Up Close and Personal. Maureen Child

to talk, Laura,” he said, strolling closer to the bed. Closer to her.

      “There’s nothing to talk about, and by the way, why do you still have my key?” And how had she forgotten to get it back? Well, to be fair, when he gave her the speech on how it wasn’t working out and that they wouldn’t be seeing each other again, she’d felt too bruised to remember to ask for it back.

      Which she was kicking herself for now.

      He patted the pocket where he’d deposited the key. “You gave it to me.”

      “We were together at the time,” she pointed out and winced as her own voice went a little high. Beneath their conversation, Beast’s snoring continued on.

      “Could be again,” he said, then glanced down at Beast so he didn’t see Laura’s eyes go wide.

      “Easy to see why you want to keep the Beast,” he noted wryly. “A vicious guard dog such as this one would make you feel safe.”

      Beast snored even louder.

      “He’s company.”

      “Aye,” Ronan mused, “quite the conversationalist.” He bent down, rubbed one hand across Beast’s exposed stomach and said, “Wake up, you lazy hound.”

      The dog’s eyes reluctantly opened. He saw Ronan and rolled over, pushing himself up high enough to welcome his former owner with a kiss.

      Ronan laughed and the sound seemed to rumble through the room before settling in the pit of Laura’s stomach and jittering there. She tried to remind herself that they were exes. Tried to remember how she’d felt the night he left her. Tried to remember the pain she’d suffered later when she lost—

      Steeling herself, she said, “Ronan, you don’t belong here. You should leave.”

      “But I am here, and I’m not ready to go just yet.”

      In the lamplight, his blue eyes shone and she read amusement in their depths, which only served to make her angrier. A good thing.

      “Yes, you’re here. Without invitation.”

      “And would you have invited me in?”

      “No.”

      “There you are then.” He shrugged and took a seat at the end of the bed. Beast moved to lay his big head on Ronan’s thigh and both man and dog watched her.

      He was far too close.

      “So, your guard dog doesn’t seem to mind me being here.”

      Feeling oddly compelled to defend the dog, she said, “He knows I’m not in danger from you.”

      Ronan tilted his head to one side as his gaze speared into hers. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that, were I you.”

      Her stomach did a slow swirl and spin. She shoved one hand through her hair, then grabbed up the duvet again and held it even closer. “Ronan, you should go.”

      “No. Not until you tell me what it is that’s really at the heart of all of this.”

      “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She scooted even farther from him, smacking her back against the headboard.

      “Aye, you do, but for some reason, you’re not telling me.” Nodding, he glanced down at the dog, then back to her. “It’s not about Beast at all, is it? There’s something that’s driving you.”

      “If there is, it’s none of your business,” she countered.

      Outside, the wind moaned under the eaves and the rain hammered at the window glass. He was watching her as if waiting for her to speak up and give him exactly what he wanted. Which was just so like him. Well, Laura wasn’t going to satisfy his curiosity.

      “You broke up with me, remember? How did you put it? Oh, yes.” As if she could forget. “I believe your exact words were, It’s been a grand time for the both of us and now it’s done.”

      He frowned thoughtfully. “And you weren’t ready for it, were you, Laura love?”

      She gritted her teeth at the easy endearment, knowing it meant nothing.

      Smiling now, he gave Beast one last pat on the head, then stood up and paced off a few steps before turning and walking back to her. He stopped in the circle of the lamplight and looked down at her thoughtfully. “You see, I’ve done some thinking, and I’ve figured out what the problem is.”

      “Congratulations,” she snapped, scooting to the other side of the mattress. She couldn’t stay in her bed and talk to him. It was disconcerting. Tempting. And oh, how she hated to admit that, even to herself. Once her feet were firmly on the floor she added, “Now, go away.”

      Still smiling, he walked around the bed and came close to her. Here, there were more shadows. The golden glow of the lamp didn’t reach this far. She refused to back up and let him corner her against the wall. So she stood her ground.

      “Don’t you want to know what it is I’ve discovered?”

      “Will it make you leave if I say yes?”

      He grinned. “It might.”

      “Fine.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “What is it then?”

      “This isn’t about keeping my dog from me,” he said, reaching out to lay both hands on her bare shoulders.

      God, why had she worn a tank top to sleep in? She should have worn flannel. Head to toe.

      Heat from his palms slid into her system and washed through her like a fever. She had to fight her own reaction to him. Her own instinct to lean into that broad chest. To go up and kiss that mouth that had done so many amazing things to her such a short while ago.

      “I know what you really want, Laura,” he said and bent down until they were eye to eye. “And I came here tonight to tell you, you don’t have to try this hard to get back into my bed. You’ve only to ask.”

      Time stopped.

      Later, Laura would think she must have been struck dumb to be able to remain speechless for so much as a second after that incredible statement. But she wasn’t quiet for long.

      “You dolt.”

      “What?”

      She brushed his hands off her arms, and then planted both palms on his chest and shoved hard enough to rock him back a couple of steps.

      “Neanderthal.”

      “There’s no reason for all of this, Laura,” he said, that accent of his dancing along her nerve endings, promising romance.

      She fought past it.

      “Are you crazy? You really think I took Beast to get you back?”

      “What other reason would there be?” he asked, irritation now sparking in eyes that were still glinting with desire.

      “Oh, I don’t know. Because I felt sorry for the dog? Because I didn’t want to see him abandoned? Because I think you’re a big jerk who doesn’t deserve Beast?”

      “Now just hang on—”

      “No.”

      “So you’re saying you feel nothing for me,” he said, taking a stand, unmovable no matter how hard she pushed.

      “I am,” she said, glaring at him since that was all that was left to do.

      “You’re a liar.”

      “You—”

      He swooped in then. Simply grabbed her up, yanked her in close and claimed her mouth in a kiss that stole what breath she had and fogged her mind. Sensations coursed through her in a wild stream. The feel of his mouth on hers. The taste of him. His strong arms holding her pinned to his chest. All of these things and more tied her