Holiday Baby Scandal

Suddenly those coal-black eyes were fixed on hers. “How long are you going to stare at me?”

Ten

“You scared me to death,” she scolded him, swatting his arm. He lifted his lids and couldn’t help but smile.

Ryker had known the second Laney had stopped working. He’d heard her stomach growl and was about to say something, when he’d felt her shift. The sudden awareness of her eyes on him had him holding still. He’d felt the slightest dip in the cushion next to his head, and he wondered what she’d been thinking.

Then he’d worried where her thoughts were. He knew Laney had dreams of a big family. She had that innocence about her that would cling to romance and love. She had hope. He’d lost that when he’d been in diapers.

“Find anything?”

Laney kept resting her head on the cushion next to his. “Nothing new. We’ve already established that it was an inside job. Braden doesn’t like hearing that one of his employees is a mole, but we have to find out who it is before they cause more damage.”

Rage burned in his gut. There wouldn’t be a hole deep enough for this bastard to hide.

“Don’t.” Laney’s hand slid up his forearm. “I’m furious, too, but don’t let it ruin this moment. I just want a minute more of no threats, just us.”

Us.

“We’re always threatened.” Unable to resist, Ryker flipped his hand over and shifted to lace their fingers together. “The authorities who aren’t on our side are always looking for things to pin on us. On me.”

Laney closed her eyes. Ryker hated this. Hated wanting her with an ache that was indescribable. Hated that he couldn’t have her fully because of who he was. Hated most of all that he was the one who put worry into that beautiful life of hers.

“I can’t stand the thought of you being hurt, being a target.” She met his gaze once again. The fear in those eyes gutted him. “I’ve known for years how much you put at stake, but now it’s different.”

“The baby—”

“And me.” She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his. “Before the baby, before Miami. I started falling for you.”

He’d known. Hell, he’d known for years, but hearing her say the words seemed so official and real. He couldn’t have her committing herself to him. There was no future for them as a couple, only as parents to this innocent child. That’s all they could share.

But, damn it, he couldn’t hurt her. He couldn’t reject this gift she’d just presented. Laney was everything perfect and pure in his life. She was that place in his mind he went to when he was on assignment and the world around him turned ugly. She’d been his salvation for so long...but telling her that would only give her false hope.

“I know you don’t want to hear those words.” She eased back, leaving Ryker feeling cold. “But I can’t lie to you.”

He didn’t know what to say, so like a complete moron, he said nothing. Laney shoved her hair away from her face and turned to get her laptop, instantly diving back into her work. The moment was gone.

Ryker reached over, gripping her hand beneath his. Her fingers stilled on the keys. She kept her eyes on the screen, her throat bobbed as she swallowed. Nerves were getting to her, he needed to at least reassure her...what? What the hell could he say? Ryker had no idea, all he knew was he wanted that helpless look gone.

“I’m out of my element here, Laney.” He decided to go with honesty. “You’ve been part of my life for so long, but—”

“I know,” she whispered.

How could she know when he didn’t know himself?

“No, you don’t.” Damn it, he needed to make her understand. “You can’t possibly know what I feel. You have no clue what those words mean to me.”

Her head dropped as she pulled in a deep breath. “I know you better than you think,” she said quietly.

Silence settled heavily around them. Ryker had never been this close to a woman. He’d had lovers, mostly when he traveled and needed a stress reliever. The possibility of a serious relationship had never entered his mind. It had no place in his life.

“I know who you are,” she went on, still not looking his way. “I’ve know

n all along.”

Now she did turn, those vibrant green eyes piercing him right to his soul. Until now he hadn’t even been aware he had one.

“I know full well why you’re trying to keep me at a distance. I’m not backing down, Ryker. You need to know that I intend to fight for what I want, and I want you.”