Bedded for His Pleasure: Bedded by a Bad Boy / In the Gardener's Bed / The Return of the Rebel. Heidi Rice

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СКАЧАТЬ told himself it was a nice healthy dose of lust that had dragged him out tonight.

      But now, with Emmy’s little fingers clinging onto his neck, the comforting warmth in Ali’s eyes as she greeted him, the friendly handshake Linc gave him as he walked up to the grill, he realised that it wasn’t only lust. The feeling of warmth, of need, scared him.

      ‘Just in time.’ Linc’s voice was easy, confident. Why did Monroe feel so out of his element?

      ‘Jess,’ Linc said, ‘grab Monroe a beer from the cooler—looks like he’s got his hands full.’

      Monroe’s eyes settled on Jessie as she handed him an icy bottle. He shifted Emmy in his arms to take it. ‘Thanks, Red.’

      She gave him a quick nod then looked away, but he’d seen the flash of awareness and what looked like worry in her face. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she took the steaks from Linc and placed them on the long glass table laid out on the patio.

      Her hair seemed to be made of flame tonight, tumbling down her back in wild, lustrous waves. The simple little black number she had on should have been demure but it showcased the curves beneath in a way that was damn near indecent. Aware that Linc might be watching him, Monroe took a long pull of his beer and dragged his eyes away.

      ‘We might as well get settled,’ Linc said quietly.

      Emmy laid her head on Monroe’s shoulder. The little girl went still and heavy in his arms as Linc and Ali and Jessie put the last of the food on the table. The feel of Emmy’s body relaxing against his made the ache in his heart sharpen.

      Linc placed a hand on his daughter’s back. ‘Come on, Emmy. You can sit in my lap while we eat.’

      ‘I want to stay with Monroe,’ Emmy’s tired voice whispered against Monroe’s neck.

      ‘It’s okay, Linc. She’s no trouble,’ he found himself saying.

      ‘You sure? It’s not that easy slicing steak with a sleeping child in your arms.’

      Monroe simply nodded. He didn’t know why he wanted to keep the child with him. He just knew he did.

      Jessie watched as Monroe struggled to finish his food. Emmy was sound asleep in his lap. Linc and Ali had started clearing the table. The meal had gone quickly, Linc and Ali keeping the conversation light and undemanding. Monroe had been surprisingly subdued.

      Something had changed about him. The cocksure, devil-may-care confidence that seemed so much a part of him was gone tonight. The same vulnerability she’d glimpsed in the diner was back tonight. Why did he seem wary and unsure of himself?

      ‘I feel stuffed.’ Ali sighed and leaned back in her chair.

      Linc gave her belly a reassuring rub. ‘That’s because you are, honey.’

      Ali swatted his hand. ‘Not funny, Latimer.’

      Linc laughed and hauled her out of her chair. ‘Come on, I’ll take the plates in and you can put your feet up on the sofa.’ Putting an arm round his wife, Linc smiled at Jessie and Monroe. ‘You want me to take Emmy, Monroe?’

      ‘She’s out like a light. I can hold her a while longer.’

      ‘Thanks.’

      Jessie stacked all the plates except Monroe’s and handed them to Linc.

      As Linc and Ali walked off across the lawn, Jessie settled back into her seat and watched Monroe. The pungent aroma of the dying charcoal was overlaid with the rich scent of summer blooms and the crisp smell of the sea. She could hear the gentle hum of the surf on the beach, and the soft murmur of Emmy’s childish snores.

      It occurred to Jessie that for some reason during the evening her nerves had simply dissolved. The night had settled around them, comforting yet also intimate, but she didn’t feel nervous about being left alone with Monroe. Maybe it was the two glasses of wine she’d had, she thought, as she took another sip. Or more likely it was the sight of him with the little girl curled in his arms. Tonight, for the first time, he didn’t scare her.

      When his knife clattered onto the plate again, Jessie took pity on him. ‘Do you want me to cut it for you?’

      He looked up, his brow creasing. ‘Yeah, thanks, I’m starving.’

      Leaning over, Jessie began slicing the meat on his plate.

      ‘I feel like a first-grader.’His voice whispered close to her ear, making the soft skin of her nape tingle. But unlike before, when the giddy awareness had made her feel vulnerable and irritated, she enjoyed the warmth that seemed to spread up her neck.

      ‘I could take her in.’ She pushed his plate back to him. ‘She probably ought to go to bed now anyway.’

      ‘No need.’ He adjusted the little girl in his lap, forking up a mouthful of the newly-cut meat as Emmy’s head nestled against his broad shoulder. He chewed and swallowed. ‘It’s kind of nice to hold her when she’s not talking a mile a minute.’ He looked a little shocked at his own admission, making Jessie’s lips curve.

      ‘What’s so funny?’ The prickle of annoyance in his tone made Jessie’s smile widen.

      ‘You are. You’re cute.’

      He frowned at that, putting down his fork. ‘Hey, that’s my line.’

      ‘Not any more, it’s not.’ Jessie nodded at Emmy. ‘She’s totally besotted with you, you know.’

      ‘She’s a good kid.’ He sounded confused, making Jessie wonder.

      ‘She’s also a very good judge of character.’

      Monroe blinked at the statement. The soft words sounded almost like an endearment. He studied Jessie in the flickering light. He’d planned to come on to her tonight. An opportunity like this, with her as good as flirting with him, should have been just what he was looking for.

      He wanted to kiss her in the worst way. But something was holding him back. And it wasn’t only the sleeping child in his lap.

      He didn’t only want to feast on those sweet lips of hers, he realised with a jolt. He wanted to bask in the approval he saw in her eyes. He wanted her to care for him. That was the problem. He felt the stab of guilt at the thought. He’d intended to seduce her, not make her fall for him. That would never work.

      ‘She doesn’t know me.’ The words came out harsher than he’d intended. ‘And neither do you, Red.’

      The abrupt statement might have put Jessie off, but as he said it she could see the panic in his eyes. He wasn’t angry. Not really. He was scared. But why?

      ‘Does it frighten you, Monroe, to have people care about you?’

      She knew she’d struck a nerve when he stiffened. Annoyance swirled in his eyes. ‘What the hell does that—’ The angry words cut off when Emmy stirred.

      He rocked her gently, until the child settled again. When he looked back at Jessie, she could see he’d been careful to settle himself as well.

      The СКАЧАТЬ