The Danforths: Reid, Kimberly and Jake: The Cinderella Scandal / Man Beneath the Uniform / Sin City Wedding

When she started to move away, he hauled her back and pressed a kiss to her temple.

‘‘I didn’t say it was a problem. I just would have been more careful,’’ he said quietly. ‘‘I hurt you.’’

Slowly she relaxed, then shook her head. ‘‘A twinge, that’s all, just for a moment. Everything else was wonderful. You were wonderful.’’

‘‘Yeah? How wonderful?’’

‘‘Oh, stop grinning at me like that.’’ She pushed at his chest. ‘‘As if you don’t hear that all the time.’’

He rose on one elbow and frowned at her. ‘‘What’s that supposed to mean?’’

‘‘I’ve seen your name in magazines and newspapers,’’ she said with a timid shrug. ‘‘There’s usually a woman’s name attached somewhere.’’

‘‘Don’t believe everything you read, sweetheart.’’ He gathered her close again and lay back on the bed. ‘‘I’ve dated a lot of women, had a few I’d even call girlfriends. I may not be a saint, but I sure as hell didn’t sleep with them all, either. Okay?’’

Silence settled around them like a soft blanket. Somewhere in the room a clock tick-tocked; warm air hummed through an overhead duct.

‘‘Why me?’’ she asked quietly, stroking her fingertips back and forth across his chest.

Would this woman ever stop surprising him? he wondered. Strangely, he realized that was part of the attraction.

Because the way she was touching him was a big distraction, he took hold of her hand, then hauled her on top of him. She gasped at the unexpected movement, and the fact that he was hard and ready for her again, wanting her as much now as he had only a few minutes ago.

‘‘You really don’t know, do you?’’ He was definitely enjoying the new position of her body on top of his, not to mention the view of her bare breasts. ‘‘You really are completely unaware of how sexy and utterly captivating you are.’’

Her cheeks turned pink and her lashes fluttered down. ‘‘I figured you were just bored.’’

‘‘Bored?’’ He nearly choked. ‘‘Good Lord, woman. Where would you get an idea like that?’’

‘‘Sharie Jo Sullivan.’’

‘‘Who?’’

‘‘Sharie Jo Sullivan. A customer at the bakery. She said men like you get bored easily. That you’re always looking for a challenge.’’

‘‘Is that what you think you are to me?’’ He couldn’t believe he was hearing this. ‘‘A challenge?’’

‘‘I was probably the first woman who ever said no to you,’’ she reminded him.

‘‘I didn’t hear you say no tonight.’’ Reid skimmed his hands down Tina’s back, then brought his mouth to hers and nibbled one delicious corner. ‘‘In fact, I believe I heard a lot of ‘yes’ and ‘please,’’’ he teased.

‘‘You’re going to need a new head to fit that ego if you aren’t careful, buster,’’ she said with a prim sniff.

‘‘I’ll be careful.’’ He cupped her firm behind, watched her eyes widen when he moved his hips against hers. ‘‘Very careful.’’

‘‘Darn you, Reid Danforth. You’ve turned me into a loose woman.’’ Lifting her hips, she took him inside her. ‘‘Remind me later to thank you.’’

Later turned out to be close to ten in the morning, with food the motivating force that finally pulled them out of the bedroom. While Reid showered, Tina had her omelettes cooking and her own special recipe of breakfast potatoes warming in the oven. Considering the night they’d had, she was certain he was going to be one hungry man.

Lord knew, she thought with a smile, he certainly was a man with an appetite.

They’d dozed on and off throughout the early morning hours, waking briefly enough for a kiss or a touch…sometimes more. Remembering how eager she’d been for him brought a blush to her cheeks. And though she had no idea what today, tomorrow or next week would bring for her, she had no regrets at all. She’d waited twenty-four years for last night, and even now, in the light of day, she was so glad.

It had been amazing. He had been amazing. But there’d been no whispered promises, no mention of the future, and though it pained her to think that last night might be their only night together, she’d gone to him with her eyes wide open.

Unfortunately, her heart had been wide open, as well.

Sometime during the night, or maybe the first time she’d laid eyes on him, she realized, she’d fallen in love with Reid. She’d fought it, of course. It was, after all, very foolish and completely reckless. But clearly, reason did not prevail when it came to love. It simply was.

At the sound of the shower turning off, she slipped her omelettes onto plates, loaded on potatoes and was setting them on the table when he walked into the kitchen wearing nothing but a knotted towel slung low on his hips. Her heart jumped at the sight, and that ache she’d become so familiar with last night pulsed through her veins. The intensity of it startled her, had her wondering, and worrying, about tomorrow.

She couldn’t think about that now, refused to let herself give in to fear. She would accept what they had and be happy for it.

And then he smiled at her and her heart shattered.

‘‘Hey.’’

‘‘Hey, yourself.’’ She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced herself to smile back. ‘‘Breakfast is ready.’’

‘‘Smells great.’’

He walked toward her, made every piece of her heart vibrate with longing.

‘‘It’ll be on the breakfast menu of my restaurant in one year.’’ She hoped her voice sounded as easy as she intended. ‘‘As soon as I have my space back from you, of course.’’

When he moved beside her and leaned close, her breath held, waiting for his kiss. But he reached past her to the table and snatched a slice of potato instead, then popped it in his mouth.

‘‘Tasty.’’

‘‘Thanks.’’

She was about to turn when he tugged her to him, then covered her mouth with his. She melted into the kiss, felt it sing through her entire body.

‘‘Very tasty,’’ he murmured against her lips and pulled her closer. ‘‘You know what they say, don’t you?’’

‘‘What?’’ she whispered, sliding her arms around his neck.

‘‘If you can’t stand the heat—’’ he scooped her up in his arms ‘‘—get out of the kitchen.’’

Laughing, she wrapped her arms around him and held on as he headed for the bedroom. At the sound of keys jangling in the doorknob, Reid stopped and turned. Tina froze, watched in horror as the door swung open.

‘‘Well, now, what have we here?’’

Ohmigod.

Clutching her robe together across her bared breasts, Tina blinked, then sucked in a lungful of air and managed a weak smile. ‘‘Hi, Aunt Yana.’’

Seven