In Bed with the Boss. Christine Rimmer

up his rights to Max. I haven’t seen him since.”

      “That’s cold. Signing away your own kid.”

      She shifted on the bench, turning her body toward him. “Honestly, I’m not bitter.” She looked so…earnest. And damn it, he wanted to slide his fingers under her hair, hook his hand around her neck and pull her close for a kiss.

      But he played fair—for now—and held himself in check. “I like your attitude, Winston.”

      “Hey. Thanks.”

      There was one of those moments. The fountain across the street burbled away and people hurried past a few feet from the bench and Tom and Shelly grinned at each other like a couple of lovestruck fools.

      Lovestruck…

      Strange choice of words. Yeah, he liked her. He wanted her. But it was way early to be using the word love.

      He made himself break the eye contact.

      After a few seconds, she said, “It’s worked out all right for me and Max. It…wasn’t meant to be, between Max’s dad and me. And Max is smart and funny and happy. And loving. He doesn’t need a dad who’s not one hundred percent there for him.”

      “I want to meet this kid.”

      “Just don’t give him your phone number.”

      “What?”

      She laughed. “Oh, nothing. It’s his thing lately. He’s discovered the wonder of the telephone. He likes to make phone calls—you know, dial the number all by himself—and then talk your ear off.”

      Tom grinned. “Definitely. Need to meet him.”

      “Well, he’s with his grandparents until the first of July. So you’ll just have to wait.” She rose before he could reach out a hand and stop her. “This has been great, Tom.…”

      He resisted the strong urge to grab her hand, to hold on until she sat back down beside him.

      With a shrug, he stood. “At least I know your favorite color now.”

      She tipped her chin up to meet his gaze. The fountain lights made those brown eyes of hers gleam golden. “Yeah. Top priority. Knowing that your secretary loves blue.”

      “You never know when information like that will come in handy.”

      “Oh. Right.” Her voice was breathy. In spite of her insistence that she wouldn’t get involved with him, her eyes begged for a kiss. “And that I like Italian food. That’s so important.…”

      Her full lips tempted him. One kiss. What could it really hurt? Two kisses. Three.

      A night full of kisses. He wanted that. With this woman. He wanted it bad.

      Time to hail a cab. He saw one coming and raised a hand. The cab slowed and stopped at the curb.

      Two steps and Tom was pulling open the door. He gestured her in.

      She hung back. “Uh. No. Really, I’ll just catch the train. It’s no problem.”

      “Shelly. Get in.”