Her Secret, His Child

And then he bent his head, tasting those lips for the first time in more than five years.

"Mmm," Jamie whimpered against him, her lips warm, soft—and welcoming.

Desire raged through him, but Kyle promised himself he wasn't going to blow this chance. He'd hurt Jamie once. He wasn't going to hurt her again.

Shocked at the instant response racing through her body, Jamie opened her lips to Kyle almost before she knew what she was doing. The power of his kiss controlled her, taking her back to that one night of ecstasy, back to the only fairy tale she'd ever lived. Her tongue met his eagerly, understanding exactly how to respond. She'd known him this way only once, for a very few hours, and yet his taste was as familiar as if she'd spent the past five years loving him. As familiar. And as welcome.

TARA TAYLOR QUINN

Her arms stole around his neck, her body sliding into his as he pulled her close. Feeling his strong arms around her, Jamie gave in to the unfamiliar security. The feeling of home.

She'd known when Kyle had taken her in his arms the first time that she'd belonged there. She felt as sure now, giving him kiss for kiss. As eager as he for the loving to continue.

"You taste so good," he murmured against her lips. "So right."

He ran his lips along her cheek, down to her neck, and Jamie accommodated him, lifting her chin, allowing him to rediscover places he'd visited before. And when one of his hands moved up to splay across her breast, she allowed that, too. Reveling in the rediscovery, in the confirmation that she hadn't dreamed the magic they'd shared so long ago, Jamie couldn't think at all. Could only feel.

"You are so beautiful, so perfect." Kyle's hushed words were a balm to her injured spirit, a solace she soaked up greedily.

As she drew her hands along his spine, down to gently grasp his hips, the words were torn from her. "I remembered this," she cried. All those nights when she'd lain alone, hating herself. "I remembered."

"It makes no sense, this connection we share…" His thumb teased her nipple through the thickness of her sweater.

"I thought I'd imagined it, made it all up."

Kyle's lips captured hers again. Lingering. "Never," he assured her and kissed her once more.

HER SECRET, HIS CHILD

"Nothing else matters, Jamie," he said, gazing into her eyes as his arms slid around her again, pulling her close enough to feel the hardness in his groin. "Nothing."

Reality, worse than the most vicious physical blow, hit Jamie, rendering her incapable of feeling anything but pain.

"You have to go," she whispered, stricken, backing out of his arms.

"Jamie?"

"Shh," she said, tears brimming in her eyes as she silenced him with one finger against his lips. "You have to go. Please."

And that was when Jamie knew how special this man was, how incredibly attuned to her. Because he let her go.

"Call if you need me," he said.

And with one last kiss on her brow, a tender, non-sexual kiss, he left.

Taking her heart with him.

CHAPTER TEN

"Sounds like your party was a rousing success." Karen glanced over at her friend, then returned her eyes to the road. Jamie looked great, her auburn hair such a perfect color, her makeup just right. She was wearing the cashmere overcoat Karen just loved. And a pair of overalls. On Jamie they were chic. On Karen they'd look frumpy.

"It wasn't my party," Jamie pointed out, "but yeah, Kyle said everyone had a great time."

Glancing in her rearview mirror, Karen merged onto the freeway. They were on their way to the shared flute lessons Dennis had bought them for Christmas. During a barbecue last summer, they'd been talking about things they'd always wanted to do as kids but never had the chance. As it turned out, Karen and Jamie had both wanted to take flute. D

ennis had remembered and arranged for the lessons—another sign, as Jamie told her frequently, of what a wonderful guy Dennis was, what a good husband and good friend.

"The food at the party was okay?" Karen asked.