A Perfect Homecoming. Lisa Dyson

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СКАЧАТЬ have never ‘played’ you.”

      “Sure you have,” he said stiffly. “You do it to everyone. You soften people up to get them to do what you want them to. I have to give you credit. You’re successful ninety-nine percent of the time.”

      Ashleigh’s hackles rose because he was right—she went on the offense. “What is it you think I want you to do, Kyle?” If he’d figured out that she wanted to know about his lawsuit, then she’d kick herself for being transparent.

      “You tell me,” he spit. “Tell me exactly what you want from me.”

      Angry tears clouded her vision at his uncharacteristic harshness, but she refused to show weakness. “I don’t want anything from you except some civility while I’m here.” She crossed her arms over her chest, rubbing at the goose bumps on her upper arms caused by her blatant lie.

      “Done.”

      “Good. Now what do you want from me?” she asked. “What can I do to make things easier?”

      He barely paused long enough to consider his answer. “Go home. Go back to your precious new life.” His words slashed at her. “There are enough people around to take care of things here.”

      She could barely speak over the lump in her throat. She should fight him, except she was tired of arguing. And anyway, wasn’t that what she wanted? To return to her life in Richmond and not look back?

      “You’d love that, wouldn’t you?” She straightened her spine, surprised by her own words. “Well, think again. You can’t tell me what to do. This is my family and I’m not going anywhere.”

      “You’d rather risk Paula’s health by sticking around?”

      Ashleigh couldn’t believe he’d said that. “That’s not what I’m doing. I’m taking care of her boys so she can rest like she’s supposed to.”

      Kyle didn’t say anything, simply turned to his truck.

      She didn’t want to leave the conversation unfinished. “Wait.” This time she did touch his sleeve. His bicep flexed at the contact.

      He clicked his truck locks open as his head spun around. In the low light, she could see he wasn’t immune to her. His breathing accelerated and the heat coming off his body intensified.

      She drew her hand back when she realized the same was true for herself.

      He grabbed her hand and jerked her close, his eyes fixed on hers. She couldn’t pull her gaze away, no matter how much she tried.

      His body was solid and unyielding, as was his expression. He was furious. She placed a hand on his chest and he swore. His mouth was hot and rough when it captured hers. Her eyes closed and her world tilted.

      Their issues were put on hold. No hurt, no betrayal, no misunderstandings.

      Only lust. Pure, unadulterated lust.

      She’d spent the past two years avoiding thoughts of them together like this and now the heat was spreading through her body like a spark to kindling.

      If she stopped to dwell on all she’d lost, there would have been pain. Indescribable agony. Now here she was, rediscovering the magic between them, reviving the sexual claim they had on each other with no thought about where this was headed or what the consequences might be.

      No thought whatsoever.

      Her arms encircled his waist and her splayed hands moved upward, recognizing his solid back muscles by touch alone. Her fingers moved then, to the deep ridge in his lower back where his firm backside began. All the while, his mouth was doing delicious things to hers, as if the past few years hadn’t happened.

      Perhaps they had a chance at civility after all.

      Kyle drew away abruptly, taking a step backward. They stood a foot or more apart. A sudden chill enveloped her.

      “Sorry.” His tone was gruff as he ran a hand through his hair. “That shouldn’t have happened.”

      He turned his back to her, missing her hand fly up to cover her silent, openmouthed gasp.

      He retrieved his keys from the curb where they must have fallen when he grabbed her. Then he continued with purpose around the truck to the driver’s side.

      His door was halfway open when she said, “Kyle?”

      He stopped, his expression unreadable in the darkness.

      Her heart sank. Not only had she gotten the wrong message from his kiss, but now things between them had definitely gotten more complicated.

      If that was even possible.

      “Never mind,” she whispered.

      CHAPTER FOUR

      PAULA HAD BEEN in and out of bed all night. Why couldn’t OBs understand that complete bed rest was virtually impossible when your pregnancy bladder acted like an alarm clock? Of course, every time she got out of bed and moved around it woke Bam-Bam, who was instantly ready to shake, rattle and roll.

      Nothing like a kick in the ribs to keep you awake.

      She finally gave up and decided to read for a while, but she must have fallen asleep because a knock on her bedroom door startled her awake.

      “Come in.” Daylight peeked through the front window where the curtains met and the book she’d been reading lay across her chest. She searched the covers for her bookmark and set the book next to her.

      Ashleigh entered, carrying a tray that, from the delicious smell, must be breakfast.

      “Good morning.” Ashleigh’s words sounded more cheerful than her expression conveyed. “I hope you still like eggs on a raft. I came to ask you before I started cooking, but you were asleep.”

      “I haven’t had that in years!” Paula’s ho-hum attitude changed slightly for the better. “The boys like scrambled eggs, so that’s what I usually fix.”

      Ashleigh set the tray down. Along with the poached eggs on toast were hot tea, orange juice and blueberry yogurt. Perfect, just like Ashleigh.

      “You didn’t have to go to so much trouble.” Paula pushed aside her mental insults because she couldn’t wait to dig in. “Thank you.”

      “You’re welcome.” Ashleigh helped Paula get the tray settled and glanced around the bedroom. “Is there anything else you need? The boys are finishing breakfast and I started a load of laundry.”

      Paula swallowed her first mouthful of food and shook her head. “No, this is wonderful.” She cut off another bite of toast and ran it through the perfectly done yolk. “Grandma used to make this for us.”

      Ashleigh’s eyebrows rose. “I remember.”

      She probably hadn’t expected Paula to solicit a conversation, but what the heck. They needed to start somewhere. This pregnancy still had several weeks to go.

      “Remember СКАЧАТЬ