.

is it? What’s wrong?’ But he didn’t let her go as he hauled in deep ragged breaths, kissed the top of her head and stayed close.

      ‘I can’t stop thinking about Cameron and there are too many questions racing in my head. Too many reasons not to do this. Please, I think you should just go.’

      ‘Lola, believe me, this is not about Cameron. She is the furthest thing from my mind. I don’t want to go. I want to stay right here, doing this.’

      * * *

      Damn it. Jake’s hands dropped from her face as he struggled to control his breathing. God, she was hot. He couldn’t describe the way he felt with her pressing against him, kissing him. The fun she found in her life despite everything, the positive spin, the humility. She was a bundle of energy that he wanted to capture, to slow down, to have in his bed. And he’d blown it by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Each time he thought he knew what he was doing, things took a very unexpected turn.

      Error number one: inviting Lola out for dinner in the first place, when he should have gone home and packed for the break he clearly needed. Because, no matter what he might have said about it being a non-date, the words and the reality were on two very opposing sides.

      Error number two: mentioning Cameron at such a defining moment. He’d been thinking about trying to convince Lola’s boss to seek medical help, and had wondered whether he should suggest Cameron confide in the baby’s father too. He couldn’t tell Lola that Cameron was pregnant. That would betray a professional confidence and was something he would never do.

      But he did want to keep kissing Lola. ‘I was stupid to mention her. I’m sorry I’ve ruined the moment.’

      ‘I’m sorry? So you can actually say it? Now, there’s a revelation.’ Lola gazed up at him and he could see the hesitation and the desire still there, and that she was fighting it. Resigned to it being over. ‘It was already heading in the wrong direction, right? It wasn’t a date, you said openly that you didn’t want that, and things have just gotten a little out of control.’

      He huffed out a long breath. ‘I wanted to kiss you.’

      ‘And I wanted to kiss you back.’ She gave him a small smile that was at once coy and sexy.

      That gave him some hope, as he wasn’t finished with the kissing. Although everything she was saying made absolute sense, his body had other things on its mind. ‘So we could have a re-run?’

      The red hair swung as she shook her head. ‘No, Jake. It was an itch that we had to scratch. But it’s done now and I don’t think we should do it again. I get the feeling we want very different things.’

      ‘I don’t know what I want, Lola. At least I did yesterday. I did this morning. Now I’m not sure, but I think it definitely involves you and a lot more kissing.’

      ‘See? Now I’m messing things up for you.’ She turned away from him and unlocked her car. Climbed in. Wound down the window. All in the quick-paced way that she did everything. ‘I think it’d be a good idea if I’m not around when you come over to see Cameron. Don’t worry, I’ll make myself scarce.’

      Then she gunned the engine and was gone.

      She was right. Kissing was messing with his head. A few days on location with a demanding celebrity would see him back to his normal self—one who didn’t do random kissing in the street with a woman he’d only just met.

      Although he had a feeling that getting back to normal might take a little time, and that a certain Lola Bennett would be stomping through his dreams tonight.

       CHAPTER FIVE

      JAKE HAD TO admit that flying by private jet was going to be pretty damned cool. He wasn’t easily impressed, but he was looking forward to this part of the potentially mind-numbing trip more than anything else. Somehow he’d managed to score a flight with Cameron, and he needed to find time to talk to her about his suspicions of her pregnancy and what antenatal care she should be having.

      Thankfully he could concentrate on that, and then try to get some shut-eye after failing to get a decent night’s sleep for the first time in his life. Medical school then interning—being woken up at any time of day and night and expected to respond immediately with both a ready smile and a correct diagnosis—had taught him to be able to sleep anywhere he needed, any time. He could power up and down on demand as easily as his trusty laptop.

      Except for the last few nights—when he hadn’t been able to get the taste and smell of Lola, along with memories of her easy laugh and mesmerising smile, out of his head. All the more reason he needed this break—mind-numbing or not—to reaffirm his work focus and equilibrium. He would approach it as he did everything else, with single-minded determination to do it to the highest standard.

      It was, after all, what he’d promised his father he would do—and the only thought going through his brain right now, other than Lola, were the words he’d used at his father’s bedside in the hospital. ‘I’ll pay you back, double, triple what you’ve given me. Just get well and come home.’ His dad had paid too high a price for Jake to lose focus.

      After ditching his car at valet parking, he strode into the private airfield departure lounge, which was more like a converted hangar than anything particularly luxurious, and was immediately greeted by a cacophony of shouts, hysterical screaming and wild yapping.

      ‘Get her, quick, grab her, hurry!’ Cameron was screaming, as a small brown dog wearing a studded diamanté collar, head down and teeth bared, scampered faster than Jake imagined a dog that size could go towards an open door that led to the tarmac. Dropping his bags, Jake set off in hot pursuit, dodging air crew, ground crew, piles of luggage, a refuelling lorry and, thankfully, but only just, a catering trolley heading straight for him.

      The dog, seemingly enjoying this game of one hundred metre dash, bounded towards the steps of a private Cessna.

      ‘Peanut! Sit. Sit!’ From behind Jake a stern but breathless English voice bellowed through the hangar and, unbelievably, the dog came to an abrupt halt at the foot of the steps. ‘Naughty girl! Now, come here.’

      Lola?

      Jake took the opportunity to creep forward and grab the dazed puppy, securing it under his arm. I did not sign up for this.

      Then he turned to see the cause of his insomnia, who was doubled over, trying to haul in air while simultaneously juggling two other bejewelled, yapping dogs close to her breasts. Lucky damned pooches.

      And there he was again—losing himself.

      It hadn’t occurred to him that she’d be here, but maybe she’d come to wave the Nassau-bound party off? Making sure her boss actually left the ground? Not such a bad idea. Shame she’d be stuck with those dogs, though. Nightmare. ‘Peanut? That’s a name? I thought it was something you had with beer.’

      ‘Sorry, it’s chaos as always. Can we do a swap? Please take Butter for a second while I secure Peanut. Yes, we have Peanut, Butter and this is Jelly. I know.’ Lola straightened up, offered one of the other dogs to Jake. He couldn’t tell whether she was glaring at him or the dogs. Either way there was no smile, and he felt guilty by association. ‘Not my choices, by the way. So, Peanut is the devil incarnate—you need to keep a special eye on her or she’ll be AWOL in five seconds flat. Butter is the glutton and Jelly is the sweetie. Take my advice, never, ever get three puppies at the same time.’

      ‘It never crossed my mind to get even one. Ever.’ He swapped one wriggling jiggling dog for another, which leaned in close and sniffed his face. Its breath smelt like rank dog biscuits and its claws were sharp. Then it stuck out its pink tongue. For a second he thought it was going to take a bite, but instead it began to lick his cheek with unhindered gusto. ‘Ugh. No. Er... Butter. Stop.’

      He held it at arm’s length, looked over at Lola, who was now grinning