ahead."
He hesitated. "What faith will we raise our child?" he asked very seriously.
Leila narrowed her eyes at him. He made it sound like they'd be living together. "I don't think we need to face that right now, do you?"
He shrugged, closed his eyes, and gave a simple blessing, and the moment passed.
Leila found herself ravenous. A whimper of delight escaped her as she dug into her food. The exotic blend of spices teased her taste buds. The chocolate took the edge off the chili peppers, and the tender fare melted in her mouth. "You're very good," she admitted, forking up another bite. Her face heated as she considered just how very good he was, at everything.
Sebastian's eyes held the candlelight as he regarded her. "Next time you can cook for me."
She wanted to retort that there would be no next time, only that seemed awfully rude under the circumstances. Her car had broken down and he'd rescued her. Not only that, but he'd been a faultless host, going to great lengths to feed her. Of course, she mustn't forget his ultimate intentions.
A pleasant shiver rippled over her.
Conversation moved to other topics, and before she knew it, she'd imbibed a second glass of wine, causing her to stagger as she rose to help clear the plates. Sebastian flashed a hand out to steady her. "Careful."
It was all she could do not to turn into his arms.
"Let's walk on the beach," he suggested, unexpectedly.
They put the dishes away and descended the myriad steps to the ocean. Leila lacked the will to protest when he took her hand, anchoring her to his side as they slogged their way through the dense sand to the rushing waves.
"Your hair will tangle," he observed, pausing to gather the long strands, twisting them in a loop, and drawing the ends through it.
She swayed against him, then, loving the feel of his hands in her hair. It was inevitable that he would make love to her tonight. She might as well be reconciled to it, and if she was honest with herself, she'd admit that she was looking forward to it.
But then he took her hand, and they began to walk. He talked to her. He told her the names of all his brothers and sisters, where they lived, what they did. His words filled her mind with vignettes of happy moments and warmhearted people. His youngest sister was the last to be mentioned. She'd just had her first son and named him Sebastian. "We are fifteen years apart, Marianita and I. Who would have thought she'd have a child before me, hmm?"
Leila's heart did a funny flip-flop. Why hadn't she considered when she'd made her bargain with Sebastian that he might want to be involved in their baby's life?
She had underestimated him, she realized. She hadn't predicted what a wonderful father he would be. But how much time should she allow her baby to spend with him? It depended on Sebastian's work, of course, but—oh, dear, just the thought of giving up her baby, even for a weekend, made her frantic. Perhaps if she came to visit also? But then she'd fall in love with Sebastian, and every time his team called him away, her heart would freeze in fear.
She lost track of how far they'd walked and when they'd turned around. There was only the velvety tenor of Sebastian's voice, the cool, moist sand between her toes, the wind caressing her body, and the warmth of his hand cradling hers.
She looked up and blinked, surprised to find them at the steps to his cottage.
"You must be tired," he said, still holding her hand. "What time did you get up?"
"Early. Six o'clock."
He chuckled at her answer. "That's not early."
Despite her weariness, all she could think about was sliding into Sebastian's bed to relive the night they'd met. It was taking forever for him to get around to seducing her.
They reentered the house together. He found her a towel, a washcloth, a new toothbrush, and ushered her into his bathroom right off the loft. As she stood under the shower, soaping herself, she felt lonely. A couple of hours in his company and she was
He hesitated. "What faith will we raise our child?" he asked very seriously.
Leila narrowed her eyes at him. He made it sound like they'd be living together. "I don't think we need to face that right now, do you?"
He shrugged, closed his eyes, and gave a simple blessing, and the moment passed.
Leila found herself ravenous. A whimper of delight escaped her as she dug into her food. The exotic blend of spices teased her taste buds. The chocolate took the edge off the chili peppers, and the tender fare melted in her mouth. "You're very good," she admitted, forking up another bite. Her face heated as she considered just how very good he was, at everything.
Sebastian's eyes held the candlelight as he regarded her. "Next time you can cook for me."
She wanted to retort that there would be no next time, only that seemed awfully rude under the circumstances. Her car had broken down and he'd rescued her. Not only that, but he'd been a faultless host, going to great lengths to feed her. Of course, she mustn't forget his ultimate intentions.
A pleasant shiver rippled over her.
Conversation moved to other topics, and before she knew it, she'd imbibed a second glass of wine, causing her to stagger as she rose to help clear the plates. Sebastian flashed a hand out to steady her. "Careful."
It was all she could do not to turn into his arms.
"Let's walk on the beach," he suggested, unexpectedly.
They put the dishes away and descended the myriad steps to the ocean. Leila lacked the will to protest when he took her hand, anchoring her to his side as they slogged their way through the dense sand to the rushing waves.
"Your hair will tangle," he observed, pausing to gather the long strands, twisting them in a loop, and drawing the ends through it.
She swayed against him, then, loving the feel of his hands in her hair. It was inevitable that he would make love to her tonight. She might as well be reconciled to it, and if she was honest with herself, she'd admit that she was looking forward to it.
But then he took her hand, and they began to walk. He talked to her. He told her the names of all his brothers and sisters, where they lived, what they did. His words filled her mind with vignettes of happy moments and warmhearted people. His youngest sister was the last to be mentioned. She'd just had her first son and named him Sebastian. "We are fifteen years apart, Marianita and I. Who would have thought she'd have a child before me, hmm?"
Leila's heart did a funny flip-flop. Why hadn't she considered when she'd made her bargain with Sebastian that he might want to be involved in their baby's life?
She had underestimated him, she realized. She hadn't predicted what a wonderful father he would be. But how much time should she allow her baby to spend with him? It depended on Sebastian's work, of course, but—oh, dear, just the thought of giving up her baby, even for a weekend, made her frantic. Perhaps if she came to visit also? But then she'd fall in love with Sebastian, and every time his team called him away, her heart would freeze in fear.
She lost track of how far they'd walked and when they'd turned around. There was only the velvety tenor of Sebastian's voice, the cool, moist sand between her toes, the wind caressing her body, and the warmth of his hand cradling hers.
She looked up and blinked, surprised to find them at the steps to his cottage.
"You must be tired," he said, still holding her hand. "What time did you get up?"
"Early. Six o'clock."
He chuckled at her answer. "That's not early."
Despite her weariness, all she could think about was sliding into Sebastian's bed to relive the night they'd met. It was taking forever for him to get around to seducing her.
They reentered the house together. He found her a towel, a washcloth, a new toothbrush, and ushered her into his bathroom right off the loft. As she stood under the shower, soaping herself, she felt lonely. A couple of hours in his company and she was
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