The Tycoon's Defiant Southern Belle by Elizabeth Lennox

people out and
     about doing their own business.  By the time they’d turned the corner heading back
     to his house, she couldn’t stop her curiosity any longer. 
    “Angelo, where were you born?’ she asked, trying to prod for more information.
    “In New York City,” he said and pulled one of the low-hanging branches out of her
     way, only releasing it when she’d passed by it.  “Why do you ask?”
    She shrugged but bit her lower lip.  “It just occurred to me that I don’t really know
     anything about you.  I mean…you’ve kissed me…several times actually…” she shivered
     at the memory, her body starting to clamor once again for his touch but she pushed
     that need behind her. 
    “And we’ll do that again very soon,” he commented with a smile. 
    “Regardless,” she replied a bit breathlessly, “and the whole town will think that
     we’re an item after the last hour but it struck me that I don’t really know anything
     about you except that Jasper seems to love sneaking over to your place and Rufus loves
     you now too for some reason.  And since that ridiculous dog doesn’t really get up
     for anyone, much less an intruder if I ever had one, then the stupid thing rousing
     himself to go visit you is a miracle in itself.”
    He kept his secret about her animals’ devotion to herself.  “What do you want to know?”
    “What was it like growing up in New York?  It seems like it would be busy and hard
     to get around.”
    Angelo shook his head.  “It was okay.”
    Jade looked up at him and saw the closed off expression in his eyes.  She understood
     that questions about his childhood were off limits, but that had never stopped her
     from probing before.  “Where do your parents live?” she asked.
    There was a long silence and Jade thought he might be ignoring her question.  So she
     was startled when he said, “They died.”
    Jade stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and watched his broad shoulders and muscular
     back for a moment until he realized she wasn’t next to him any longer.  When it hit
     him, he also stopped, then turned around to find out why she’d stopped.
    “So who raised you?” she asked carefully.
    Angelo turned and looked down at her, seeing the soft, compelling concern in her eyes. 
     For a moment, he let her concern wash over him, fill him and warm his heart.  But
     when he started to realize what he was doing, he stiffened his resolve and pulled
     back.  “I raised myself,” he said as if that were the most obvious thing in the world. 
    “When did your parents pass away?” she asked gently, standing in the heat, her heart
     melting at the idea of this large, gentle giant of a man being alone. 
    “When I was a kid.”
    “How old were you?”
    He shrugged and looked behind her slightly.  “Ten years old.”
    She smiled at the idea of Angelo being a ten year old boy with black hair and dark
     eyes, looking solemn and intelligent.  “And who took you in after they died?  An aunt
     or uncle?”
    He shook his head and moved closer.  “Jade, I know you like to see the world with
     rose colored glasses, but that’s not how life really works.”
    “I know that.  Things haven’t been wonderful for me all my life either.  I remember
     the pain after my own father died so I can’t even imagine what you must have gone
     through to lose both of your parents.  Life was pretty rough.”
    “So you can understand when I explain that my aunts and uncles couldn’t take me in.”
    “Where did you go?” she asked, not sure if she wanted to hear the answer.  Her stomach
     tensed, her heart beating rapidly as she thought about all the horrifying possibilities. 
    “The state had to take me in.  I lived in an orphanage for about five months and then
     I was transferred to the foster care system.  Can we go now?” he asked.  “I really
     don’t like those people in my house without you there to supervise them.  You know
     what you’re doing