His Ring, Her Baby / His Bride for the Taking. Sandra Hyatt

gave a short laugh that grated on her taut nerves. “You do a good job of looking after your guests.”

       Closer still.

      “Er … that’s because everyone’s been so nice to me.”

      “I’m sure you’re easy to be ni—”

      “Seth,” Kirk interrupted, coming right up beside them, “you’d better take your sister outside. She says she’s going to be sick.”

      Tina hiccupped.

      “Great,” Seth said ruefully but he immediately released Vanessa and put his arms around Tina. “Come on, sis. Let’s get you some fresh air.” He shrugged at Vanessa regretfully. “Sorry about this.”

      “That’s okay.” Vanessa began edging as far away from Kirk as possible. “I have to go check on—”

      Kirk pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in his warmth. “We need to talk,” he rasped, and began leading her around the floor as Seth escorted his sister to the door.

      Vanessa pulled herself together. “Do you often make women sick when they dance with you?” she said sweetly, not wanting him to know he had her running scared.

      His eyes dismissed her comment. “Tell me about your husband,” he all but growled.

      Like a flash she grasped that this wasn’t about him pursuing her. All he wanted were answers, nothing more. She could understand that. Most people were curious when they discovered someone so young had been widowed.

      Tension eased out of her shoulders. “Mike was a policeman. He was killed in a bank robbery six months ago.” She could count it down to the weeks, days, hours. She would remember the exact date and time for the rest of her life.

      A muscle jerked in his jaw. “Hell, I’m sorry.”

      “Thank you.” She’d heard those words so many times from people, and she appreciated them. Yet hearing them come from this man made her feel strange.

      “How long were you married?”

      Vanessa swallowed. “Two years.”

      His hand tightened on her hip. “And were you happy?”

      “Very,” was all she could manage, otherwise she’d be thinking about Mike and how much she missed him. And it didn’t seem right to be thinking about him while she was dancing in the arms of another man.

      His mouth compressed. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

      She didn’t like his tone. “I don’t believe I owe you any details of my private life,” she snapped.

      Another couple danced too close and he had to move her out of the way. By the time she fell back into step, she hoped he’d let the subject of her marriage go.

      He didn’t.

      His eyes snagged hers, almost accusingly. “Why aren’t you wearing any rings?”

      She’d known he’d noticed. “I’ve taken them off temporarily. They were too tight in the heat.”

      Those blue eyes gave her the laser treatment. “You knew I thought you were available.”

      Her lips twisted. “You probably think every woman is available.”

      “Aren’t they?” he mocked.

      She sucked in a sharp breath at his arrogance. The road to Sydney must be littered with women who threw themselves at him, but that was no excuse for—

      Just then, she saw Cindy standing near the kitchen door carrying her son. “Josh!” She immediately forgot Kirk as she left his arms and hurried over to the babysitter. “Is something wrong? What’s the matter?” She didn’t know what she’d do if anything happened to him.

      “I think he heard your voice before. He started crying and won’t settle.” Cindy pulled a face. “I’m sorry to drag you away.”

      “Don’t be,” Vanessa said, lifting Josh in her arms, relieved he wasn’t sick. His eyes were wet from crying. She kissed his cheek and smoothed the blond hair off his forehead. “How’s Toby?”

      “Sound asleep,” Cindy said. “I’d better get back to him. Do you want me to take Josh back? He might settle now that he’s seen you.”

      “No, that’s fine. I think I’ll take him home now.” It was getting late and she needed no better excuse to get out of here.

      Cindy nodded, then disappeared through the kitchen door.

      Vanessa hugged Josh closer, smelling his soft, sweet scent. “Time to take you home and put you to bed, little man.” She turned around to find Linda or Hugh and tell them that she was leaving so they wouldn’t worry.

      She froze. Kirk. He’d followed her.

      His eyes had an odd glitter. “He’s yours?”

      She swallowed then nodded, proud of her son but feeling the awkwardness of the moment.

      “I’ll carry him for you,” he said in a brusque voice.

      She stiffened. “No, the apartment’s only out the back.”

      “You could fall over in those heels,” he said, making her aware he missed nothing about her.

      Suddenly she had to get out of here … away from the restaurant … away from Kirk Deverill. She had to keep a physical distance, if only to maintain an emotional one.

      “No, I’ll be fine.”

      He said something low under his breath. “I insist.” His eyes held hers. He wasn’t going to give up.

      She expelled a shaky sigh. “Okay, but I have to find Linda first and tell her I’ve gone.”

      “She’s over near the bar.”

      She looked and saw Linda near the bar, standing beneath the Happy Anniversary banner. Her cousin waved at them and Vanessa indicated she was taking Josh home, and received a speculative look and a nod of acknowledgment.

      Then she let Kirk lift Josh from her arms, half expecting Josh to cry—and wishing he would—only he didn’t. Then she and Kirk left via the kitchen. Phyllis and a waitress looked up as they passed through, but Vanessa gave a bright smile and hoped she wasn’t tomorrow’s gossip. And if she was then it was only one person’s fault.

      His.

      Looking directly ahead, she didn’t talk as her high heels tapped along the well-lit driveway until they came to the converted garage. Once inside the apartment, she waited until Kirk placed Josh in his crib, then she tucked her son in and moved back into the living room. She saw Kirk’s gaze as he took in the room with its polished wood floor, comfortable sofa and handmade cushions.

      For a long moment his blue eyes rested on the wedding photograph of her and Mike, who’d been so handsome in his policeman’s uniform.

      She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thanks for carrying Josh for me.”

      He drew his gaze away from the photograph and looked at her, an unreadable expression in his eyes. “No problem.”

      Trying to look experienced at this sort of thing, she walked toward him and held out her hand. “I guess this is good night.”

      His hand slid over hers like a glove. “I guess it is.”

      She realized her mistake then. She hadn’t wanted to touch him. Hadn’t wanted to feel his skin against her own, not even in the most casual way.

      And she knew that wasn’t true.

      She wanted to touch him.

      And there would be nothing cavalier about it.

      Something must have shown on her face because he gave a sharp intake