Her Secret, His Child

hanging beside her own—it all made her have thoughts she had no business having.

Thoughts she knew he was having, too.

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nbsp; "I've ordered up dinner," he told her as she shut the bedroom door quietly behind her. ' 'Prime rib for two and a bottle of wine." He was sitting in the middle of the couch. Which left her the armchair across from him or one of the two cushions on either side of him.

"How about a game of cards?" She chose the chair.

' 'How about you sitting over here with me?''

"You don't want to play cards?" She wished she had that glass of wine already. She needed to relax.

"Not especially."

"We could watch a movie. They've got some good selections."

"I've seen them all." His gaze was pinning her to the chair, and she could feel it penetrating her blouse. Moving. Touching.

She wet her lips. "How long till dinner?"

"An hour."

She thought she heard Ashley in the other room and jumped up to check. The little girl was sleeping soundly.

She turned from the bedroom door and ran smack into Kyle. She hadn't heard him come up behind her.

His arms were around her instantly, steadying her. But it was only seconds before they were roaming. Before she was melting into him. And all thought was lost.

TARA TAYLOR QUINN

She wasn't even sure whose lips took whose, who led and who followed. She just knew that Kyle's kisses were like a drug she couldn't do without. She was addicted to the incredible feeling only he could arouse, the tension, the delicious excitement. And oddly enough, the security. He made her feel cherished. Cared for.

He made her feel like she'd never felt before in her life.

She welcomed the touch of his hands, eagerly explored his strong, hard body. He slid one hand beneath her sweater, touching the bare skin at her waist.

And scaring her to death. Remembering the other time Kyle had undressed her, the wantonness he'd aroused, her complete loss of control, she panicked.

A picture of Ashley popped into her mind, the little girl sleeping so innocently in the next room. She thought of the life she'd made for herself, and started to gasp for breath. She couldn't do this. She couldn't be that woman again.

"No." She pushed Kyle away. And prepared herself for his anger.

The physical longing was intense those first few seconds. It took all of Kyle's control to ride the waves of unsatisfied desire. And then his mind cleared enough for him to think. Or try to.

' 'What happened?'' He was drawing a blank here.

Jamie turned away from him, standing by the couch with her back to the room. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

HER SECRET, HIS CHILD

Things had been going along so well. She'd even started the whole thing and he was sure she'd been enjoying the kiss as much as he had. What had he done wrong?

When he asked, she answered his question with a shrug, looking small and alone as she huddled in on herself. He wanted to go to her, but not knowing what had upset her, he didn't dare get close. Instead, he stood there, waiting.

"I don't blame you for being angry," she finally said.