Renegade by Diana Palmer Page B

But…what if he was hungry for Christabel’s child? Did he still love her? Had he submitted to Tippy’s advances out of rejected desire for a woman he couldn’t have?
    The whole face of things changed in an instant. She went cold. All the joy drained out of her like rain out of clouds. Rory actually winced. “I’m sorry,” he said. He went to her and hugged her, as hard as he could. “I’m sorry!” Tears stung her eyes. She was too proud to shed them. She held her little brother close and felt cheated. Absolutely cheated.
    â€œWe’re going to have a great Christmas,” she said after a minute, wiping away the tears unobtrusively to smile down at him. “You want to cook the biscuits?”
    â€œYou want to be able to eat them?” he shot back.
    She laughed. She and Rory had always been a great combination, even from the age he’d been when she’d acquired him from her mother.
    â€œThat settles who cooks, I guess. If Cash shows up while I’m in the kitchen, you can entertain him.”
    He gave her a wry look and wiggled both eyebrows. “That’s my department, all right. Let’s see if I can find my juggling balls and my top hat…”
    She tossed a dishrag in his general direction as she turned to get out flour and olive oil and milk. When she was alone, her face fell. She had no idea if Cash would even show up, after all, despite his affection for Rory. The prior evening had been an unmitigated disaster and it was totally her fault. If she hadn’t put Cash in a position where he had to do something about their mutual physical attraction, they might still be friends. And from there, she might have captivated him for real. Now her dreams of happiness had boiled down into a furtive night of passion, which Cash with his greater experience would dismiss as he’d said he would—a one-night stand.
    If only, she thought, she could go back and undo the major mistakes of her life. But the only way open was the future.
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    C ASH DID SHOW UP , just as Tippy was chewing off her nails with everything already on the table.
    Her heart skipped as the buzzer sounded. Rory ran to see who it was, and Cash answered.
    â€œI’ll buzz you right in!” Rory enthused, pushing the button.
    Tippy was wearing a simple pair of emerald velvet slacks with a white silk top, her hair tied back with an emerald green scarf. She looked festive, but casual. She didn’t expect that Cash would dress up.
    And she was right. He was wearing black again—slacks,T-shirt and leather jacket. He looked at her with out seeing her, and forced a smile for Rory’s benefit.
    â€œIt looks great,” he said.
    â€œIt’s nothing fancy, just plain food. Sit down. Rory, say grace,” she murmured quickly, taking her place.
    Rory did, glancing furtively from one adult to the other with a long sigh.
    It was a quiet meal, compared to the ones that had gone before. Tippy felt terrible, because she’d ruined not only her Christmas and Cash’s, but Rory’s as well. They ate in a long silence until everyone was finished.
    â€œI offered to make the biscuits,” Rory told Cash, “but she said she wanted to be able to eat them afterward.”
    Cash chuckled. “Are you that bad a cook?”
    â€œNot with most things,” Rory said. “But I have a hard time with bread.”
    â€œMe, too,” Cash confessed. “I used to make a pass able biscuit, but these days I just buy them in tins and heat them up.”
    â€œTippy doesn’t. She does them from scratch.”
    â€œA woman of talent,” Cash said without looking at her.
    It was a good thing. She went scarlet and jumped up to get the cherry pie she’d made and open a small pint of vanilla ice cream to top it with.
    Her hands shook. Cash saw it and cursed himself for losing his head the night before. She was taking the blame for everything, when it was