Her Secret, His Child

"We'll need to be very clear about our own relationship." Jamie was fighting for her daughter's emotional health now. "It would be cruel to raise false hopes."

TARA TAYLOR QUINN

Kyle's eyes softened, speaking to her in the way she'd grown to need.

'"Are we clear about our relationship?" he asked.

Too confused to consider anything but co-parenting, Jamie nodded.

"When did that happen?"

Desperate, Jamie reminded him, "I robbed you of the first four years of your daughter's life."

He acknowledged the truth of her words with a nod.

"You hate me for that." The connection he kept talking about, the one that drew them inexplicably together, was as strong as ever.

"I admit I'm pretty angry with you."

"You'll never be able to forgive me." She didn't know which of the two of them she was warning.

"Never's a long time."

She was finding it harder and harder to breathe. "I think we need to stick to just being parents." She put the distance of the entire room between them. "At least for the next couple of years."

He followed her. "I can't agree to that."

Swinging around, she found him closer than she'd thought. But she refused to back away. Or to back down. "What's the point, Kyle? There's too much history between us. And if we hurt each other again, as we seem to keep doing, Ashley's going to be hurt, too."

Hands still in his pockets, he didn't back down, either. ' 'It's precisely because of the history between us that I can't accept a platonic relationship forever."

HER SECRET, HIS CHILD

Her heart lurched, her nerves fluttering with excitement. He still wanted her. She hadn't completely killed his affection.

"Our daughter is evidence of the bond between us. Whatever it is that binds us was so powerful it created Ashley. And then kept me looking for you for five long years. I can't turn my back on that, Jamie."

"I can't handle a physical relationship right now." She'd made that very clear to him the first time he'd called her after the explosive kiss they'd shared. The only kiss they'd shared this time around.

Tears burned the backs of her eyelids. She wanted to hope, to try to believe what he was telling her. But she had another secret. One she could never share. One that would always come between them…that wouldn't allow her to be a decent wife to a decent man.

And Kyle was the most decent man she'd ever met.

"Promise me that, aside from Ashley, we'll continue to explore this thing between us. We'll take it slowly, just as we've been doing," Kyle whispered. Pulling a hand free from his pocket, he reached out to her, brushing his fingers down the side of her cheek.

A lone tear followed his hand. He caught it, taking it to his lips.

"Promise me?"

Hating herself for her weakness, Jamie nodded.

Though he went home, Kyle didn't make it to bed that night. He knew he wouldn't sleep. Wasn't even

TARA TAYLOR QUINN

tired. There were too many thoughts to think, too much emotion to assimilate. Aside from being a little angry, a bit sad, he was just too excited. As soon as daybreak arrived, he was going to meet his daughter.

He wondered if this was how Ashley felt on Christmas Eve awaiting Santa's arrival. He'd never had a visit from Santa Claus himself, but he was certain Ashley had. Four times already.