Trading Christmas - Debbie Macomber [122]
“I want to resume the discussion we were having last night.”
“Perhaps you do, but unfortunately that was last night and this is now.” How confident she sounded, Cait thought, mildly pleased with herself. “I can do without hearing you list my no doubt numerous flaws.”
“Your being my wife is what I want to talk about.”
“Your wife?” She wished he’d quit throwing the subject at her as if it meant something to him. Something other than a joke.
“Yes, my wife.” He gave a short laugh. “Believe me, it isn’t your flaws I’m here to discuss.”
Despite everything, Cait’s heart raced. She reached for a stack of papers and switched them from one basket to another. Her entire filing system was probably in jeopardy, but she needed some activity to occupy her hands before she stood up and reached out to Joe. She did stand then, but it was to remove a large silver bell strung from a red velvet ribbon hanging in her office window.
“Paul and Lindy are getting married,” he said next.
“Yes, I know. Lindy and I had a long talk this morning.” She took the wreath off her door next.
“I take it the two of you are friends again?”
“We were never not friends,” Cait answered stiffly, stuffing the wreath, the bell and the three ceramic wise men into the bottom drawer of her filing cabinet. Hard as she tried to prevent it, she could feel her defenses crumbling. “Lindy’s asked me to be her maid of honor and I’ve agreed.”
“Will you return the favor?”
It took a moment for the implication to sink in, and even then Cait wasn’t sure she should follow the trail Joe seemed to be forging through this conversation. She leaned forward and rested her hands on the edge of the desk.
“I’m destined to be an old maid,” she said flippantly, although she couldn’t help feeling a sliver of real hope.
“You’ll never be that.”
Cait was hoping he’d say her beauty would make her irresistible, or that her warmth and wit and intelligence were sure to attract a dozen suitors. Instead he said the very thing she could have predicted. “We’re already married, so you don’t need to worry about being a spinster.”
Cait released a sigh of impatience. “I wish you’d give up on that, Joe. It’s growing increasingly old.”
“As I recall, we celebrated our eighteenth anniversary not long ago.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. All right,” she said, straightening abruptly. If he wanted to play games, then she’d respond in kind. “Since we’re married, I want a family.”
“Hey, sweetheart,” he cried, throwing his arms in the air, “that’s music to my ears. I’m willing.”
Cait prepared to leave the office, if not the building. “Somehow I knew you would be.”
“Two or three,” he interjected, then chuckled and added, “I suppose we should name the first two Ken and Barbie.”
Cait’s scowl made him chuckle even louder.
“If you prefer, we’ll leave the names open to negotiation,” he said.
“Of all the colossal nerve…” Cait muttered, moving to the window and gazing out.
“If you want daughters, I’ve got no objection, but from what I understand that’s not really up to us.”
Cait turned around, crossing her arms. “Correct me if I’m wrong,” she said coldly, certain he’d delight in doing so. “But you did just ask me to marry you. Could you confirm that?”
“All I want is to make legal what’s already been done.”
Cait sighed in exasperation. Was he serious, or wasn’t he? He was talking about marriage, about joining their lives, as if he were planning a bid on a construction project.
“When Paul asked Lindy to marry him, he had a diamond ring.”
“I was going to buy you a ring,” Joe said emphatically. “I still am. But I thought you’d want to pick it out yourself. If you wanted a diamond, why didn’t you say so? I’ll buy you the whole store if that’ll make you happy.”
“One ring will suffice, thank you.”
“Pick out two or three. I understand diamonds are an excellent investment.”
“Not so fast,” she said, holding out her arm. It was vital she maintain some distance between them. If Joe kissed her or started talking about having children again, they might never get the facts