Keeping Her Baby's Secret. Raye Morgan

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      His gaze swept over her. “You’re looking particularly lovely today,” he noted, a slight smile softening the corners of his wide mouth.

      The corners of her own mouth quirked. “As opposed to what I looked like yesterday, after midnight?” she said, half teasing.

      His grin was crooked. “Oh, no. After midnight you looked even better. Only…”

      “Did you see a doctor last night?” she broke in quickly, eager to forestall any flirting he might have in mind. They had to keep their relationship on a certain level and she was bound and determined she would be the watchdog of that if he wouldn’t be.

      “I guess so.” He shrugged. “I was pretty much out of it.”

      “Yes, you were.”

      Looking chagrined, he put his hand over his heart and gazed earnestly into her eyes. “I don’t drink, you know. Not really. Hardly ever.”

      If she wasn’t careful, he was going to make her laugh, and that was almost as dangerous as making her swoon.

      “So you said.”

      “And it’s true. If I’d found a box of crackers in the trunk of the car instead of a bottle of booze, I’d have been all crumbs last night, instead of the sauced serenader I devolved into.”

      She choked and his eyes sparkled with amusement at his own joke.

      “But I do want to apologize. I was rude last night. I took over your lake and ruined your sleep and generally made myself into a damned nuisance.”

      He meant it. He was really apologizing. She met his gaze in solemn candor. “You did.”

      “And I’m sorry.” His blue eyes were filled with tragic regret.

      She laughed softly, shaking her head. She’d missed him, missed his candor, missed his teasing and missed what often actually seemed to be his sincere sensitivity to what she was feeling. But she had to admit, that sensitivity could sometimes slosh over into a subtle mockery and she was afraid he might be working his way in that general direction right now.

      Still, they were friends, weren’t they? She was allowed to act like a friend, at least.

      “I’m not,” she said firmly. “I’m not a bit sorry.” She smiled up into his face. “Despite everything, it is good to have you back in the neighborhood.”

      “‘Despite everything,’ you say.” He looked skeptical. “Seriously?”

      Her smile deepened. “Of course.”

      The warmth between them began to sizzle and she knew it was time to pull back. But it felt like resisting quicksand to do it. If only she could allow herself this small island of pleasure. Soon enough she would leave and hopefully wall off any further contact with Cam, except the most casual and occasional kind. Would it really ruin everything to let herself enjoy him, just for this warm spring morning?

      Yes. He was looking at her mouth and it sent shivers all through her. She couldn’t risk even a tiny moment or two of weakness. Determined, she pulled away.

      “I drove by to look at your car this morning,” she said over her shoulder as she started to walk toward the French doors that opened onto the gardens.

      “How’s it doing?” he asked, walking with her.

      She glanced at him sideways. “You didn’t tell me you’d had a tire blow out.”

      “Didn’t I?”

      “No.” She stopped in the doorway, turning to face him again. “It’s too bad. I sort of liked your story about fighting the wheel in order to get to my place.”

      He snapped his fingers. “That was exactly what I was doing when the blowout occurred.”

      She grinned. “Right.”

      Mrs. Van Kirk, wearing a wide-brimmed sun hat and carrying a basket filled with cut flowers, was out among her prized rosebushes and as she turned, she spotted the two of them and began to wave. “Yoo-hoo! My dear, I’m over here.”

      Diana lifted her hand to wave back and said out of the corner of her mouth, “Who’s she talking to, you or me?”

      He stood beside her in the doorway, looking out. “I’d say it’s a toss-up.”

      She glanced at him. “She’s your mother.”

      His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he looked out at where she stood, waving at them. “Sometimes I wonder,” he muttered.

      Diana didn’t wonder. In fact, she didn’t have a doubt. Cam looked so much like his mother, it was cute—or frightening, depending on how you looked at it.

      “Well, I’m going to go to her,” Diana said, turning to leave.

      He hung back. “I’m not coming with you. I’ve got a command audience with my grandfather.”

      “Oh, no.” Stopping, she looked back at him. “Is this the first you’ve seen him since you came back?”

      He nodded, a faraway look in his eyes. “This should be interesting.”

      To say the least. Diana winced, remembering all those old, painful arguments with the old man when he was younger. She could see by the look on his face that he wasn’t as optimistic about the coming meeting as he might pretend.

      “I’m surprised you’re not taking in a bodyguard,” she said lightly, only half joking. “I remember those sessions you used to have with him.” Her eyes widened as she recalled some especially wild fights they’d had and she shuddered. “He put you through the wringer.”

      Cam nodded and he didn’t smile. “That he did.” His gaze skimmed over her face. “You want to come with me?”

      She reared back. “Not on your life. When I was suggesting a bodyguard, I was thinking more along the lines of one of those burly fellows digging posts for the new barbecue center out back.”

      He laughed. “I think I can handle my grandfather,” he said. “I’m older now. Wiser.” He cocked an eyebrow. “More agile.”

      Diana shook her head, suppressing a grin. “And besides,” she reminded him. “From what I hear, he’s often bedridden. I guess that would give you an advantage.”

      He laughed again. “Exactly.”

      Word was that his grandfather was in rapidly failing health. With Cam’s father spending most of his time at spa resorts that specialized in “rest cures” and his sister reportedly caught up in playing musical husbands, that left Cam to support his mother and help make some decisions. She was beginning to realize that those circumstances were probably part of the reason he’d agreed to come back home.

      “I’ll come out and join you if I survive.”

      “Okay.” She winced as she started out through the rosebushes. She shouldn’t be encouraging any СКАЧАТЬ