The Baby Track by Barbara Boswell Page A

know what hit her until she wakes up tomorrow morning in my bed.” He headed purposefully toward the table.
    “Blitzkrieg?” Courtney echoed, staring after him.
    Connor wrapped his fingers around her wrist, effectively manacling her. “It’s no use trying to stop him, Gypsy. Kaufman is like a guided missile—once fired, nothing can deflect him from his trajectory.”
    “Oh, I wasn’t going to try to stop him,” Courtney said dryly. “If there were ever two people in the world who deserved to meet, it’s those two.”
    “Wicked, Gypsy.” Connor grinned. His eyes narrowed as he followed Kaufman’s progress to the Harcourt’s table. “I take it that’s your boyfriend, the inestimable Emery, sitting there?”
    “That’s Emery,” Courtney agreed, not bothering to correct his misassumption. It seemed wiser—and safer—not to.
    “He’s kind of pale. Is he anemic?”
    “Not that I know of.”
    “He’s not exactly the life of the party, is he? In fact, he looks so morose he could hire himself out as a professional mourner at funerals.”
    It was an unfortunately astute observation, but loyalty to poor unhappy Emery kept Courtney from agreeing. “I’m not going to stand here and listen to you rip Emery to shreds. He doesn’t deserve it. And I’d like my hand back, if you don’t mind.” She tried to pull her wrist out of his grip, to no avail. It was like trying to shake off a locked handcuff.
    “I was simply stating a few facts about Master Emery, not attacking his undoubtedly sterling character,” Connor said coolly. He released her wrist. The way she leapt to Har-court’s defense was annoying. The fact that he found it annoying was even worse. His lips thinned into a straight line. “But we’ve wasted enough time—we have to discuss our visit to Nollier’s office tomorrow.”
    “Tomorrow?” Courtney repeated. Her dark eyes widened. “I didn’t realize we’d start so soon.”
    “The sooner the better,” he said briskly. “I called Nollier’s office this afternoon and set up an appointment for tomorrow at one. His secretary put me through to him and I spoke to him personally. He said to prepare to leave for Shadyside Falls after our meeting tomorrow afternoon.” “Tomorrow?” Courtney echoed incredulously. “But Kaufman said couples went to Shadyside Falls weeks or months after their initial visit.”
    Connor shrugged. “Nollier said our timing is incredibly lucky.” He smiled a shark’s smile. “And it is, but not for him.”
    Courtney gulped. “I—I’ll have to make arrangements with my boss to spend time away from the office.”
    “Will that be a problem?”
    “No.” She shook her head. “But do you really think that we should rush into this? I mean, we only decided to do it today and—”
    “In the immortal words of Kieran Kaufman, ‘Fools rush in, etcetera.’ ” Connor’s voice lowered. “Getting cold feet, Gypsy? Maybe you can’t trust yourself to play the role of my wife without wanting to—”
    “Don’t say it!” Courtney said hotly. “Don’t even think it!”
    Connor laughed, his earlier irritation dissolving as he gazed into the fiery dark depths of her eyes. She amused him, excited him as no woman ever had. And tonight, his trusty bachelor alarm failed to sound. He felt cocky and dangerous, he felt like taking a few risks.
    “Let’s go out on the terrace and talk all about tomorrow, Courtney.” He took a step toward her.
    Courtney took a step back. She had seen the long terrace that lined the outside of the ballroom when she’d arrived with Emery. It was dark, lit only by the moon and stars. And it was secluded. A couple could be completely alone
    and unobserved out there____
    She took another step backward. Her eyes met Connor’s and a slow smile crossed his face.
    “Keep walking, Gypsy.” He provided the necessary incentive by walking toward her. “Just keep on going. The terrace is only a couple hundred steps away.”
    Four
    She could