A Father's Secret

“Forgive me for asking,” he began, leaning forward just a little in his chair. “But you seem a bit distracted tonight. Something on your mind?”

She laughed, a self-deprecating sound. “You could say that,” she admitted.

“Anything I can help you with? As clichéd as it is, you know what they say—a problem shared is a problem halved.”

“I think I’m beyond sharing my problems,” she said with a wry twist to her mouth. “I’ve gotten so used to handling everything on my own. Thanks, but don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Riley was a bit of a handful today and I got a little behind on things is all.”

“Maybe I can mind him for you occasionally during the day,” Sam suggested, his heart beating a little faster. Would she go for it? She’d been a perfect hostess so far, ensuring that Riley’s daily routines didn’t impinge on his as a guest at the lodge, but he’d give just about anything to spend more time with the little boy. Every day he was more and more certain Riley was his child, yet he had to wait until Erin obeyed the court order for the DNA testing. Sure, he could steal a snip of Riley’s hair, or at least try to, but that wouldn’t hold up in court. Everything had to be done properly. Every t crossed and every i dotted.

“Oh, no. I couldn’t expect you to do that—you have your own work to do. Besides, you don’t have any experience with babies, do you?” She must have seen the stricken look that crossed his features because she hastened to add, “I’m sorry, that was careless of me.”

“It’s okay,” he reassured her. “But still, if I’m not busy and you want to get things done around the place while Riley’s awake, I don’t see why I couldn’t mind him here for you.”

“Seriously?” Erin gave him a cheeky grin that made his heart do a crazy flip-flop in his chest. “And if he fills his diaper?”

“I’ll do my best,” Sam said stoically. He’d have to do his best if Riley did turn out to be his. He had every intention of being a major part of his son’s life.

“I’ll think about it,” Erin said with another smile.

“You’re beautiful when you smile like that,” Sam said, without thinking. “Well, you’re beautiful all the time, but especially when you smile.”

A flush of pink warmed her cheeks. “Thank you. I don’t remember the last time anyone said anything like that.”

“Then I’ll remember to tell you more often,” he said, his voice pitched very low.

He drained the last of his whiskey in one swallow and rose to his feet.

“I should probably be off, see if I can retrieve that file. Thanks for the company, and thanks for the drink.”

Erin stood, as well. “You’re welcome, anytime. I’d forgotten how civilized it could feel sitting and sharing a drink with someone.”

She smiled again and Sam felt the impact of it all the way to his gut. He took a step closer to her, captured one of her hands in his and lifted it to his mouth.

“Being civilized is vastly underrated,” he said, lifting his eyes to meet hers as his lips pressed against her skin.

He saw her pupils dilate at his touch, her nostrils flare ever so slightly. He didn’t let go of her hand as he lifted his head, instead he pulled her closer, into the circle of his embrace. She didn’t protest, not one bit, not even when he lowered his face to hers and caught her lips with his own, relishing the sensation of her body against his.

The round firmness of her brea**sts pressed against his chest, the soft swell of her belly against the firmer planes of his own, the cradle of her hips against his arousal. Sam groaned. This was crazy. Crazy and completely impossible to resist. Her mouth parted beneath his, her tongue gently flicking against his own. God, he couldn’t get enough of the taste of her. He plundered her mouth, angling his head so they all but fused together.

His hands shoved under the edge of her T-shirt, pushing the soft fabric up to expose her skin. Skin that was soft, enticing. Warm, when he’d felt cold to his very soul for so long. He lifted the garment higher, breaking their kiss only long enough to pull it over her head and to let it drop on the floor behind her.

Erin opened her eyes and he was struck by the vulnerability he saw there in their dark brown depths. He said the first thing that came to mind.

“I want you, Erin. Tell me to stop now and I will. Or tell me you want me, too.”

He felt the tremors that ran through her body and took a half step back, giving her the space he thought she needed. She could turn him down. He wouldn’t hold that against her. Sure, he’d be uncomfortable, physically, but he wasn’t the kind of guy who forced himself on a beautiful woman no matter how much his desire for her threatened to consume him.