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He frowned as if he didn’t understand the question For that matter, Maryellen wasn’t sure she understood it, either She loved her daughter Loved Katie so ht of herfor a second or two That was the love Jon had revealed so perfectly on filraphs of people," she said "Other than Katie, of course" But she couldn’t help re the picture in his bedroom…

"Only you" Jon kissed Katie on the forehead "If it bothers you, I won’t again"

That wasn’t what she wanted, but then Maryellen no longer kneas right or wrong as far as Jon was concerned Heso much more complicated

"I…love this picture, Jon I really love it"

"Then it’s yours"

To make matters worse, tears filled her eyes and she turned away as they ran down her cheeks

"Maryellen?"

"What?"

"Why are you crying?"

"I don’t know, but it’s all your fault" Her words, rash and illogical, escaped on a sob

Jon stood and placed Katie in her bassinet He paced back and forth a couple of times, then sat down next to Maryellen She refused to face him as she tried to ste out of control

He touched her shoulder, so lightly she al?" he whispered

"No," she th of her arm

"Why do you have to be so wonderful?" she sobbed

His hand paused "Would you rather I was unreasonable and short-tempered?"

"I’ve treated you terribly I hid the fact that I was pregnant, tried to keep you out of our baby’s life and all…all you’ve been is patient and wonderful I could hate you for it"

"Hate me?" He turned her shoulders so she was forced to face hiht I would, but I don’t"

He stroked the sides of her neck in a leisurely, hypnotic e Maryellen half closed her eyes and swayed toward hiht her mouth within a fraction of his own

"After the way I’ve treated you, you should detest me," she told hiled with hers

She parted her lips, anticipating his kiss The tip of his tongue, moist and warm, outlined her mouth, and Maryellen moaned at the pure sensuality of it Her lips parted further and Jon brushed his htened in her thick hair as he continued the kiss

Maryellen tasted the salt of her tears and realized that she eeping even as he kissed her She heard him whisper, but couldn’tdidn’t see and what he washer feel

With her arainst his hard, , their shoulders heaving with the intensity of their desire

A discordant soundwhere this love to stop His hands cupped her breasts, and sensation bolted through her With his ainst hers, he unfastened her blouse and bra, and she felt his hands tremble as he eased his thumb over her swollen nipple This latest invasion made her whiain and Maryellen’s eyes flew open "Katie," she whispered "It’s Katie"

Jon drew back They ain their equilibriuhed softly "What baby? Oh, you mean our baby"

"The very one"

Maryellen stood up to check on Katie, as fussing in earnest now She punched the air with her ar Maryellen supposed that for a baby, feeding time was about that important

As discreetly as possible, Maryellen fastened her bra and blouse It occurred to her that this was a bit silly, since she’d be unfastening theain in a minute "Do you think we’ve warped her ht of what had happened between them

"I can’t speak for Katie, but I knohat you’ve done tohow to phrase the question any ed to hurt him--to reject him, either physically or emotionally She assuns were there Her own life was colored with anguish he knew nothing about, distress that was impossible to share

"I’ve been uncoht we kissed"

She reo He’d walked her to her car after a party during which she’d introduced him to a friend Her plan had been to foist hiet him out of her mind That scheme had failed miserably, just like every other one she’d plotted in their bewildering relationship