page27 (1/1)

‘I wanted to prove to you we can be together, despite our tiers down her cheek, a sense of satisfaction rushing through hi lashes lying on her pale skin

When she opened her eyes and looked up at hied into her soul, into her heart He knew then that her feelings for hied She’d told him more than once she loved hier, he’d thrown it back at her before walking out on his new e He’d done it to save her pain, to save her heartache, but instead he’d created more Noas a time to be honest, to tell her he did want to be in his child’s life, in her life, but he knew that he couldn’t allow himself to love her, not in the way she wanted He owed it to her, to his child, to be honest

‘And that’s all?’ The hope in those whispered words tugged at his conscience like a gale-force wind rushing in off stormy seas, but he couldn’t yield to it, couldn’t let it affect hiht hi him lock his heart away He didn’t deserve the happy ever after Lisa craved so much

‘We had a good e, Lisa We had passion—lots of it’ He lowered his head and brushed his lips over hers; the soft sigh of desire she htened his own, his need for her ‘I warned you I didn’t go in for love and romance You knew that before we married’

‘I just thought…’ she said softly, the words dying on her lips as her eyes met his

More than anything he wanted to kiss her again, to claim her as his once more, to show her that even while he couldn’t say words of love to her he desired her, wanted her in the most primal way a man could want a woman

He shook his head ‘Don’t overthink things, Lisa We h of one another and noill remain married because of our child A child created with desire and passion so strong that neither of us could deny it then—or now’

Lisa’s heart thu around the cosy cottage he’d presented her as a Christ to her childhood insecurities by doing that? Did he know that in this house was all she’d ever wanted? Even the handsome man to live happily ever after with?

‘So this is all because I a from her before she had time to think, time to work out this bizarre situation The passion in the air around the him under the mistletoe had been a

‘In part, yes, but also to show I can be in your life—in our child’s life’ He touched her face again, sparking up the intense heat of passion She wouldn’t be able to resist him, she knew that without any doubt, and before she ended up exactly where she’d vowed never to be again—in his bed—she wanted to clear things between them

‘Is that to show you or h her

He frowned slightly, but the darkness of his eyes remained full of desire ‘I deserve that’

The moment of honesty almost fooled her, but she had her own honest moment to deal with first ‘I never knew about your brother, the headlines I wouldn’t have added to it all on the same day if I had’

He sighed ‘I just couldn’t think straight So , so fast’

A wave of syh her He’d had more than most men to deal with in recent weeks and she knew better than most what the past could do, how it could haunt you, colour your views and follow you through your life

‘I have alanted children, one day, although I am only too aware you don’t feel the same I could never subject a child to the kind of childhood either of us experienced, but the fact is that I anant and you made me feel that it was all my fault We both drank too reed on about being professional’

‘More than a little wine’ He sive me?’

He pressed his lips lightly on hers, testing her reaction

‘Give ood reason why I should,’ she teased, thankful theAll it took was one light kiss, one gentle touch, one desire-filled look and she was lost

‘Because it’s Christht kisses and she closed her eyes to the sensation of fire on her skin