Her Secret, His Child

Far too aware of Ashley sleeping right down the

HER SECRET, HIS CHILD

hall, she stared at him. "Well, then—" she crossed her arms in front of her "—come on into the living room."

Needing no second bidding, Kyle quickly settled himself in the middle of her couch. "Where's Ashley?' ' He was disappointed to see that the room was empty.

Stiff and unyielding, Jamie stood in front of the fireplace. "In bed asleep."

"At 7:30? Isn't that a little early?"

"Not when she's up at six."

"I remember you telling me that you're a night person."

"I used to be."

Kyle grinned, picturing an irritable and oh-so-lovely Jamie up at the crack of dawn with a two-year-old dynamo.

She shifted from one stocking foot to the other, looking toward the door.

'So what ideas do you have for the program?" he asked. He wasn't about to be dismissed when he'd just gotten inside.

"I don't."

A moment's panic ensued. "You don't?" Was she ditching him? He couldn't believe it. Jamie wouldn't do that.

"You're the English guy, Professor, and this is a meeting for the National English Honor Society. I figure you're just the person to hit up for ideas."

Kyle tried. He really did. But all he could think about was hauling Jamie into his arms and kissing

TARA TAYLOR QUINN

her until she remembered, in complete detail, how close they'd once been.

"We could do a fashion show," she finally said, frowning.

A fashion show. Kyle blinked. He wasn't sure how impressed the dean would be with designer fashions taking the stage at an honor society meeting.

"There are groups who specialize in period costuming," she explained while he was trying to figure out a way to tell her he didn't much want a fashion show at his reception.

' 'We could have male and female models dressed as characters from some of the novels," she said, coming closer as she grew more excited about her idea. "You know," she said, "Scarlett O'Hara could appear in one of her famous gowns."

More in love with her enthusiasm than the idea, Kyle gave it some thought. ' 'They actually have an authentic dress somewhere like the ones she would've worn?"

"Absolutely." Jamie perched on the edge of the couch beside him. "If not authentic, it'll be a perfect replica." She smiled. "They'll even go so far as to model the dressing process, showing the various stages of undergarments and how they're put on."

Kyle liked that idea a lot. As long as Jamie was the model and he was the only other person in the room. But with the dean there?

"I don't know…"

"They're completely decent, Kyle." Jamie laughed, patting his arm reassuringly. "These are

HER SECRET, HIS CHILD

educational shows that are entertaining, not entertainment shows with little or no education. Really." Her eyes met his, connected.

He didn't know whether it was Jamie's reassurances or her proximity, but suddenly the idea didn't sound half-bad. At any rate, it was better than a bunch of boring speeches, which was all he'd have been able to come up with.