LITMIR.BIZ

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easy, but Olivia shook her head. “If I leave now, they might not suspect anything—”

      “Olivia, they saw me kissing your breast. I think they’re already a bit suspicious.”

      She felt the blood pound in her veins, but kept her gaze steady. “You weren’t kissing my breast.”

      “I wanted to be.”

      Olivia curled her hands into fists and tried to calm her breathing. “They might decide that was just a temporary loss of control if I leave now. If I stay until they’re all gone, they’ll assume we’re spending the night together, and that’s what we wanted to avoid.” She gentled her tone and asked, “No speculation, no gossip. No scandals. Remember?”

      “Yeah, but—”

      A knock sounded at the door, and John’s jovial voice called out, “Everything okay in there?”

      Tony closed his eyes, a look of annoyance etched in his features. “I’m going to kill him.”

      Olivia thought she might help.

      “We’ll be out in just a second, John. And if you dare knock on the damn door again, I’m going to knock on you.”

      “Hey! I just wanted to tell you they’re ready to cut the cake.”

      “So you told me. Now disappear, will you?”

      Olivia rubbed her forehead, knowing she’d fumbled again, that she’d only made matters worse. Good grief, Tony’s brother was fetching them from the bedroom. “How that man produced such a beautiful, sweet baby, I don’t know.”

      To her surprise, Tony laughed. “John’s all right. Believe me, if he understood the situation, he wouldn’t be hassling me.”

      “No?”

      Tony slowly shook his head, then went to her and pulled her against his chest. “No. He’d be sympathetic as hell.” He tilted her head back and growled, “I want you, Olivia.”

      Her stomach curled at his words. “Tomorrow?”

      Tony placed damp kisses across her cheek, her throat. He touched the corner of her mouth with his tongue. “Early? You’re not going to make me wait until evening, are you?”

      Olivia thought she might agree to anything with him stroking her back and kissing her so softly. “Where?”

      “Hell, I don’t know. But I’ll think of something before morning, okay? I’ll pick you up. About ten o’clock?”

      “That’ll be fine.” She forced herself to forget how sensual and romantic everything seemed with Tony, and to concentrate on their purpose. She had to keep in mind that this was temporary, that Tony didn’t really want her, not for keeps. He only wanted to use her, just as she would use him. “I don’t want you to worry, Tony. We still have time. I’m supposed to be very fertile for the next couple of days.”

      She’d barely finished with the words before he was giving her a real kiss, his tongue moving against her own, his teeth nipping. It was a kiss meant to last her through the night. Unfortunately she could still feel the heat in her cheeks when she was forced to walk back into the dining room. She was grateful that the lights had been turned out, and the candles on the cake were lit. She saw John standing by the light switch and knew he was responsible for the darkness. John gave Tony a wink, and Olivia decided he might not be so bad after all.

      Kate’s two girls, Angie and Allison, ages four and five, fought over who could sing the loudest during the requisite “Happy Birthday,” and John’s son, six-year-old Luke, wanted to cut and serve the cake. Though Olivia explained that she had to leave, they all insisted she eat a piece of cake first and enjoy a scoop of ice cream. Olivia couldn’t remember the last time she’d had, or attended, a birthday party. It might have been fun today if she’d actually been a part of it, rather than a reluctant intruder.

      She didn’t want anyone to know she’d called a cab. She thought it might seem less awkward if everyone thought she was driving herself home, so she had her coat on and her purse in her hand when she saw the cab’s lights coming down the long driveway. To her surprise, the kids all wanted to give her hugs goodbye, the parents all uttered enthusiastic wishes to see her again soon, and to her chagrin, Tony’s mother invited her to Thanksgiving dinner. Olivia muttered a lame, “Thank you, but I’ll have to see,” along with something about a busy schedule, and then she rushed out the door, wanting only to escape the onslaught of emotions. Tony caught her on the last step of the porch.

      “I’m sorry, Olivia. I know this wasn’t easy for you.” He glanced at the cab and cursed. “I should be driving you home.”

      “I don’t mind the cab, Tony, and you can’t very well leave your own birthday party.”

      He reached for his wallet, and she narrowed her eyes. “What do you think you’re doing?”

      “At least let me pay for the cab—”

      “Absolutely not and I won’t hear another word on it.” She used her most inflexible tone, the one that got contracts altered and had suppliers promising early deliveries. “I’m not your responsibility.”

      His sigh was long and filled with irritation. “Will you do me a favor then, and at least call me when you get home?”

      Olivia stared. She was used to taking care of herself and his request seemed more than absurd. “Why?”

      “So I know you made it home okay.”

      “Tony, you can’t start feeling responsible for me. That’s breaking one of the rules, isn’t it? I’m a big girl, and I know how to manage on my own. So don’t worry.”

      “Call me.”

      He was insistent, using his own invaluable, corporate tone, and she could tell by his stubborn stance he wasn’t going to relent. She didn’t think it was a good idea, but she gave in anyway. “Okay. But only this once.”

      “Thanks.” He was grinning hugely.

      “You’re not a gracious winner, Tony.”

      “I haven’t won yet. Hell, I’ve still got a whole room full of relatives who are going to burst with rapid-fire questions as soon as I step back inside. Now that you’re gone and therefore can’t be offended, they’ll revert to their normal unrestrained selves.”

      She knew he was teasing, knew he was very close to his family, and for that reason she suffered not a single twinge of guilt for leaving him to his fate. She stepped into the cab, and Tony came to lean inside, ignoring the cabdriver and giving her a quick kiss.

      “Tomorrow, Olivia. Then I’ll win.”

      He was taunting her, but she only grinned. It was in her nature to give as good as she got, so when he started to pull away, she caught his neck and drew him back for another kiss, this one much longer and hotter than the first. And while he was trying to catch his breath, she whispered, “We’ll both win.”

      Tony chuckled. But as he stepped away from the cab, they both looked up. And there at the front door, huddled together as if for a kindergarten class picture, stood all of Tony’s family. And even with only the moon for light, Olivia could see the wide grins on all their faces.

      TONY GLANCED AT THE CLOCK, but it was only seven in the morning, and he had no real reason to get up, not when he wouldn’t be seeing Olivia until ten. So he lingered in bed, thinking about her, about all that had happened the night before. Her vulnerability around his family stirred feelings he didn’t want to acknowledge—especially when concentrating on the lust she engendered was so much more satisfying.

      Not one single minute had passed during the night when he could completely put Olivia and her allure from his mind. It was ridiculous, but he wanted her more now than he’d ever wanted any woman. Of course, she was so different from any other woman he knew. She made demands, but she also gave freely of herself. She was a veritable shark

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