that’s best.” She settled into the rocker across the room. “Go to sleep. Please.”
“You sit there and be quiet, and maybe I can.”
Shrugging, she opened a book, placing it in her lap as she curled up in the rocker. The dress slid to her knees and Frisco closed his eyes, shutting out the alluring picture she made.
If Laredo had ever wanted to punish Frisco for anything he’d ever done to his younger brother, he’d picked an excellent method.
Torture.
A NNABELLE RECOGNIZED at once that taking care of a newborn was a piece of cake compared to a male who was used to independence and overriding everything in his path.
Gently, she moved Emmie to a pallet on the floor, covertly studying the big man who was just as studiously ignoring her. His eyes were closed so she couldn’t see the dark-brown irises. Ebony brows complemented black hair which lay unruly against the pillow. He still had an obvious dilemma, which fascinated Annabelle. Surely it should have deflated by now? She thought about Tom and frowned. His hadn’t lasted so long. Nor had it been so…
“What are you reading?”
She started a little at the brusque question and hoped he hadn’t seen her staring at the blanket. “A romance.”
“Isn’t that a little racy for a new mom?”
“Happy endings are good for me.”
He was silent, looking at her with those dark eyes. Annabelle went back to staring at a page. She did feel a bit isolated now that she was a single mother. Her relationship with Tom had left her wondering if there was any kindling left to start a fire with if she ever met a man she might like. Tom had sucked a lot of the heat from her life.
She certainly hadn’t felt with Tom the way she did right now. Frisco’s laser-like focus on her made her feel as if she might burst into flames any second.It was best to quit pretending he didn’t affect her—she was pretty sure he’d figure out her secret soon if she wasn’t careful.
“Since you’re not going to fall asleep, I’m going to go downstairs and do some things. Call me if you need me.”
He was silent.
“Frisco, I’m just not interested in testing the water with anyone.”
“I know. I’m not, either.” He shook his head. “I don’t know why I wanted to kiss you. I’m sorry.”
“I was tempted, you know.” It wasn’t necessary to beat his ego to smithereens.
“If that was tempted, you made Eve look bad.”
She smiled at him. “If things were different, if I didn’t have a newborn, I might be up for a quick kiss with a man I barely know.”
“I lost my mind for a minute, Annabelle. It won’t happen again. I sure didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
She smiled slightly. “Your leg’s broken. It levels the playing field quite a bit. I can resist from five feet away.”
“I wouldn’t want you unless you wanted me.”
“Okay.”
“Do you?”
She laughed. “No,” she told him, aware that the hopeful expression on his face was due to the painkillers scrambling his brain. Frisco and drugs were not a successful mix.
“Damn.”
“I could get Laredo to find you another nurse. There’re other Lonely Hearts ladies here.”
“No, thanks,” he said hurriedly. “I like you. But not in that way, of course.”
“Of course. Go to sleep.”
She left the room, her heart practically pounding in her ears. Too much man, too much temptation for her damaged ego to resist. Tom had never wanted her that way. Being the focus of Frisco’s intoxicated interest was way more flattering—and sensual—than anything she’d ever known.
It would be so nice to give in. He probably wouldn’t have remembered it tomorrow. Just a kiss. What would it have hurt?
Everything, of course. Because sometimes kissing was the start of something bigger.
And that was a risk she simply couldn’t take.
Chapter Nine
“So run this thing about the big-haired beauty queens across the street by me one more time. The…what’d you call them? The Snip-n-Snarls?
“You sit there and be quiet, and maybe I can.”
Shrugging, she opened a book, placing it in her lap as she curled up in the rocker. The dress slid to her knees and Frisco closed his eyes, shutting out the alluring picture she made.
If Laredo had ever wanted to punish Frisco for anything he’d ever done to his younger brother, he’d picked an excellent method.
Torture.
A NNABELLE RECOGNIZED at once that taking care of a newborn was a piece of cake compared to a male who was used to independence and overriding everything in his path.
Gently, she moved Emmie to a pallet on the floor, covertly studying the big man who was just as studiously ignoring her. His eyes were closed so she couldn’t see the dark-brown irises. Ebony brows complemented black hair which lay unruly against the pillow. He still had an obvious dilemma, which fascinated Annabelle. Surely it should have deflated by now? She thought about Tom and frowned. His hadn’t lasted so long. Nor had it been so…
“What are you reading?”
She started a little at the brusque question and hoped he hadn’t seen her staring at the blanket. “A romance.”
“Isn’t that a little racy for a new mom?”
“Happy endings are good for me.”
He was silent, looking at her with those dark eyes. Annabelle went back to staring at a page. She did feel a bit isolated now that she was a single mother. Her relationship with Tom had left her wondering if there was any kindling left to start a fire with if she ever met a man she might like. Tom had sucked a lot of the heat from her life.
She certainly hadn’t felt with Tom the way she did right now. Frisco’s laser-like focus on her made her feel as if she might burst into flames any second.It was best to quit pretending he didn’t affect her—she was pretty sure he’d figure out her secret soon if she wasn’t careful.
“Since you’re not going to fall asleep, I’m going to go downstairs and do some things. Call me if you need me.”
He was silent.
“Frisco, I’m just not interested in testing the water with anyone.”
“I know. I’m not, either.” He shook his head. “I don’t know why I wanted to kiss you. I’m sorry.”
“I was tempted, you know.” It wasn’t necessary to beat his ego to smithereens.
“If that was tempted, you made Eve look bad.”
She smiled at him. “If things were different, if I didn’t have a newborn, I might be up for a quick kiss with a man I barely know.”
“I lost my mind for a minute, Annabelle. It won’t happen again. I sure didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
She smiled slightly. “Your leg’s broken. It levels the playing field quite a bit. I can resist from five feet away.”
“I wouldn’t want you unless you wanted me.”
“Okay.”
“Do you?”
She laughed. “No,” she told him, aware that the hopeful expression on his face was due to the painkillers scrambling his brain. Frisco and drugs were not a successful mix.
“Damn.”
“I could get Laredo to find you another nurse. There’re other Lonely Hearts ladies here.”
“No, thanks,” he said hurriedly. “I like you. But not in that way, of course.”
“Of course. Go to sleep.”
She left the room, her heart practically pounding in her ears. Too much man, too much temptation for her damaged ego to resist. Tom had never wanted her that way. Being the focus of Frisco’s intoxicated interest was way more flattering—and sensual—than anything she’d ever known.
It would be so nice to give in. He probably wouldn’t have remembered it tomorrow. Just a kiss. What would it have hurt?
Everything, of course. Because sometimes kissing was the start of something bigger.
And that was a risk she simply couldn’t take.
Chapter Nine
“So run this thing about the big-haired beauty queens across the street by me one more time. The…what’d you call them? The Snip-n-Snarls?
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