Cole managed to eat without making a total fool of himself. He neatly dodged Buddy’s attempt to tease him and ignored his father’s prodding comments. Thank God for years of police work and this poker face, he thought.

The phone rang. To save himself the indignity of ignoring his father’s last question regarding his intentions and Debbie’s good name, he jumped up and answered it before its second ring.

“Case! Hi, man!” And then Cole grinned broadly. “Is this call what I think it is?” He whooped. “That’s great! They’re all right here. Wait a minute. I’ll put Dad on.”

“Grandpa, it’s for you.”

Morgan let out an echoing whoop as he hurried to answer the phone. “Hi, Case,” he yelled. “Oh sorry, guess I was a little loud. I’m just excited. A man doesn’t become a grandfather every day. What do we have? A boy or a girl?”

He turned and mouthed to the trio behind him. It’s a boy!

Buddy celebrated by swiping one last droplet of syrup and rushed to take his turn at the phone. He thought he just might like being an uncle, especially since it would be a long-distance relationship that would not require changing diapers and the like.

“Lily had a baby!” Cole grinned as he turned to Debbie.

And then the smile slipped off his face to be replaced with instant shock. He’d just remembered last night…and the pool.

“My God!” He shook.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. His behavior was more than strange. “Nothing’s wrong with Lily or the baby? Please, Cole, tell me what’s—”

“Last night. I didn’t…we should have…”

Relief washed over her. “It’s all right,” she said, instantly cognizant of his panic. Her voice was barely past a whisper as she caught his face in her hands and pulled him down to her level. “I’m protected. You won’t be caught in that trap, mister, not by me.” Her tone of voice was almost bitter and full of sarcasm.

He pulled back and threaded his fingers through her hair, holding her in place as his harsh whisper made her blush with shame. “A child—our child—wouldn’t be a trap, lady. And I was only thinking of you. Not me.”

She shrugged and blinked back tears. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded, Cole. I guess that’s an old brand I’ve carried a bit too long.”

He frowned as the tears sparkled behind her gaze. “I don’t understand, honey.”

“I know you don’t,” she said. “But while I was growing up, every time my parents had a fight, my existence became a major issue. I was probably about twelve before it dawned on me that I came along before their wedding.”