The Italian's Ruthless Baby Bargain. Margaret Mayo

her sleeping like an angel, a faint smile on her lips, her black hair, so much like her father’s, spread across the pillow. She was a sweet child and Penny couldn’t see why Santo didn’t devote more of his time to her, why he insisted on working long hours and getting someone else to look after his daughter.

      Leaving the nursery, her head down, her mind still intent on what she saw as Chloe’s misfortune, Penny bumped straight into Santo. The sudden contact whipped the breath from her body and though his arms steadied her she felt as if her legs were about to buckle.

      ‘What’s the hurry?’ he asked, concern in his voice. ‘Is Chloe all right?’

      Penny nodded. Everything was all right except these dangerous feelings flooding her system. A response that rocked her. Ricocheted a hot sizzle of awareness through every bone in her body.

      ‘Then it has to be you—or me—or both of us?’ His dark eyes filled with amusement and before she could guess at his intent, before she could protest or even draw breath, he lowered his head and captured her softly parted lips.

      Penny had always known that Santo’s kisses would be sensational; nevertheless she wasn’t prepared for the whirlpool of exquisite pleasure that wreaked havoc inside her. The way her world began to spin until she felt sure that she would fly out into orbit if he carried on.

      For so many years she had told herself that no man would ever get through to her again—and yet it was happening.

      Now! And she had no control over it.

      Santo had reached into the deepest recesses of her mind and turned it around so that she was once again a woman with needs that required satisfying, fully and deeply.

      When he pushed open a door and urged her inside Penny realised they were in his bedroom. One tiny part of her mind railed against what was happening, the other exalted in the crescendo of feelings that were tipping her over the edge into a world where nothing else mattered except this moment in time.

      And instead of fighting him she gave herself up to the erotic sensation of Santo’s kisses, breathing his name against his mouth, feeling the fire he had ignited take hold until it consumed her whole body. There was no room for questions, for wondering what was possessing her, all she wanted was to give in to the heated feelings that ravaged her senses.

      Santo led her over to the bed, pulling her against him as they lay down, lifting one powerful leg over hers, tucking her head into his shoulder. It was a big bed, deep and comfortable, and Penny closed her eyes, forgetting where she was and what she was doing. All that mattered was Santo’s hot body next to hers, the throb of their passion that must surely be loud in the room.

      With gentle fingers he traced the contours of her face. The urgency of that first kiss had gone; he was exploring now, gentle kisses followed his fingertips, and Penny relaxed against him, giving herself up to the magic of the moment, urging her body ever closer against his.

      He found her mouth again in a kiss that shattered her senses, made her writhe against him and call out his name. She clawed her fingers into his hair and felt such a surge of emotion that it scared her. She hardly knew this man and yet here she was in his bed, enjoying his kisses as though he was the only man in the world.

      With all the strength she could muster Penny pushed Santo away. This mustn’t happen; she couldn’t let it. It was the worst form of insanity.