LITMIR.BIZ

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cheap shirt with clean, unstyled hair.

      “Morning,” he mumbled. This was going to be a long two weeks. Being with her and unable to kiss her was going to be torture. She’d only said it was too fast. Not that she didn’t want him. Was she leaving an open window?

      “I only packed enough clothes for the weekend.” Maggie held out the bottom of the T-shirt and looked at it. “It’s not like I could run around naked. I bought this and two more for only ten dollars.”

      His mind stumbled and held on to the word naked. Damn lack of sleep. He shook his head to clear the image as she passed the table on her way to the kitchen and coffeemaker.

      “I hope you don’t mind the pictures. I found the frames in the guest bedroom closet and had the pictures of Amber with me. They were some I’d sent you over the years.”

      He could hear her moving around in his kitchen. So domestic. “They are fine.”

      “I couldn’t help it.” She leaned against the door frame with a cup of coffee cradled in her hands. Her gaze took in the room. “I know you don’t have time, but my mom always said a little color makes life better. Of course, sometimes she got a little carried away with color. I haven’t worn that red scarf she got me. Penny must have snuck it in my bag when I wasn’t looking.”

      “We should be able to fly out today.” Brady made himself focus on logistics and not the bit of skin peeking out from below her shirt. “My assistant was able to book two tickets on a flight leaving late this afternoon. After we pack, we can grab lunch before heading out.”

      She sat next to him at the table. Her focus stayed on the coffee cup. “We haven’t discussed what’s going to happen when we get to Tawnee Valley.”

      “We can discuss that now.”

      “We have an extra bedroom, but I’m not sure if I’m ready for you to stay with us.” She met his gaze.

      “I understand.” Brady hadn’t thought it through. The only time the two of them had been alone, he hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her. He had slept like crap with her a door away for two nights. But he was sure she was thinking of Amber and not the attraction between them.

      “I know there aren’t any hotels nearby, unless you want to stay in Owen…”

      “No, that would take too long.” Owen was ten miles away and though the commute wasn’t horrible, occasionally a tractor would slow traffic to a crawl, turning the ten minutes to twenty minutes or longer.

      Maggie flushed. “I suppose if it’s the only option…”

      “I can stay with Sam.” Brady’s chest tightened. “He owes me at least that much for keeping this from me.”

      The lines of worry faded from Maggie’s face and her pretty smile returned, making the bands around his chest ease. “That would be great.”

      “I’m sure Sam and I have a lot to discuss.” Brady stood and took his cup to the sink. “I need to pack and answer a few emails. I’ll send a quick email to Sam to expect me. Maybe we can go out and wander a little before our flight.”

      Because if they stayed here any longer with her smiling like that at him, he wouldn’t be responsible for his actions. This attraction was temptation in the flesh. Briefly he thought if they got it out of their systems maybe the tension would go away. Or make it worse.

      The ride to Tawnee Valley was a lot more comfortable than Maggie’s trip to New York. Brady had booked them in first class. When she’d complained about the cost, he’d said they were the only tickets left.

      Now she was sitting in a BMW heading down the highway that led to her small-town life. Maggie couldn’t contain her excitement. New York had been intimidating, but she’d managed. It was time to return to Amber and their home.

      They’d spent the remainder of their morning in New York wandering through Central Park. With Brady by her side, she hadn’t worried like she had the day before. She even relaxed and enjoyed herself. They had chitchatted about this and that. He had asked question after question about Amber. Maggie had answered as best she could. It had been almost easy to ignore the little jolts she got when he put his hand at the small of her back to guide her.

      Lunch had been simple and delicious and she could see the appeal of having lots of restaurants within walking distance. But she wouldn’t give up the closeness of their community for the anonymity of the city for anything.

      The plane ride had brought back the tension. Sitting close to him for two hours had been excruciating. Her body had hummed from the brush of his arm. Maintaining the conversation without wanting to kiss him when he was so close…She was lucky the seat hadn’t combusted.

      “Not much has changed around here.” His voice drew her to the present.

      “No, not much,” she agreed.

      They’d been avoiding eye contact for most of the day. If she looked at him, he looked away. If he looked at her, she looked away. It was crazy, childish. They were the parents of an amazing little girl, but trying to define their relationship with each other seemed impossible.

      They’d passed through Owen a few minutes ago and were a few miles from Tawnee Valley. The plan was for Brady to drop her off, but should she introduce him to Amber or wait until they could set up a time so Maggie had time to prepare Amber for her father? Maggie’s heart went full throttle and the snack from the plane sat like a lump in her stomach.

      Before she knew it, they were stopping in front of her house. What did he think of their town now that he’d lived in England and New York?

      “Where do we go from here?” He caught her gaze. His eyes were so blue.

      She’d told Penny she wouldn’t want Brady, but boy, had she been wrong. It had been too long. The other night hadn’t helped. It had stirred all those physical needs she’d ignored while she took care of a growing child and her mother.

      “Maggie?”

      What she wouldn’t give for another kiss. But the cost was too high. For her and for Amber. Amber needed her father. Maggie took in a deep breath and raised her eyes to his. “Why don’t you come in? The sooner we get this over the better, I think.”

      A wrinkle appeared on his forehead as if trying to figure out what was in her mind. Good thing he wasn’t a mind reader, because her thoughts were less than pure.

      “If you think that’s what’s best,” Brady said.

      “Definitely.” She pushed out of the car and waited by the trunk until he opened it for her. She reached for her suitcase, but he beat her to it.

      “I’ve got it.”

      She nodded and turned stiffly to walk toward the house. What on earth was she going to say to Amber?

      Brady didn’t have any trouble ignoring the sexual tension between Maggie and him as they approached the house. Nervousness filled him. This wasn’t a baby he was meeting for the first time. This was a child. His child. Who had had seven years to build up in her mind what her daddy was like.

      Now that he was here, he wasn’t sure he could do this. Maybe he should tell Maggie that they’d do it tomorrow. That way he could worry about it through the night and formulate a plan. He reached out to grab Maggie’s arm.

      A screen door slammed and small footsteps raced down the wooden porch. A streak of purple and black slammed into Maggie. Maggie grabbed her daughter and swung around in a circle.

      “I missed you, Mommy.” Her voice was beautiful like the whisper of wind on a warm day.

      “I missed you, too, baby.” Maggie tucked her face into Amber’s shoulder.

      Brady felt as if he was intruding on a moment, as if he shouldn’t be there, but he would never forget how beautiful the two of them looked together. Amber had his dark, almost-black hair but her smile was her grandmother’s.

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