“But it’s notjusta book club.”
“Sara, if they’re running a brothel I don’t want to hear about it.”
She laughed. “They used to have a secret function, but it’s not a secret anymore.”
“I really don’t need to know?—”
“Relax. They read and critique Desiree’s work before she sends it to the publisher. They also brainstorm plots and help her with story problems. Nobody in town was supposed to knowDesiree’s a bestselling author, so until recently they couldn’t breathe a word of it.”
“I was going to ask her why she decided now was the time to go public after thirty-five years.”
“Gee, I wonder why you forgot?”
“I wonder.”
“I think adding another bookstore has something to do with it. That’s Lucky’s project and she wants him to succeed. In a couple of weeks she’ll do a signing at the new Louis L’Amour and More bookstore in Apple Grove. It’ll be the first time M.R. Morrison has ever been seen in public.”
“That should bring in business.”
“Oh, yeah. My brother Trent created the marketing plan for that store. He’s almost as excited about that as he is about the baby.”
“When’s the due date?”
“Not for six months. Brittany’s not even showing yet, but Trent’s already the most excited daddy-to-be I’ve ever seen. It’s adorable.”
“Do you want any?”
She glanced over to find him looking at her with an affectionate smile.
“Kids?”
“Yeah.”
“Sure, someday. Why?”
“Because while you were talking about your brother’s baby, I had this sudden vision of you with a round belly, and how nice you’d look.”
His comment brought a flush to her cheeks and stirred a reaction deep in her core. “If you think you got a glimpse into the future, I’m not planning on it anytime soon.”
“I don’t know what it was. I’ve never looked at a woman and imagined her pregnant.”
“Doyouwant kids?”
“I haven’t let myself think about it. I’ve been too focused on this trip.”
“Maybe your subconscious is telling you something.”
“Could be. I haven’t let myself get serious about anyone, either.”
“So you put your life on hold?”
“I didn’t see it that way, but yeah, that’s exactly what I did.”
“And now you’re free to move forward, find someone special, make some babies.” What a depressing image.
“Possibly.”
“I hate to say it, but having a fling with me is going in the wrong direction. You need to keep your powder dry, as they say.”
