The Christmas Baby Bump by Lynne Marshall

it clear he wanted to take their acquaintance to a whole new level once his parents took Robbie off his hands. The thought made her insides scramble up with anxiety yet excited her at the same time. Soon an unsettled feeling had her finding the nearest mirror and taking a good long look.
    Make up your mind, Bennett. Either go for a flingor keep your distance. Don’t leave it up to Phil to decide.
    Hadn’t she given herself permission to let go last night? And hadn’t the results been beyond any fantasy she could have dreamed up? After a long inhalation, a tiny smile curved her lips. She had six more weeks in Santa Barbara before she’d be back in her world—why not totally escape from all things Stephanie? And, besides, she’d had her tubes tied—there was nothing to worry about.
    The thought of pursuing a carefree romance with Phil launched a wave of flittering wings in her stomach. Did she have the guts to carry it out?
    Well, if this didn’t take the prize. If Phil hadn’t been so worried about his dad he’d be frustrated by having to hold on to Robbie for a couple more days. The layover at the airport had made Carl sick and Roma had taken him directly to the hospital once they’d landed. He’d picked up a nasty bug and was already showing signs of dehydration. The big iron man Phil had grown up admiring looked far too human in the hospital bed, and it sent a weary wave of dread down his spine.
    “I’ll keep Robbie for the weekend or until you feel ready to take over,” Phil said to Roma.
    She sat at her husband’s bedside, her dark hair heavily streaked with silver, holding his hand. “If you could bring Robbie by later today, I’d really appreciate it. I miss him so much.”
    “Go, Roma. You don’t have to sit here watching me sleep,” Carl said. “Go and see Robbie.”
    She gave Phil a questioning gaze. How different Roma was from his mother, who’d left when things got tough. His mother’s action had jaded Phil and hadplanted a lifelong mistrust of women. They couldn’t be counted on to stick around, so why get serious? Roma broke the mold, but she was the exception.
    “Come with me,” he said. “Robbie can’t wait to see you. I’ll drop you back here on my way home.”
    It dawned on Phil that his fabulous weekend plans, with the hottest lady he’d met in forever, would get put on hold. Again.
    Once he sorted things out with Roma and Robbie, he’d give Stephanie a call to give her a heads-up. Either she’d be willing to let Robbie tag along for dinner or they’d take a rain check, but there was no way he’d leave Robbie with a babysitter. The kid would be disappointed enough knowing his mom was back in town yet he still couldn’t go home.
    How did you explain such a thing to a kid? He’d step back and let Roma do the chore, see how a pro handled it, and maybe learn something.
    Later, after he’d heard the latest doctor’s report on his father and Robbie was preoccupied with building blocks and making his version of the world’s tallest building, or so he’d announced with extra esses and saliva, Phil thought about Stephanie. He thought about how much he’d enjoyed spending Thanksgiving with her, and especially how great it had been to make love to her. And he thought how he’d like to do it again. Soon. But he had to look after the squirt.
    So why was there a smile on his face? Because the kid really was a great source of entertainment.
    After several attempts, Robbie had made it to ten blocks high, but he’d jumped up and down, knocking the top block off again. Phil stifled a laugh when he glimpsed the expression of frustration cross the boy’s face. Phil had to hand it to him, the kid didn’t quit. Hepicked up the same block and balanced it on top of the others, then went hunting for several more.
    Phil took the opportunity to call Stephanie. Hearing her soft voice on the phone, it occurred to him how much he’d missed seeing her today, and just how disappointed he was