LITMIR.BIZ

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      She crunched down on another bite of the pickle. “Then give more than generously.”

      “It’s at the Saturna Club. A very hot ticket.” “Quit bragging.” “I’m not bragging.” “Yes, you are.” “I’m inviting you.”

      She drew back, swallowing, her expression registering stupefaction. “What?”

      It was an excellent question. What the heck was he doing? Was he asking Devin on a date? Was he crazy? Was he so beguiled by the thought of seeing her dance in high-heeled, rhinestone sandals that he’d lost his mind?

      “A girl needs to get out once in a while,” he explained, carefully keeping his face impassive.

      It was official. He’d lost his mind.

      “I’m not going to date you.”

      “It’s not a date. It’s a charity ball. We’ll be there to give away my money.”

      “Forget it.” She rose from her chair, picking up her plate and her near empty glass.

      He jumped up, putting a hand on her arm to stop her. Surely inviting her to a charity ball couldn’t have made her that angry. “What’s wrong?”

      All the humor was gone from her sapphire eyes. “You’re up to something,” she accused.

      “I’m not.” He shook his head in denial, but that only made her eyes narrow in suspicion.

      “There’s not a single reason for you to invite me out.”

      “Then tell me what I’m up to.” He knew he should take his hand off her arm now, but he really didn’t want to. “What could I possibly gain by inviting you to a dance?”

      She hesitated, and he could see her mind working over that one.

      “Nothing.” He answered his own question. “Then why do it?”

      Fair point. “Impulse,” he answered honestly. “I was moved by your commitment to celibacy for the benefit of your sister. I found it sweet and self-sacrificing.” Why didn’t he shut up?

      “You’re not ending my celibacy, Lucas. No way, no how.”

      Lucas felt his jaw drop open. He’d had no intention… He hadn’t even thought about… Okay, he’d thought about it, but that was only last night after their kiss, it had nothing to do with his invitation to the dance. Nothing.

      “Your celibacy is safe with me,” he told her, forcing himself to keep eyes front. If he gave in to temptation and let his gaze dip, she’d probably deck him. And she’d be justified.

      She seemed to relax a bit. “Then you might want to stop salivating.”

      “Dream on.”

      She tilted her head. “You can’t kiss me.” “I’m not going to kiss you.” Did she mean right now, or at the dance?

      “It’s not a date,” she warned. “It’s not a date,” he agreed.

      He could see her hesitating. “How many months since your last one?” he dared to ask.

      Her blue eyes flared. “Don’t rub it in.”

      “I’m trying to convince you to get out and have some fun.” He forced himself to remove his hand from her arm and took a step back, giving her some space. “You’re the one who thinks life should be a perpetual party.”

      “I didn’t say that.”

      “Trust me, the Saturna Club will be way better than faded patio lanterns, wine in a box and burnt hamburger.” “The burgers weren’t burnt.” He shot her a skeptical look.

      She stuck her nose in the air. “They were well done, that’s all.”

      He couldn’t help but grin.

      And she socked him in the arm. “Fine. I’ll come to your stupid ball.”

      He chuckled. “Aren’t you just the little charm school graduate?”

      She stared to walk away. “I’m doing the dishes now.”

      He gathered up a load and followed her. “I’ll do the dishes for you.”

      She called back over her shoulder, “Do you even know how? “

      He did. Sort of. It had been a while. Probably quite a few years, now that he thought about it. “You go sit down,” he told her.

      She looked tired. And he’d been reminded of how tough the last few months must have been for her. He didn’t exactly feel guilty about her troubles, but he was willing to do the dishes for her.

      To his surprise, she was finished fighting. She plopped herself down on the couch, pulled a pattered blanket over her bare legs and let him tackle the cleanup himself.

      By the time he was finished, she’d fallen asleep right there on the worn striped sofa. It was nearly ten o’clock, and it was a long drive back for the three of them. They needed to get going.

      He whispered her name, but she didn’t stir.

      He reached out to shake her, but he didn’t have the heart.

      Instead, he bundled her up with the blanket and carried her into her bedroom. Her feet were bare, and he caught himself gazing at her legs, the curve of her hip and her rounded breasts beneath the white tank top before he could bring himself to pull the quilt over her.

      He could have easily left her there and headed home. He was certain she’d bring Amelia back to his place in the morning. But as he headed back down the hall, he found a small guest room, with a hard narrow bed, a white painted dresser and the ugliest gauzy curtains he’d ever seen. The blankets were scratchy, and the sheets were worn, but for some reason he couldn’t think of anywhere else he wanted to be.

       Five

      Devin woke up in her own bed, disoriented because the sun was so high in the sky. Her first panicked thought was that something was wrong with Amelia.

      But when she rushed to the baby’s room and found the crib empty, she feared that Lucas might have taken her. Then she quickly discounted that idea, shaking her head to clear it of sleep. The man couldn’t manage a multi-million dollar corporation if he was running for the border with a kidnapped baby.

      Confused, and forcing herself to take a few breaths and stay calm, she headed for the living room.

      It was empty.

      But through the glass doors, down on the beach, she spotted Lucas, Lexi and Amelia. The two adults were perched on a log, while Amelia was digging her way through a pile of sand with a bright red shovel and bucket.

      Lucas had stayed the night. And he’d let her sleep in.

      For some reason, that knowledge nearly brought her to tears. It was silly. Everyone had some good qualities, and Lucas was no different. They drank wine last night. He probably didn’t want to drive home. He’d obviously slept here and woken up with Amelia, keeping her quiet so that Devin could sleep in for the first time in three months.

      She sniffed and swiped a frustrated hand under her eye.

      Good grief. It wasn’t as if the man had cured cancer.

      She stumbled to the kitchen, found herself a mug and filled it with coffee, adding a heaping spoon of sugar. She was pretty sure Lexi must have brewed the coffee. Last night, Lucas had barely been able to figure out dish soap and hot water.

      She pulled a light sweater over the T-shirt and shorts that she’d slept in and headed across the deck and down the long wooden staircase to the strip of lawn that ended at the sandy beach. Once there, she made her way toward Lexi and Lucas.

      Amelia

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