calmly, while my knuckles were turning white beneath the table. "I'm sure you'll have children someday."
    "I hope so." He drained his glass. "Have you got any photos?"
    "Uh?"
    "Of your daughter?"
    I hesitated for a moment, terrified that if he saw her face, he'd know in an instant that he was looking into his own eyes. She looked so much like him, with her thick, silky, blonde hair and dazzling smile. But something made me take the risk. Pulling my phone out, I showed him my screensaver. It was Bella, just after a bath wrapped up in her favorite ducky towel. Her eyes shone brightly through the strands of wet hair that covered her face.  
    "Aaaaw, she's a real cutie," he said as he handed the phone back to me.  
    "Thanks, I think so too. Bella's the loveliest little girl."
    "I can see that," he said.   "She must take after you."  
    I looked away abashed.  
    "Erm... thanks. You should meet her sometime."
    Oh God, why did I say that? What was I thinking?  
    Thankfully, Chris spied the waiters bringing out dessert and changed the subject. "I wondered what was taking so long. I'm still starving," he said looking over the top of the other guests' heads.  
    "I thought you were on a diet of raw vegetables and grass fed protein," I commented, feeling more confident after a couple of glasses of wine. I needed to be careful, if I had too much more, I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut.  
    "How do you know that? I didn't think you'd be one for watching my interviews," he asked.
    "I watch you on TV all the time," I admitted casually.
    Urgh, shut up Amy you idiot. He's just going to think you're just another starstruck fan.  
    "Well, that's kinda nice to know," he said.  
    "Really?"'
    "Sure," he said placing an arm over the back of my chair. "It's nice to think that you were with me over the years of my career, in a way."

    "Oh yay, dessert!" Claudette bounced up and down in her seat and clapped her hands like a three-year-old.  
    As it arrived at the table, I looked down on my plate. It looked nothing like any sweet treat I'd ever seen. It looked more like an assortment of weird nuts and brown stuff.  
    "Mmmmm..." Claudette tucked in. "It's raw chocolate," she said with the air of a chocolate connoisseur. "Definitely raw with cold pressed orange extract."
    "Yes, I think so too," chimed in one of the other bridesmaids. "It's divine, and I love the hemp seeds and Medjool dates."
    As the bridesmaids virtually orgasmed over their superfood dessert, I nibbled on the nuts and wondered what all the fuss was. I wanted a goddamn cheesecake, preferably with a lot of whipped cream on top, not some macrobiotic concoction invented for fussy New York pseudo-yogis.  
    I pushed my plate towards Chris. "You can have mine."
    "Awesome," he said, tucking in. "I really shouldn't you know, but I'm off duty I guess. I'll hit the gym as soon as I'm home."
    Of course, Chris would be leaving again. When I was with him, it was easy to forget that he wasn't going to stay in Mayfield Springs forever.  
    "When are you going home?" I asked, trying to sound as casually interested as possible.  
    "In a couple of days," he said, dabbing the corners of his mouth with a napkin. "Filming starts again on Thursday."
    "Oh." Of course, he wouldn't be staying for long, and he wouldn't be