Page 33 of Modern Romance Collection December 2024 Books 1-4

Quin still couldn’t quite grasp the full significance of what that had meant for her.

At that moment the ball landed at his feet, but before he could react Sadie was hurtling towards him and colliding with him full force, driving him backwards.

He landed with anoof, and with Sadie still welded to his body, because he’d automatically put his arms around her. There wasn’t a point where they didn’t touch. Thigh to thigh, hip to hip, chest to chest. And also, as Sadie drew her head back slowly, breathing harshly, practically mouth to mouth.

‘I’m sorry,’ she gasped. ‘I thought you were going to move.’

But Quin hardly heard her. All he could see were those blue-green eyes. His son’s eyes.

A rogue thought popped into his head: if they had another child, would it too inherit her eyes? The thought was so unexpected that Quin felt a little winded.

And then, predictably, a certain part of his anatomy started responding to Sadie’s proximity.

Her eyes widened and her cheeks went pink. She said, ‘I thought you said...’ She trailed off.

‘I said it wouldn’t happen again,’ Quin gritted out. ‘Not that I didn’t want it to.’

‘Are you gonna kiss Sadie, Papa?’

They both turned their heads at that moment, to see Sol crouching down beside them, watching with open curiosity.

He said, ‘If you want to, it’s okay. I’ve seen Maria’s papa kissing her mom.’

Immediately Quin stiffened and put his hands on Sadie’s arms, to push her up and away from him as he said, ‘No, I am not going to kiss Sadie. We just fell, that’s all.’

Sadie scrambled to her feet and Quin could see the red of her cheeks, even though he wasn’t looking straight at her. This was exactly what he wanted to avoid—confusing Sol. Although Sol had already started kicking the ball again, oblivious to the tension in the air and, it would seem, to any confusion.

Quin opened his mouth to say something, but at that moment Roberto called out from the house.

‘Dinner is ready.’

Sadie said, ‘I’ll just wash my hands first.’ And she fled towards the guesthouse.

Quin had to curb the urge to follow her and—

And what?asked a voice.Punish her for turning you on so easily by making love to her? After telling her it wouldn’t happen again?

Thoroughly flustered, frustrated, and feeling as if the ground was shifting underneath him, Quin went straight to his own room to freshen up—starting with a very cold shower.

Sadie was still trembling under the shower spray a couple of minutes later. Trembling from the way Quin’s body had felt underneath her. All hard sinew and steel and muscle and beating heart, thumping unsteadily against her chest. She’d wanted to put her head down, put her ear close to that strong beat. As she’d used to when they’d lain in bed.

Before.

And then she’d felt another part of his anatomy stirring against her, and any thoughts of listening to his heart had melted in a flash of heat. To her shame, she’d even forgotten that Sol was there, watching them. Until he’d spoken.

Quin had moved so fast to push her off him that her head was still spinning.

He did still want her. But he didn’t want to want her. Well, he’d made that clear the first time they’d made love. Disappearing like a thief in the night.

Sadie turned off the spray and stepped out of the shower, drying herself briskly and putting a towel around her head and another around her body. She went into the dressing room, but instead of gravitating towards the jeans and shirts, she found herself moving to the dresses and pulling out an olive-green silk shirt dress with a slim gold belt.

She let the towel drop and pulled on some of the new underwear—wispy pieces of silk and lace that felt far too flimsy and decadent. Frivolous... It had been a long time since she’d felt frivolous.

But she couldn’t deny that here in this place, when she was with her son at last and had told Quin the truth of what had happened, she felt lighter. Buoyant. Hopeful. In spite of the ever-present undercurrents.

She towel-dried her hair, leaving it in damp waves, and then slipped on the dress and a pair of flat sandals. She made her way up to the main house. The early evening air was warm and balmy.

When she went inside Quin and Sol were already sitting at the table.

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