“Excellent job, Senator. I think you rocked that one,” Eliot told the man as he climbed off the stage, laughing heartily.

“Oh, young man, I haven’t had that much fun in years. I’m adding an extra ten thousand to my donation.” Senator Paulsen wrapped an arm about Eliot’s shoulders, pulling him in close. “Do you still handle weddings?”

“Yes, sir. The fundraising is just a passion of mine.”

Senator Paulsen patted Eliot’s stomach. “Gotta keep the zoo strong for the little ones.” He hiccuped and realized what he’d done. Straightening away, Paulsen looked at Eliot with a slack jawed expression. “I’m sorry. That was inappropriate.”

Eliot took pity on the man. After all, Paulsen had brought in a hundred grand for the zoo and secured Eliot’s position as a non-profit fundraising go-to in the process. “It’s the drinks.” Eliot winked. “I made sure they were good.”

Senator Paulsen took the excuse, laughing, “Best way to open pockets.”

Eliot watched as Paulsen wandered off into the crowd of cheering fans, or at least wealthy peers on the hook for a lot of money to a good cause.

Kitty, who had volunteered to help with the event in exchange for him signing off on some extra credit project one of her professors required, bounced up to him. “We’ve exceeded the goal. Director Waggoner is beyond pleased.”

Eliot nodded. “Excellent. How about we have him announce the fundraising amount to close the event?”

Kitty smiled. “Perfect. I’ll go find him.”

Eliot wove his way through the guests milling nearby, chatting with each. This, the act of selling himself to future clients, was always hard for him. He’d always leaned on Charlie for that. But that was part of growing up and out as a business. It wasn’t always going to be easy.

The zoo director returned with Kitty who had held herself back from sharing. When Eliot told him the good news, he whooped and vaulted on to the stage to share with the crowd. Roars of approval rang through the air.

Eliot smiled. This event had been a challenge, well beyond his original expectations, but it was just as satisfying as crafting the perfect wedding. The zoo director waved Eliot to the stage.

“This is the man of the hour, the one who put this event together. Please give a hand to Eliot Bennett of Brightside Weddings.” Clapping and cheers rose. Eliot craned his neck for the source of the loudest cheer, unsurprised to find Will standing near the back.

As the zoo director continued talking about the success of the night, Eliot found himself staring at the man beside Will. He hadn’t seen Darcy since he’d handed over that letter. Eliot knew he was only a phone call away, but how could he tell the man he’d so wrongly maligned that, “Oh, by the way, sorry about that. I was an ass. And I’m having your baby.”

But he couldn’t be here by accident. Eliot had combed over previous donor lists with a fine toothed comb, calling and courting each and everyone, and neither Darcy nor his father had appeared on any of the lists. Darcy’s eyes met Eliot’s, and a flare of hope flickered into life.

The crowd slowly dispersed, and Eliot turned from talking with the karaoke vendor to find Darcy waiting to speak to him, Darcy and the young woman Eliot guessed to be his sister.

“Well, Eliot, you managed to create a novel experience for the highest level of Meryville society. Brava,” Carter drawled, and picked at his shirt. Its main color was pink, but there was such a conglomeration of pineapples and trees and macaws on it that it was hard to separate one from the next. “I wouldn’t have thought dressing so colorfully would have been such a draw.”

Eliot’s eyes flickered away from Darcy to Carter. “We thought of having an ugly Hawaiian shirt contest, but decided not to try too many ideas this year. You might win with that next year, though.” He kept his face extremely serious.

Carter gave a huff and started sputtering. “Well, that would amplify the, uh, quaintness of the evening.” His weak insult was further destroyed by Gina’s laughter. “Oh, that shirt would so win.” She held out her hand to Eliot.

“Eliot, I’d like to introduce my sister, Gina.”

Eliot smiled softly. He knew better than to let the mildest sense of pity for what had happened to her in the past leak through. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but you are the spitting image of your brother..”

Gina laughed. “He does have a bit more facial hair than I do some days, but we do have the same blue eyes. It surprises people who see us with our parents. They’re both brown eyed.”

“The thrills of genetics,” Eliot said before introducing Kitty to the group.

Gina deftly wove a conversation around Kitty and Carter while neatly cutting the other two men out. “Nice to see you. Are you a fan of the zoo?”

“I was as a kid. It’s been quite a few years since I was here last. Did you pick the zoo as your first project for any particular reason?” Darcy’s eyes dropped obviously to Eliot’s baby bump. There was no hiding it these days. Maybe some omegas had dainty little bellies at seven months, but Eliot felt like he was carrying around a watermelon.

“My father liked to take us here when we were younger. I think it’s because it was one of the few places my mother approved of but avoided like the plague.”

Darcy choked on his drink in laughter. “And that’s your reason? Because your mother wouldn’t come?”

Eliot smiled. “No, not really. But it’s a good bonus.”

“I completely understand.”

Eliot politely said nothing about Darcy’s mother, but, feeling that the air between them was friendly enough, asked, “Why are you in black tie?”

Darcy frowned. “Well, yes. That was an assumption on my part. There was no invitation, you see. I simply, I mean, Will wanted Pemberly Visions to support—”

“Is this the part where I’m supposed to go along with your story, or embarass you by telling the truth?” Will said, coming up beside him.

Darcy gave Will a murderous glare.

“It’s okay. Penguins go well with Hawaiian shirts.” Eliot sent Darcy a saucy wink.

Darcy’s lips softened a fraction at the teasing. “True. Though I know of no penguins that actually live in Hawaii.”

Was Darcy actually joking with him? “Thankfully, this is not Hawaii. We welcome both penguins and Hawaiians, as well as Hawaiian wannabes.” Eliot did his best to suppress the hope that surged inside him. Perhaps he had forgiven Eliot for his actions previously, but maybe his friendliness was due more to the presence of Gina and Will.

“Thankfully for me.” Darcy stared at Eliot, his eyes going to his stomach, but refusing to be the one to ask.

Will caught the focus of Darcy’s glance. “Eliot, did you decide if you were going to have a baby shower or not? Last time we talked, you were still on the fence.”

“I’m getting very comfortable on the fence,” Eliot said, his cheeks pinking. “My mother wants to throw a giant, blow-out baby shower, but that’s not my kind of thing at all. If I do anything, I just want a small affair with my friends and family.” He glanced at Darcy, whose eyes seemed to burn into Eliot’s soul.

“Congratulations to you and your partner,” Darcy said, his voice dry. He surely must be able to tell that Eliot must have been pregnant at the engagement party.

“Thank you, but I’m single,” Eliot said. The words felt uncomfortable on his tongue. He didn’t want to flaunt his singleness at Darcy, like he was inviting him back for a second try—or did he?

“How long do you have left?” Will asked.

“A few more months.”

“Oh, you’ve got time,” Will said.

Was Darcy doing the math? It would be so much simpler if Darcy would just guess that the baby was his. Eliot suspected Will knew exactly what he wasn’t telling Darcy, but if that was the case, why wasn’t he telling Darcy?

Gina turned from talking to Kitty, “Darcy, let’s have everyone over for dinner tomorrow.”

Darcy inclined his head. “Your wish is the chef’s command. That’s not me,” he said to the others. “In case that’s not clear.”

Gina laughed and pointed at Eliot. “I already have a guarantee from Kitty that you’re not working tomorrow, so no excuses.”

Eliot rolled his eyes at Gina and Kitty. “I’ve been trapped. But I suppose I’ll survive if you stuff me full of good things to eat.”

Gina leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Oh, I just know I’m going to adore you. Now, if there’s anything you can’t eat because of the baby, let me know and I’ll pass the information along to the chef.”

Eliot had grown used to discussing his pregnancy with random strangers on the street, but to be discussing it so freely with Darcy and his family while sitting on the knowledge that this child was Darcy’s as well felt like lying.

It wasn’t like he could blurt the news out in front of everyone, though. He hadn’t told anyone, though Jane had guessed.

Perhaps, if tomorrow went well, he could arrange a time for them to talk. Alone. Eliot felt lightheaded at the prospect of finally sharing the secret that had been weighing him down for months now. He rubbed his stomach as the others refined their plans.

Darcy was a good man, and he deserved to know his child.