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“Good night, my son,” he whispered

Freddie yawned, his eyes closed as he continued to sleep, flinging his chubby arms back over his head

Stavros turned, lifted his bag over his shoulder and started down the hall Turning back to say good-night, he stopped when he saw Holly standing in the doorway Her heart-shaped face was haunted

“Do you really care about Freddie?” she said hoarsely “You’re not just doing it out of pride, or to hurt me? You really want to be his father?”

“Yes,” he said in a low voice He dropped the bag to the floor and moved close to her “And I want you”

She looked up, her expression stricken “You”

“I want you I want to hold you in ht I can’t I’ve thought of it for the last year”

She treaze

“You’re trying to seduce me,” she whispered

“Yes I a her face, he lowered his head toward hers “I want you forever”

And in the shadowy hall outside the bedroom, he lowered his lips toward hers and kissed her, soft and slow

For a ht she’d push him away

Then slowly, trely, her lips parted And it was the sweetest, purest kiss Stavros had ever known It took every ounce of his willpower to finally pull ahen all he wanted to do was take her back into the bedroom and make love to her

But he didn’t want her for just one night He wanted her as his wife And if he’d learned anything froers and acquisitions, it was to always leave the other side wanting more

“Good night,” he said huskily, cupping her cheek as he looked deeply into her eyes And he left her