LITMIR.BIZ

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sent all those e-mails from Europe?”

      “Yeah, I did.”

      The lies were getting deeper and deeper. If Drew knew what was good for him, for her, he’d put a stop to this now. He’d tell Kristina the truth. He’d quit staring at her dark eyes, her fingers dancing over the pillow, her tempting lips now parted in surprise, and just blurt it out.

      Then she added, “That’s so sweet, Drew. I had no idea. Surely that cost you quite a bit of money, connecting to the Internet in Europe. You shouldn’t have gone to all that trouble for me.”

      She sounded as if he’d sent her a Monet, not an e-mail. How could he tell her the truth now? He couldn’t.

      Besides, after seeing the nanny off at dawn with good riddance, he had no one to care for his daughter. It might take the better part of a month to find a decent replacement. Kristina was obviously good with kids, and Amanda liked her. In the meantime, he could pretend he was going along with this arrangement and try to come up with more ways to discourage her. Simple enough, except for one minor problem: He was more than a little attracted to her. However, he didn’t intend to let that deter him from his goal.

      Standing, he said, “Let’s get you settled in.”

      Kristina rose from the sofa, spanned the distance between them, and drew him into an unexpected hug. Her full breasts pressed against his chest. She smelled fresh, clean, felt warm against him. Good. Too good. His hands traveled to the dip at her spine. It took all his strength not to travel lower, mold his hands to her hips, pull her closer, kiss her thoroughly.

      Then she said, “Thanks, Drew,” in a silky voice, deep and slightly raspy. Drew immediately reacted to the sound, becoming steel-hard below his belt, and he wondered what she would sound like when he made love to her.

      When he made love to her?

      He quickly stepped back, out of her inviting embrace, away from dangerous thoughts. He had no business entertaining those fantasies, not if he wanted to put an end to this charade. He had to be strong, keep his hands and mouth to himself. No problem. He could do that.

      “Let me show you to bed, Kristina.” Damn. “Your bedroom, I mean.”

      After settling in to the guest quarters downstairs, a rose-colored suite straight out of a designer’s dream, Kristina sat cross-legged on the floor in Amanda’s lavender, frill-filled room surrounded by enough toys to stock a department store. She and Amanda were dressing two fashion dolls while Drew showered and dressed in the room down the hall, something Kristina dared not think about.

      Not after that hug. Not after her unexpected reaction to Drew Connelly’s arms wrapped around her.

      For the first time in years, she’d experienced true chemistry. And she couldn’t help but think Drew had experienced it, too. Or at least she thought he had.

      Heaven help her, one innocuous hug and she was already considering things she had no cause to consider. Not until they knew each other better. Then whatever happened, happened. Still, she couldn’t stop thinking about him, what it would be like to kiss him…

      “Do you like my daddy?”

      Amanda’s sudden query drew Kristina out of her stupor. “Well, honey, so far I like your daddy, but we don’t really know each other all that well. That’s why I’m here.”

      Amanda nodded. “And to play with me.”

      She touched the tip of Amanda’s upturned nose. “Yes, sweetie, and to play with you.”

      Amanda brought out the second case full of doll clothing and rummaged through it. “My mommy died,” she said, sounding almost matter-of-fact.

      Drew had told Kristina in the e-mails that he was a widower, but he’d provided no details other than that his wife had passed away years ago. “Do you remember your mommy, Mandy?”

      She shrugged. “No. But Nana Lilly says I look like her.”

      Kristina reached out and brushed back the fringed bangs resting on Amanda’s forehead. “Do you think so?”

      She shrugged again. “I don’t know what she looks like.”

      “You haven’t seen any pictures?”

      “Daddy doesn’t have any pictures.”

      Kristina’s chest constricted with sadness. Obviously Drew’s wife’s death had been so painful that he’d tucked away the reminders. But had he tucked away the memories? Was he still pining for Amanda’s mother? Was that the reason for his loneliness?

      Still, Amanda deserved to know such an important part of her history. Not knowing couldn’t be good for a child, yet Kristina realized it wasn’t her place to remind Drew of that fact. Not yet, anyway. “Maybe you should ask Daddy to see a picture, Mandy.”

      Amanda handed Kristina a tiny wedding dress. “It’s okay. You can be my mommy now.”

      Kristina sighed. What had she gotten herself into? What if this didn’t work out with Drew? A woman Amanda considered to be a mother figure, when she seemed to need one so badly, would once again leave her.

      But it didn’t have to be that way.

      Despite her concerns, Kristina chose to be optimistic and hope that things would work out between her and Drew. And if they did, then perhaps she could be a mother for Amanda and a wife to Drew. If only she felt more confident that would happen.

      Amanda held up the boy doll, now dressed in a miniature tuxedo. “This is Drew.”

      Amanda was a daddy’s girl, through and through, Kristina realized. Not surprising since he was all that she had, and vice versa.

      Kristina finished dressing her unrealistic curvaceous doll in a white satin bridal gown. “And what shall we call her?”

      “Kristina. She’s going to marry my daddy.” Amanda made the declaration with certainty and a sweet smile, with optimism afforded by her youth. If only Kristina could be so sure.

      Amanda took both of the dolls, held them up, and said, “I announce you man and wife,” then pressed them face-to-face and made kissing noises.

      “Short ceremony,” Kristina said with a laugh.

      “Maybe Barbie and Ken are ready for the honeymoon.”

      Drawn to the sound of the compelling voice, Kristina glanced toward the door to find Drew leaning against the frame wearing a navy polo shirt and white casual pants, his wavy dark hair combed neatly into place. He also wore a grin, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. Kristina immediately responded to his presence with warmth, with wistfulness when she realized his smile was for his daughter, not for her.

      “They’re not Barbie and Ken, Daddy,” Amanda said, sounding thoroughly put out. “It’s Drew and Kristina.”

      Drew strolled into the room, hands in pockets. The scent of woodsy cologne caressed Kristina as he crouched beside Amanda. “I’ve got to go to the office for a while, so give Daddy a kiss, sweetheart.” He pointed at his now clean-shaven cheek, and it took everything in Kristina not to comply, though she knew he was talking to his daughter.

      Amanda frowned. “Can’t you play with me and Kristina, Daddy?”

      He centered his blue-flame eyes and knowing grin on Kristina. “Maybe we can play later tonight.”

      Kristina’s pulse did double time over the double entendre. He kept staring at her, as if awaiting a response she wasn’t capable of giving. From the sexy look on his face and the sensual promise in his voice, she could tell his idea of playing had nothing to do with dressing dolls. More like undressing each other. Or maybe she was simply wishing…

      He finally broke their shared gaze and turned his attention to Amanda. “I’ll be back after lunch.”

      “Okay, Daddy. But hurry.” Amanda finally

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