The Wolf's Surrender. Sandra Steffen

      “Did you see the news?” Kelly asked.

      He nodded, mesmerized by the baby’s clear gray eyes looking up at him.

      “I didn’t think about the press,” Kelly whispered, “or how they might want to do a story about what happened.”

      He hadn’t, either.

      “It was wise of you to be unavailable for comment.”

      Grey lifted his gaze, and found Kelly looking at him. Her makeup was gone, her face clean scrubbed. Her hair had been brushed, the overhead light casting shadows below her cheekbones and beneath her chin. Her eyes were clear and observant and very green above the faded blue hospital gown. Her nose was narrow, her mouth was…

      Kissable.

      He forced his gaze away and stood, the action tugging his finger from the baby’s grasp so quickly he startled her. For a moment, he thought she was going to cry. He held his breath, releasing it only after the baby relaxed again, secure and safe in Kelly’s arms.

      “I wasn’t really prepared to be interviewed,” Kelly confessed.

      “You handled it like a pro.”

      She smiled down at her daughter. Apparently in the mood to chat, she said, “I’m an attorney. You’re a judge. Some people might read more into what you did for me and Alisha.”

      Grey scratched at the prickly skin on the back of his neck.

      “They could even think I might try to use the incident to gain special treatment in court,” Kelly said. “I assure you that that won’t happen.”

      “Of course not.”

      “If you ever need a kidney, come see me.” She wavered him a smile. “Otherwise, rest assured, it’ll be business as usual.”

      She lifted her gaze, and held out her hand. Grey had a feeling that somewhere in the deep recesses of her mind, she knew exactly what she was doing. What did she mean it would be business as usual from now on? He took her hand, shaking it as if in slow motion.

      Kelly’s heart expanded, and something very close to sexual attraction uncurled in the pit of her stomach. She’d been experiencing mild afterbirth pains. This was different. It wasn’t hero-worship, either. Oh, dear, she thought. This was bad. It definitely had all the markings of a major complication.

      Only if she let it. She withdrew her hand from his grasp. “Thank you.”

      He bristled. “We both did what had to be done.”

      My, my. “I was referring to the flowers, the balloons and the plush toy for Alisha.”

      Silence. He wasn’t happy, but at least she’d put whatever was between them back on an even keel. Now she had to keep it that way. “I guess I’ll see you in court, Judge,” she said.

      “Grey.” His eyes glittered, as if daring her to dispute it.

      “But I thought we agreed…”

      “You said it best yourself this afternoon. We’ve shared too much for such formalities, at least outside the courtroom.”

      “That isn’t what I said.”

      “What did you say, then?”

      She gulped, because what she’d said was that only a woman’s doctor and her lover should see her the way Grey had seen her. Oh, no, he didn’t. She wasn’t going to repeat that.

      He had the nerve to smile.

      It was a nice smile, a masculine smile, a disarming smile that sneaked up on her, causing her to smile, too.

      “Kelly?”

      “Hmm?”

      “You and I both know I’m not your doctor.”

      He walked to the door on silent footsteps, and Kelly was left with her mouth hanging open, her heart beating a heady rhythm, her mind reeling.

      From the doorway, he said, “Call me if you need anything.”

      “That’s what I was trying to…I don’t think…That is, it would be best if…” She clamped her mouth shut, raised her chin. In a steadier voice, she said, “I won’t need anything. I’ll see you in court.”

      She caught his expression before he turned on his heel and left. Her point had hit its mark.

      “I probably shouldn’t have done that,” she whispered, nuzzling Alisha’s unbelievably soft cheek. “What else could I do?”

      The baby started to cry. The waaa-waaa grew in volume until Kelly hugged her to her breast. Instantly, the crying stopped. That was easy, she thought, stroking the baby’s head. When it came to her child, she just had to do what came naturally. The same did not apply to Grey Colton. And that was final.