Baby Under the Christmas Tree. Teresa Carpenter

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      ELLE WOKE UP wrapped in the arms of a man. And he was warm and solid and it felt really, really good. And right, they fitted.

      Disoriented, she opened her eyes and stared into the blue eyes of a toddler sitting next to her in the bed. She blinked, as much to kick-start her brain as to clear her vision.

      And it worked; she remembered the midnight call from the jail and driving Jaden and Max home. Remembered the brunette dropping off a coat that turned out to be Max’s son, Troy. And that’s where her mind tripped up; this must truly be a dream. Or maybe a nightmare, because no way had she actually climbed into bed with Max Beasley.

      Yep, that must be it. A dream. Complete with sensory perception, the baby’s tug on her hair, the whisper of the man’s breath on her neck, the smell of soap and coffee. And the feel of a warm, hard male along the length of her back.

      She closed her eyes and willed herself to wake up, but she couldn’t concentrate with the feel of strong arms holding her close. How long had it been since she’d woken in the arms of a lover? Not since she’d broken it off with Brad, which was—well over a year ago.

      Too long by far.

      “Wake up.” A soft hand patted her cheek. “Mama.”

      Not even close, kid.

      Wait. Coffee?

      “You know, it’s amazing,” drawled a sleep-husky voice. “I can actually feel you thinking. What surprises me is you haven’t jumped up screaming about your virtue. I knew you really liked me, Ellie.”

      Elle stiffened at the first sound of his voice and then she scrambled until she sat up against the black leather headboard. She glared down into eyes much more alert than his voice implied.

      “I thought I might be dreaming,” she declared. He grinned at that. “But I was right the first time. I’m in the middle of a nightmare.”

      “Now tell the truth, Ellie.” His smile never dimmed. “You know you’re crushing on me.”

      Troy crawled up the bed and into Elle’s lap. Without thinking about it she kissed his light curls.

      “I know you’re a sophomoric moron. And my name is Elle.” She eyed the coffee cups steaming on the nightstand behind him and debated with herself whether it was worth reaching over him to get to one.

      As she couldn’t do so without coming into intimate contact with his bare chest, she chose to set Troy next to Max and then scooted to her side of the bed and walked around. It might not be graceful but it was safer.

      Avoiding Max’s smirking gaze, she caught sight of the time.

      “Ten after nine! Shoot, shoot, shoot. How could you let me sleep so long?”

      “Calm down. I just got up myself.”

      “You’ve been up long enough to make coffee.”

      “Coffee doesn’t count. I’m not awake until after I’ve had a cup.”

      Anger roared through Elle. She’d like to argue with him but how could she when she felt the same way? And it was really good coffee, too, which somehow made it worse.

      “It’s still your fault.” She reluctantly set the cup down and began looking for her shoes and socks. “You knew I needed to get into the office early today to do damage control for Jaden and you deliberately took advantage of me last night.”

      He lifted one dark eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure I didn’t take advantage of you last night, or we’d both be in a much better mood this morning.”

      “This is not funny.” She shook a finger at him. “This is my job. You’re golden, but I have to earn my spot every day.” Spying her shoes under the bed, she went down on her knees to grab them and then bent to see if her socks were under there, too.

      “You can stop looking for your shoes and thank me. I called Ray and you’re mine for the day.”

      Elle popped upright and stared at Max. That couldn’t be right.

      “Excuse me, you did what?”

      He propped himself up against the headboard and crossed his arms over his massive, bare chest. “I called Ray and told him I needed your help today. So you’re not late.”

      “I am not going to thank you.” To hide her reaction she continued the search for her socks. This was so not good. What must Ray be thinking? No doubt he believed they were sleeping together. She’d probably arrive at the office to find her desk packed and her keycard revoked. Ray had a strict hands-off-the-players rule.

      “You said you just woke up yet you’ve had time to make coffee and call my boss?”

      Troy clambered into Max’s lap. He flinched and quickly resettled the boy. “Careful of the jewels, kid.” To Elle he said, “I talked to Ray earlier when Troy kicked me awake at seven.”

      “Max, I can’t take a full day to babysit for you. We’re really busy at the office right now. We have the Jaden issue to deal with, the press is all over us about the rivalry series coming up with the L.A. games and the annual players’ Wish upon a Puck benefit for the San Diego Hope Cures Foundation is only three weeks away.” She spotted her socks inside her shoes and rolled onto her butt to pull them on. “I don’t have time for this.”

      “This isn’t about me.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed so his shin rested against her arm. “If I merely needed a babysitter, I have a hundred women I could call who would be happy to help me, and all of them would be a lot more accommodating.”

      “I bet.” She barely kept herself from snorting. “So do me a favor and call one of them.”

      “Ray said I could have you.”

      She hoped that wasn’t true.

      She threw him a give-me-a-break glance and used his knee to leverage herself off the floor. She turned to see Troy playing peek-a-boo with the covers. He stared up at her with guarded blue eyes.

      She wanted nothing more than to sweep him up and hug him better. Instead she hardened her heart. She bent to kiss his mop of blond curls. And immediately reminded herself to stop with the kisses. It was hard because she was so used to being free with her affections when it came to kids.

      “Be good for Daddy,” she told him and then headed for the door. “I’m going now.”

      “I told you, this isn’t about me.” Max followed hot on her heels. “It’s about Troy. I’m finally going to do what I should have done two years ago. I’m going to bring Troy to live with me. Ray said you’d help me.”

      Elle stopped and spun around. “Are you serious?”

      She didn’t know whether to applaud his decision or be worried for Troy’s welfare.

      “Dead serious.” He glanced around to where Troy squirmed around under the covers. “Will you help?”

      “A custody battle will be a public nightmare.”

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