Page 17 of Be My Baby

Max sent her a bashful smile. “Of course. I’m at your disposal, ma’am.”

She stepped out into the hallway, placed her hand on his shoulder, and stood on tiptoe to place a kiss on his cheek.

He smelled sogood. She breathed him in while she had the chance.

“Thank you, Max. This means more than you can ever know.”

The smile she received when she lowered herself back down was more than enough to heat her blood.

The searching look he sent her had her wishing she was the type to do flings. One nights. Any type of casual sex.

But she wasn’t. She wanted a relationship, she wanted love.

She wanted the whole damned lot.

Even casual sex with Max was out of the question. Max was too important. The thought of losing him after the initial fun had worn off on his part was enough to send chills down her spine.

No. Max was special.

Max occupied a place in her heart that she refused to let be compromised by transient things like lust. Even if looking at his retreating form sent waves of longing through her so strong that she thought she’d pass out from their strength.

She waited until she heard the front door latch click, then retrieved the small sample vial that promised so much.

She knew it was unlikely that she would fall the first time, that she shouldn’t get her hopes up; but she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like, to know that the life growing inside her wastheirs—hers and Max’s.

Millie followed the instructions and lay back on the bed, her hips raised by two pillows.

Now to wait for the recommended hour.

She slid her hand down under the hem of her long shirt, her fingers finding that spot and she wished with all her being that she’d been brave enough to accept Max’s offer of help.

To feelhishand there…

She gasped and closed her eyes. His face, his body, his scent. With her eyes shut like this, she couldseehim, feel him. She could almost imagine how it might feel if he were on top of her, if that warmth she felt inside had been put there by him.

Millie’s eyes flew open and she gasped out loud as her hips jerked upward against her hand, pleasure spearing her body and brain.

She gasped in much-needed breaths and bit her lip, relaxing back into the pillows.

Maybe next time she’d be brave enough to ask him if his offer still stood.

Chapter Nine

Max placed hishand in the centre of Millie’s back and almost propelled her into the huge, screened outdoor area at the rear of his parents’ home. A massive square table sat on large terracotta floor tiles, taking up the most space, a large lazy Susan gracing the centre of the table. Twelve chairs sat around it, some taken, some empty. It was as if Millie’s feet had solidified into place on the doorstep, stopping her moving either forwardorbackward.

Sunday afternoon barbecues at the Jamesons’ were legendary. He’d managed to get some time away from the Cow, the first time in weeks that he was able to get here. He felt Millie’s chest expand with the inhalation of air as she took that final, no-turning-back step into the option she’d chosen.

“It’s okay. They won’t bite.” Max could see half of them already in the outdoor room, noisy and laughing. The others were probably inside somewhere preparing food. None of his rambunctious family and their spouses had noticed them yet.

Millie sent him a long-suffering glare that he knew was covering utter terror on her part.

“They’re going to wonder why the hell I’m here. They’re going to look at me…” She glanced up at him and bit her bottom lip. “Likethat.” She jerked her head toward the massive wooden outdoor table in front of them.

Max didn’t bother looking. He knew the surprise that would be on most of their faces. He also knew they wouldn’t make Millie feel unwelcome, no matter how worried she was about it.

“Max!” his mother called. “Millie! Well, isn’t this a surprise.”

“Hi, Ma.”

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