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‘The steak’s on hold while I do this’

‘You worry too ot all ten digits’

He turned to her question about his faot four half-sisters and they’re all bonkers I adore them, and wouldn’t swap them for a saner variety’

‘That’s cool Are their kids norer quotes ‘—“bonkers”?’

‘Still up for debate The brothers-in-law are leaning towards bonkers, but they’re not fazed either way The kids’ ages range from two to seven They’re sostopped as he stared across the kitchen at Tauire brood There’re going to be five grandkids for Mum to spoil’

Tas in one hand, soht?’ Caution laced her question

‘It’s ht It’s—It’s wonderful’ It really was

As long as baby’s heart is fine

Conor shivered Go away Let me enjoy the moment

‘It is going to be all right’ Tamara stood in front of hiether’

‘But—’

‘But tonight we’re going to share ato be parents and just take in the wonder of that There’s plenty of tiht not happen’ She shook hiently ‘Okay?’

‘That’s hoant to play it, if only this pesky little voice into share parts of hin for his independence

Tao annoy soht is ours Not yours’

Laughter began deep in his belly and rolled up and out between them What a tonic she was If he had to have anyone onside if things went bad then Tamara ho he wanted, needed ‘How do you like your steak?’

Tamara placed her empty dinner plate on the floor beside her chair and watched Conor as he finished hishie,

flipping his sign back and forth Just her and Conor Tired, and te to keep the truce running for as long as possible, she had to ignore the flare of need that kiss had evoked The need that refused to die down even though they’d stopped kissing ages ago

Why had Conor ended the kiss? His withdrawal had been gentle, but had left her depleted when everything sensible in her head—okay, not a lot—had shouted at her, Don’t do it! She had so much to lose More than ever before Yet her body had craved him, her mouth devoured his taste, her ar him She’d made a baby with this man Her body rehtened sensation, the exquisite release of that night

She wanted it again Needed to connect with hiether, that this was real That it wasn’t another lie thrown at her by people she’d trusted

Already she was beginning to believe, really believe deep inside that Conorthere for her, not against her Giving in too easily? Because she desperately wanted a nancy and the years to folloith? Ato be someone at her side then Conor was the only man she’d consider But they had hardly touched base on the issues ahead That’s when her burgeoning belief in hiht step back

‘You’re awfully quiet over there,’ theher brain do so?’ Conor looked so relaxed and at ease her own tension lightened somewhat

‘No’ Yes He’d have a fit if he knehat she’d been thinking ‘Just putting the day into perspective’ So part, the warht with landmines

Conor hauled hiet some shut-eye’

‘That’s probably best’ Unfortunately She followed hi heavier with every step, lonelier with every breath