“So what do you think of Pennsylvania?” she asked. “It must seem terribly boring for you.”
Marcus paused in the midst of cutting his steak. “It’s not bad. I’m actually starting to like it, I think.”
“Really?”
One black brow rose. “If this is your attempt at shocking conversation, Claire, I have to say I’m rather disappointed.”
“I never agreed to your silly little stipulation,” she reminded him pointedly.
“I’m wounded.” The look he sent her of jaded amusement said he was anything but. “You should know that nothing I have is silly. Or little, for that matter.”
She laughed at his outrageousness. “You’re going to make me blush again.”
He cocked his head to one side and considered her. “God, I hope so. You get this really adorable look on your face when you blush.”
Adorable? The man thought she was adorable?
She sighed. If only she’d found a man like Marcus instead of a difficult, emotionally challenged, arrogant man like Logan.
“Well?” Marcus gave her an expectant look.
“Well, what?” Claire asked, dumbfounded.
“I’m waiting for the shocking talk.” He flashed her a dazzling smile. “Don’t tell me you’ve decided to be a chicken.”
“I had chicken for lunch,” she reasoned. “I might as well be one.”
“And you aren’t even finishing it,” he observed. “Is there something wrong with it? I know you can’t possibly be full. I’ve seen your sister in action.”
“Believe it or not, I am. The baby’s squishing my stomach.”
“Rude of him. Or her. Do you know if the baby is a boy or a girl?” he asked, looking genuinely interested.
She shook her head. “The doctor asked if we wanted to know at my last checkup, and we decided we didn’t. I like the idea of a surprise.”
“So the baby’s father is involved in the pregnancy then?” Marcus took a sip of his drink as he awaited her answer.
Claire considered her answer. “Sort of. He and I tried to make things work, but…I don’t know. I think we’re too different. Basically at this point, he comes to my doctor appointments.”
“I hope I’m not prying.” Marcus looked chagrined. “Trevor always tells me I’m too damn curious for my own good. Feel free to tell me to stuff it and get lost at any time.”
“Not at all,” Claire assured him. Talking with Marcus felt natural, not at all forced. She liked him very much, in fact. “My life is hardly a secret.”
“I’ll make it up to you. Ask me anything you’d like.”
“Okay.” She paused and racked her brain. “How is the gallery?” Marcus co-owned a New York art gallery with Trevor, but these days, Marcus did most of the managing. Trevor only ventured to the city once or twice a week.
He gave her a pointed look. “That’s not a very personal question.”
“But one I want to know the answer to.”
“It’s doing well. Your sister’s paintings are still wildly popular. We can’t keep them on the walls. Other than that, it’s fairly boring. We have the usual clientele, interior decorators, hyphenated society people. You know the drill.”
“Hyphenated society people?” Claire couldn’t resist asking.
Marcus nodded, chewing a mouthful of steak before continuing. “People with old money and hyphenated names.”
Claire laughed. “I see.”
