Page 20 of How to: Hide a Baby

“No, don’t!” She tried to step back, but he cupped her shoulders and refused to let go. To her horror, his hands drifted downward, gently tracing the curves hidden by her voluminous blouse and thick woolen skirt, before settling on her hips.

“—want to hide her light beneath a bushel?” he finished in satisfaction. “And you have been hiding your light, haven’t you, my sweet? Is that Will-William’s doing, I wonder?”

“Luc, please,” she moaned, struggling to slip free.

He tightened his hold on her hips, yanking her closer. “You,cara mia, are stunning,” he whispered, his mouth a hairbreadth away. “And for just this once, good old Will-William can go to hell.”

Chapter 4

The Great Lie

Day 337 at 23 hours, 29 minutes . . .

Lucdidn’t try to force a kiss on her as Grace half expected. Or did she half hope? Instead his fingers combed through her loosened hair and he cupped her head, his thumb stroking a line of fire along her jaw. He bent closer, his rich golden eyes glowing with a fire and passion that trapped her, entangling her in a web of long-suppressed need and desire.

A small, rational part of her knew she shouldn’t allow this to happen. She should resist, fight his touch. His hold. His charm. She was supposed to be an engaged woman. She didn’t dare allow Luc to believe she could be so easily seduced by a man other than her fiancé.

As though reading her mind, he brushed a swift, gentle kiss across her lips. “Forget William. This has nothing to do with him. This is between the two of us, something that we’ve both been curious about for a long time.”

She shook her head, driven to deny his statement. “That’s not true.”

“No?” His expression mocked her. “You’ve never thought about how it would feel to be held in my arms?”

“Never.”

“You’ve never wondered how my kisses compare to William’s?”

“I’m perfectly satisfied with my fiancé,” she insisted. Then added for good measure, “In every way.”

He continued to hold her, his hands tangled in her hair, his thumb teasing along her jaw to the tiny pearl stud centered in her earlobe. “You’re trembling.”

“I’m cold.”

“No, you’re warm. And soft. And your cheeks...” He stroked the ridges of her cheekbones. “They’re flushed with desire.”

“That’s makeup, not desire.”

“You aren’t wearing any makeup. At least, not blush.” His voice dropped, seducing her with its deep, lilting timbre. “And what about your eyes? They’re the most beautiful shade of green I’ve ever seen. But they give you away. They’re glowing.”

“They aren’t glowing. They’re glazed because I can’t see without my glasses.”

He laughed in genuine amusement, his smile a gleaming flash in his bronzed face. “You, Grace Barnes, are having a serious problem with fibs today. That’ll have to stop. And I know just how to make sure it does.”

She knew what he intended. He was going to kiss her. And when he did, she wouldn’t have the strength to resist. “Luc, don’t,” she pleaded, attempting one last time to prevent the inevitable. “You’ll regret it. We’ll both regret it.”

He shrugged, his smile fading, his expression turning serious. “You may be right, but at least let me give us something worthy of regret.” His thumb drifted across her lower lip, teasing the fullness of her mouth for an instant before he lowered his head and finally kissed her.

It was magic. The instant his lips touched hers, her heartbeat doubled. She couldn’t get enough, every sense throbbing to life, the blood singing through her veins. She could smell his distinctive spicy scent, feel the hard planes and angles of his body beneath her hands, hear the sound of his harsh breathing whispering in her ears. Even the taste of him intoxicated her, the sweet, delicious flavor driving all reason from her mind and leaving in its place pure sensation.

His hand slid down her spine, his arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her up against him. She fit perfectly. Somehow she always suspected she would. Unable to help herself, she wound her arms around his neck and returned his kiss.

It had been a long time since she’d last been in a man’s arms. Too long. She’d forgotten how wonderful it could be. Yet this was different, and the difference unsettled her. There was a peculiar combination of sanctuary and jeopardy found within Luc’s arms, of security and vulnerability. He was at once a delight and a threat. Worst of all, he was a temptation, a temptation she couldn’t afford to indulge.

As though sensing her alarm, Toni began to cry. It was a timely interruption. Grace pulled free of Luc’s arms and knelt beside the portable crib. Lifting the baby into her arms, she turned to face the picture windows, her back to Luc.

She could see his image mirrored in the plate glass. His hands balled into fists and his chest rose and fell with each ragged breath. She hadn’t been the only one affected. That knowledge didn’t bring any relief. Instead, her alarm grew. The path they walked led to disaster, and she had too much at stake to follow blindly along. She had to end this before it went any further.

“I’ll change Toni and then it’s time I went home,” she announced in a calm, unemotional voice.

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