The Billionaire's Borrowed Baby. Janice Maynard

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СКАЧАТЬ be ridiculous.” But when she tried to sit upright, her skull pounded.

      He eased her back down. “You don’t have to fight me over every damn thing. Open your mouth.” He fed her small manageable bites of chicken piccata and wild rice. While she chewed and swallowed, he dug into his own portion.

      Hattie muttered in frustration when one of her mouthfuls landed on the sofa cushion. “See what you made me do …”

      “Don’t worry,” he deadpanned. “A few stains could only help this monstrosity.”

      She eyed him, openmouthed, and then they both burst into laughter. Hattie felt tears sting the backs of her eyes. She told herself it was nothing more than delayed reaction. But in truth, it was Luc. When he forgot to be on his guard with her, she saw a glimpse of the young man she had loved so desperately.

      She wondered with no small measure of guilt if her long-ago defection had transformed the boy she once knew so well into the hard-edged, sardonic Luc. A million times over the years she had second-guessed her decision. It had been gratifying to establish a career and to stand on her own two feet. Her mother had been proud of Hattie’s independence and success in her chosen field.

      But at what cost?

      When the last of the food was consumed, the mood grew awkward. Luc gathered their empty plates. “Stay where you are. You have to deal with Deedee in the morning, so you might as well rest while you can.”

      She lay there quietly, wondering bleakly how her life had unraveled so quickly. Two months ago she’d been an ordinary single woman with a circle of friends, a good job and a pleasant social life. Now she was a substitute parent facing a custody battle and trying to combat a tsunami of feelings for the man who had once upon a time been her other half, her soul mate. Was it any wonder she felt overwhelmed?

      A trickle of water from melting ice slid down her cheek. She sat up and sucked in a breath when a hammer thudded inside her skull. The food she had eaten rolled unpleasantly in her stomach.

      Luc frowned as he rejoined her, pausing only to take the wet dish towel and toss it on a kitchen counter. “We probably should make a trip to the E.R. to make sure you don’t have a concussion.”

      “I’ll be fine.” She knew her voice lacked conviction, but it was hard to be stoic with the mother of all headaches.

      Luc put his hands on his hips, his navy polo shirt stretching taut over broad shoulders and a hard chest. “I’ll stay the night.”

      Four

      Hattie gaped. “Oh, no. Not necessary.”

      “We have the baby to think of, too. You probably won’t rest very well tonight, and you’ll likely need an extra hand in the morning. I’ll sleep on the couch. It may be ugly as sin, but it’s long and fairly comfortable. I’ll be fine.”

      Hattie was torn. Having Luc in her small apartment was unsettling, but the encounter with Eddie had shaken her emotionally as well as physically, and she was dead on her feet.

      She shrugged, conceding defeat. “I’ll get you towels and bedding.” She brushed by him, inhaling for a brief instant the tang of citrusy aftershave and the scent of warm male.

      When she returned moments later, he was on the phone with Ana, letting her know he wouldn’t be home that evening. It touched her that he would be so considerate of people who were in his employ. He was a grown man. He had no obligation to let anyone know his schedule or his whereabouts.

      But wasn’t that what had drawn her to him in the beginning? His kindness and his humor? Sadly, his personality had an edge now, a remoteness that had not existed before.

      She began making up the sofa, but he stopped her as soon as he hung up. “Go to bed, Hattie. I’m not a guest. I don’t need you waiting on me. I can fend for myself.”

      She nodded stiffly. “Good night, then.”

      He lifted a shoulder, looking diffident for a moment. “May I see her?”

      “The baby?” Well, duh. Who else could he mean?

      “Yes.”

      “Of course.”

      He followed her down the short hallway into the bedroom. A small night-light illuminated the crib. Luc put his hands on the railing and stared down at the infant sleeping so peacefully. Hattie hung back. Her chest was tight with confused emotions. Had things gone differently in the past, this scene might have played out in reality.

      A couple, she and Luc, putting their own daughter to bed before retiring for the night.

      Luc reached out a hand, hovered briefly, then lightly stroked Deedee’s hair. She never stirred. He spoke softly, his back still toward Hattie. “She doesn’t deserve what has happened to her.”

      Hattie shook her head, eyes stinging. “No. She doesn’t. I can’t let Eddie take her. She’s so innocent, so perfect.”

      Luc turned, his strong, masculine features shadowed in the half-light. His somber gaze met her wary one, some intangible link between them shrouding the moment in significance. “We’ll keep her safe, Hattie. You have my word.”

      Quietly, he left the room.

      Hattie changed into a gown and robe. Ordinarily, she slept in a T-shirt and panties, but with Luc in the house, she needed extra armor.

      She folded the comforter and turned back the covers before heading for the bathroom. Well, shoot. She’d forgotten to give Luc even the basics. Taking a new toothbrush from the cabinet, she returned to the living room. “Sorry. I meant to give you this. There’s toothpaste on the counter, and if you want to shave in the morning—”

      She stopped dead, her pulse jumping. Luc stood before her wearing nothing but a pair of gray knit boxers, which left little to the imagination. Every inch of his body was fit and tight. His skin was naturally olive-toned, and the dusting of fine black hair on his chest made her want to stroke it to see if it was as soft as she remembered.

      Long muscular thighs led upward to … She gulped. As she watched in fascination, his erection grew and flexed. She literally couldn’t move. Luc didn’t seem at all embarrassed, despite the fact that her face was hot enough to fry an egg.

      “Thank you for the toothbrush.” A half smile lifted one corner of his mouth.

      She extended the cellophane-wrapped package gingerly, making sure her fingers didn’t touch his. “You’re welcome.”

      And still she didn’t leave. The years rolled away. She remembered with painful clarity what it was like to be held tightly to that magnificent chest, to feel those strong arms pull her close, to experience the hard evidence of his arousal thrusting against her abdomen.

      His gaze was hooded, the line of his mouth now almost grim. “Like what you see?”

      The mockery was deliberate, she had no doubt … as if to say you were so foolish back then. Look what you gave up.

      Heat flooded her body. The robe stifled her. She wanted to tear it off, to fling herself СКАЧАТЬ