Bound to be Dirty by Savanna Fox Page B

truly approve of him, but couldn’t he make more of an effort? “He’s working for a mining camp in northern B.C.,” she explained.
    â€œWay out in the bush?” her mom said.
    â€œWay out,” Dax said. “Temperatures below zero. Living in modular housing. At least the bears are hibernating now.”
    Was he
trying
to annoy her parents?
    â€œI can’t understand why a man would want to live that way,” her mother said.
    â€œI’m sure you can’t,” Dax replied.
    â€œAt some point a man needs to grow up and settle down,” her father said stiffly. “Most men do it in their twenties.”
    Lily shot Dax a warning glance, hoping he wouldn’t rise to the bait.
    He gave a slight shrug, then said, “Great dinner, as always.”
    â€œThank you,” her mother said.
    â€œAldonza sure is a good cook,” Dax added.
    Lily closed her eyes briefly. Yes, he was right that credit went to Aldonza, but couldn’t he just thank her privately? Lily had learned long, long ago that, with her parents, making nice worked far better than making waves.
    â€œOn the subject of settling down,” her mother said, “Lily, you should learn from Anthony’s example. He’s two years younger yet he’s establishing a brilliant career, he’s married to a bright young woman who’s on the partnership track, and they’ve produced a lovely little girl. You’re thirty-two, Lily.”
    Implying that it was a ripe old age and she’d yet to achieve anything of significance. And hitting her in her vulnerable spot, her desire to have children. Doubly wounded, she fought to keep her voice even as she said, “Not everyone wants the same thing, Mom.”
    â€œOn the subject of that lovely little girl . . .” It was Regina, speaking for the first time in a while. “I should check on her.”
    â€œNonsense,” Lily’s mom said. “She’ll be fine with Aldonza.”
    â€œIf I’m not mistaken,” Regina said, “Aldonza will need to clear the table and bring in dessert.”
    â€œAh yes, I suppose it is that time.” Her mother clapped her hands together and called, “Aldonza?”
    Regina rose. “I’ll tell her.” She headed for the kitchen.
    A moment later, Aldonza bustled in and started gathering plates.
    Dax pushed back from the table and rose. “Delicious dinner, Aldonza. Thanks.” He lifted the platter with the remains of a large turkey. “This is heavy. I’ll carry it out.”
    â€œThank you, Mr. Dax.”
    As the woman cleared the table, Lily sought a neutral topic of conversation. She asked her brother, “Is Sophia still waking you and Regina up every night?”
    He gave a fond grin. “She’ll go five hours now, on a good night. It sure makes a difference.”
    â€œI still say you should hire a live-in nanny,” their mom said
    â€œWe’re keeping that option open,” Anthony said.
    Lily’s lips twitched. She knew, from times she’d babysat, that neither he nor Regina had any intention of having a nanny. Day care worked for them, and when they were home they wanted to care for their baby themselves. When Lily and Anthony were children, they’d spent far more time with nannies, housekeepers, and tutors than with their parents. Neither of them, nor Regina, thought that was a good model for child-rearing.
    Aldonza had made several trips back and forth to the kitchen, yet Dax hadn’t returned. He wouldn’t skip out, would he? The way things were between them, she wasn’t absolutely sure.
    â€œI’m going to see if Regina needs help with Sophia,” she murmured, and headed for the kitchen.
    She stepped through the door then held it for Aldonza, who was heading out with a pie server in each hand, one displaying a latticed mince pie that smelled spicy and rich, the other with Lily’s