Title: The Right Touch

Rating: K

Category: Romance

Disclaimers: These guys aren't mine but I love 'em.

Author's Note: The romance continues.

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Chapter 11

"And they lived happily ever after," read Sue.

Megan snuggled closer to her. "I think I want to be Cinderella for Halloween," she shared with Sue.

"You'll make a beautiful Cinderella," she smiled. She squeezed Megan's shoulders and gave her a kiss on top of her head. "Time for bed." Sue tucked Megan in.

"Sue?"

"Yes?"

"I'm glad Uncle Bobby brought you tonight," the little girl said sincerely.

Sue was touched. "I'm glad I came, too," she smiled. "I had a wonderful time tonight."

Megan sat up abruptly and threw her arms around Sue's neck. "You're nice. I like you."

She could feel Megan's mouth move but had no clue what was said. She gently pushed the little girl away. "I couldn't see your lips. Could you repeat what you said?"

Her arms still around Sue, Megan smiled shyly, "I said you're nice and I like you a lot--more than the other lady."

"What other lady?" Sue blurted out. Instantly, she was ashamed she was asking such a question of a six-year old.

"Darcy. Uncle Bobby brings her sometimes. She's okay but I don't think she likes us too much. Mommy says some people get nervous around children if they don't have any. Do you have children, Sue?" Megan asked innocently.

"No, but I hope to have some one day."

"Uncle Bobby, too!" shared Megan. "He says when he finds the right person, he's gonna marry her and have children and he wants them to be just like Josh and me," she said proudly. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "I know! You and Uncle Bobby can get married and have children! Isn't that a good idea?" she said excitedly.

Megan's suggestion caught Sue by surprise. For a moment she was speechless.

"Hey, what's all the chatter in here?" asked a male voice. "Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?" Bobby had entered the room.

"I will! I will!" said Megan eagerly. "I promise but listen to my good idea!"

At her uncle's questioning look, she burst out, "You and Sue can have babies together!"

Sue turned when she noticed that Megan's focus had shifted and missed what she said. However, she was just in time to catch an expression of stunned surprise on Bobby's face. Whipping around, she spotted the look of triumph on the little girl's face. A feeling of dread crept over her as she suspected Megan shared her idea with her uncle. Flushed with embarrassment, she stood and faced Bobby.

"It wasn't…I didn't…,I'm not…," she stammered then stopped. "What exactly did Megan say?" she asked anxiously.

After getting over his initial shock, Bobby's eyes twinkled in amusement. "She was just sharing an idea—a very interesting idea, I might add."

"Well?" demanded Megan. "What do you think?"

"I think, young lady," said Bobby sternly approaching the bed, "I think it's time for you to go to sleep or your parents won't ask me to watch you again." He sat on the bed to tuck her in.

"Will you think about it, Uncle Bobby?" Megan pleaded. "It's a good idea."

"I promise," he smiled. He leaned down to kiss her. "Good night, darlin'."

"Night, Uncle Bobby. Night Sue."

His hand on the small of her back, he ushered Sue out of the bedroom leaving the door slightly ajar.

"Bobby, I…" began Sue.

He put his fingers to his lips and motioned for her to follow him downstairs before they talked. He led her to the kitchen.

"Coffee? Tea?" he asked conversationally.

"Tea." At her choice, he filled the kettle and turned on the stove.

He glanced at the selection of teas neatly lined up on the counter. "The Hudsons have chamomile, raspberry, and the old standby, Lipton's."

"Chamomile," she answered briefly. "I understand it's soothes the nerves."

"Oh?" he asked eyebrow arched. "Do your nerves need soothing?"

"I don't know," she said a bit uncertainly, "maybe."

He threw her a bemused look before he busied himself preparing the tea. Her eyes caught brief glimpses of his grinning face as he rummaged through the cabinets for a pair of mugs, drawers for spoons, and finally selected the appropriate teabags. She wondered what he was thinking. Finally, he turned, his face composed.

"Milk? Sugar?"

"No thanks."

Leaning against the counter, he motioned towards the stove. "Waiting for the water to boil. Shouldn't take long."

She nodded in acknowledgment. She waited for him to comment about his niece's remark. He didn't. He just stared at her thoughtfully.

He opened his mouth to speak when he abruptly closed it. Grabbing the kettle, he poured the boiling water and placed a mug in front of Sue.

"One cup of chamomile tea as ordered to soothe rattled nerves," he announced. He slid onto the bar stool next to her with his mug.

"Thank you." Nervously, she stirred her tea trying to avoid direct eye and wondering what he was about to say when the kettle interrupted. She could feel him looking at her. It was disconcerting. Not knowing what else to do, she took a sip.

"Ooo!" she gasped and fanned her mouth. The tea was still too hot to drink.

She felt a hand on arm. Looking up, she saw a pair of bluish-grey eyes staring at her in concern.

"Are you all right?"

"Too hot," she explained briefly. "Burnt my tongue."

"I hate that," commiserated Bobby.

Noting the twinkle in his eyes, she decided to broach the subject on her mind. "Did Megan say what I think she said?" she asked in chagrin.

"And you think she said…," he began.

"Something about children?" she suggested tentatively.

He nodded. "To be more specific, she said you and I should have babies together," he informed her.

Sue groaned. "I'm so sorry! I don't know what made her think that you'd be interested in someone like me!" she moaned. "We were just talking about what a nice time we had tonight and then before I knew it, we were talking about children and you and I should have some together," she explained in a bewildered tone.

"While it's an interesting idea," he commented mildly, "I don't think we've known each other long enough to be discussing having babies together." He looked at her for a moment then burst out laughing. "You should have seen the look on your face!" he chuckled.

"You look pretty flabbergasted yourself!" she retorted.

"I think you were a bit more mortified," he parried.

"I certainly was!" confessed Sue. "It's not often I have a six-year old playing matchmaker for me."

"Well, I must admit I like her taste in women for me," he said with a smile. "If I weren't involved with another beautiful woman, I just might take Megan's suggestion seriously."

Sue's ebullience dimmed a bit with the mention of Darcy. She'd forgotten that Bobby was already taken. "Thanks...I think," said Sue dubiously. "I'm sure there's supposed to be a compliment in there somewhere."

"Oh but there is," he assured her. His gaze grew serious. "You know, it never occurred to me to ask, but are you seeing someone?" When he realized how it sounded, he hastily added, "I mean, I'm sure you must have men throwing themselves at your feet, but is there anyone particular in your life? Someone I should apologize to for monopolizing your time tonight?"

"Oh, I have to walk very carefully to avoid those bodies," she said dryly. "However, there is no one special in my life right now."

He looked at her speculatively. "'Right now' indicates there used to be someone."

She shrugged, "He decided he wanted a woman that would pay more attention to him than to business so we called it quits and went our separate ways."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay," she stated. "The man I fall in love with has to share my dreams--one of which is to make the florist a success. David didn't. It's as simple as that."

"Well, he's a fool," Bobby declared. "It's obvious you love what you do and with a dash of good luck, The Right Touch will be a smashing success."

She smiled as his confidence. "And you'd be responsible for that success."

"I can't take any of the credit," he protested. "You and Lucy have worked very hard to get where you are."

It was her turn to stare at him.

"What?"

"It's nice to have someone to talk to," she explained. "That was my lucky day when you called."

He had felt an instant connection from the moment they spoke three months ago. He was comfortable with her. And since their initial meeting yesterday, the sense of familiarity was just intensified. He felt as though he'd known her a lifetime.

"I think it was my lucky day, too."