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childhood?”

      “I suppose I did. My dad was a doctor, had a small practice in the country, handled all kinds of emergencies. My mom was always there for me and my brother. Not that we realized we had anything special. Now I do.”

      She pushed away from him. “And I suppose that’s the kind of woman you’ll marry for your future kids. So they’ll have the same life.”

      There was a bitterness in her voice that made him raise his eyebrows. “Wouldn’t everyone want the same thing? Wouldn’t you have preferred to have a mother?”

      “Of course I would!” she snapped.

      “Whoa, there, lady. What did I say wrong?”

      “Nothing. What time is it?”

      “Almost three. Are you exhausted?” He’d give her her change of subject. Things were stressful enough for her as it was.

      “Yes. I didn’t get much sleep during the conference. I didn’t want to miss anything,” she said, rubbing one temple.

      “Did your headache ever go away?” he asked, taking her pulse at her neck.

      “Yes, mostly.”

      “Look, why don’t you—I can hold you and let you sleep a little. That’s probably the only thing that will give you any relief, and it will make the time pass faster. Before you know it, it will be morning and your nightmare will be over.”

      “That’s not fair to you,” she said doubtfully, staring at him. “And it’s—you know what happened last time.”

      “I explained it’s something a man can’t control. But nothing happened, remember?” He was glad she couldn’t read his mind. Holding her again was becoming an obsession for him.

      Finally, she slid off the stool, standing next to it. “If you’re sure you don’t mind. I’d give a lot to get a few minutes of sleep.”

      “I don’t mind.” He climbed onto the stool and held out his arms. Slowly, unlike the last time, she responded to his invitation. She settled in his lap, but she seemed unsure where to put her hands.

      “Wrap your arms around me,” he suggested, “and lay your head on my chest.”

      She did so, and he held her in place, feeling a surprising peace settle in him. He had her safe in his arms. Softly rubbing her back, he whispered, “You’re safe now. Just relax.”

      After several minutes, her body began to relax and grow heavy against him. She was asleep.

      AS BRIANA settled into Hunter’s embrace, she knew she was being weak. But she’d reached her limit, and she didn’t mind admitting it.

      And she’d never met such a strong man, physically and mentally. He’d been calm and protective. It seemed all her life she’d been competing with her brothers. She loved them dearly, but being one of triplets, and the only female, made life difficult.

      So, just once in her life, she was going to accept her weakness and give in to the protection this man offered. Besides, it felt so good to be in his arms. As she laid her head against his chest, his heart beat a steady rhythm that lulled her in to relaxation, and she closed her eyes.

      SATISFACTION filled Hunter as he realized Briana was getting the rest she so desperately needed. Apparently she’d been a lot more intense about the conference than him. He’d attended a few before. Besides, as a doctor, he’d pulled a few long nights as he came through medical school.

      He checked his watch. They only had a couple more hours if the morning guy came in at six o’clock. His arms tightened around Briana as she rested against him. He’d love to be able to return to his comfortable bed in the hotel, but he wouldn’t want to turn Briana loose anyway.

      That thought brought him up short. What was he thinking? They’d part as soon as morning came, of course. She was from Texas. He was from Chicago. Maybe they’d see each other at future conventions and laugh about their adventure in a New York deli.

      He thought again of Briana as a little girl, frightened by a movie. She’d sounded so alone as she’d told him about her phobia. She must’ve been adorable as a child. How could her father have ignored her?

      Of course, he’d eventually responded to her fears and allowed her to keep a cat in her room. He supposed that showed the man’s humanity.

      But he’d want more than humanity for his children. He intended to love them and be there for them. He looked down at the brunette beauty in his arms. They’d make beautiful babies together, he decided. “Should that ever come up in the future,” he quickly amended with a rumble of laughter.

      She stirred in his arms, her eyes fluttering open. “Everything okay?” she muttered.

      He kissed her forehead and drew her closer. “Everything’s fine. You’re safe. Go back to sleep,” he whispered. Almost before he finished speaking, she dropped off to sleep again.

      His body was responding, as it had earlier, to her closeness, but it was to be expected. He shifted a little, hoping his movement wouldn’t awaken her.

      He wished they’d talked longer. He’d like to know about her situation, what job she held, her personal life. Hell, he didn’t even know if she had a boyfriend.

      She must. She was too pretty, too dynamic, to be alone. Unless all the men in Texas were dummies, and that’s not what he’d heard.

      He didn’t like the idea that someone else would hold her. A ridiculous thought, but he felt possessive about her. He’d saved her from the rats. She was his to protect.

      He decided that kind of thinking was dangerous, so he tried to concentrate on a new theory introduced at the conference about treating at-risk pregnancies. Anything to take his mind off the woman in his arms.

      AN HOUR later, Hunter eased off the stool. He had to stand before his rear became permanently attached to the hard surface of the stool. His arms slid beneath Briana’s bottom. He was glad he worked out regularly, or he wouldn’t be able to stand and hold her, too. Slowly, he maneuvered his way around the storeroom. Still another hour or two before the morning guy would arrive. He looked at the stool, not sure he could sit again.

      But he wasn’t sure either that he could stand with Briana in his arms until someone came. And he didn’t want to wake her up.

      “My choices are limited,” he muttered. Finally, he pushed the stool toward the thick door. When he got the stool directly in front of the door, he shoved it a little to one side. Then he settled back onto the stool, managing to arrange Briana’s sleeping form in a more comfortable position.

      He’d have to give her credit. When she slept, she really slept. She hadn’t shown any signs of waking up the entire time he moved around.

      After she was settled, he slowly leaned his back against the door and felt relief at the support. Then he let his head rest there, too. Could he sleep at all and maintain his balance? He was kind of wedged up between the door and the edge of the shelving.

      He’d just doze.

      It would be all right.

      SOMETHING was bothering her.

      Briana shook her head, irritated by the noise that was disrupting her sleep. Then it stopped. She settled back against the mattress, the comforting throb soothing her again. This was a great bed, she decided. It held her close.

      Even at the thought, arms tightened around her.

      Arms? Mattresses don’t have arms, do they? Briana wasn’t ready to wake up, but that strange question forced her to open her eyes.

      The first thing she realized was that she was upright, leaning against—a man. Suddenly she remembered where she was and what had happened. Hunter. She was leaning against Hunter.

      He’d fallen asleep leaning against the door. She checked her watch. It was five after seven. “Hunter?”

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