He leaned close, so his breath caressed her cheek when he spoke. “Stop thinking so much, sweetheart, because it makes you frown, and I won’t allow it this weekend.” He followed up that soft demand with a quick, warm kiss on her lips that lingered long after he’d straightened.
Shocked at his brazen display with his parents in the room, Paige’s gaze darted to Anna and Nick, who stood by the stove. She felt confident neither of them had witnessed the brief, intimate exchange between her and Josh as Anna was busy feeding her husband a spoonful of the spaghetti sauce and asking for his opinion.
Shaking off the tingling sensation coursing along the surface of her skin, Paige attempted to ignore Josh in hopes that he’d go away. No such luck. He stood there, watching her. Feeling the heat of his gaze on her, she forced herself to concentrate on the task of spreading the frosting evenly on top of the cake. Absently, she ran her tongue across her sticky bottom lip, tasting chocolate and the unique, arousing flavor of Josh. Her stomach tumbled and tightened.
“You’ve got a little more, right here at the corner,” he murmured, slowly gliding his thumb across her mouth. Sure enough, he’d wiped away a smudge of frosting, which he promptly sucked off his thumb, his eyes dark as they held hers.
The breath all but whooshed out of her lungs, and she had the irrepressible urge to throw caution to the wind and give in to the desire that tied her so strongly to Josh-consequences be damned. For weeks she’d resisted him-for years, really-and denying something so intrinsic was becoming more difficult with each passing day. Yet wanting him held so many risks, and the thought of loving him inundated her with so many fears.
Or was it already too late?
Her troubling thoughts dispersed when Josh’s younger brother Joel entered the kitchen with a loud, raucous greeting, as was his way. He was tanned a golden brown from the hours he spent outdoors, as good-looking as his two other brothers, and oozed enough sex appeal to charm anyone of the female persuasion.
Paige suspected he’d broken many hearts over the years.
Jovial handshakes and warm hugs went around, and when he came to Paige, his eyes brightened with wicked intent. He swept her dramatically into his embrace, bent her back slightly, and growled playfully into the curve of her neck.
Paige laughed at his outrageous behavior, chalking it all up to Joel’s fun-loving personality. Joel’s antics seemed to amuse everyone, except Josh. There was a smile on Josh’s lips as Joel lifted her back up, his splayed hand supporting the base of her spine, but his eyes blazed with something far more primitive and possessive.
“Watch your hands, little brother.” Josh’s voice was light and teasing, but not enough to disguise the underlying annoyance vibrating in his tone.
Releasing Paige, Joel lifted one brow in a silent query that went unanswered. Josh’s parents shot their older son a speculative look that caused Paige’s face to heat, but they, too, refrained from commenting on his odd remark. It wasn’t hard to imagine the thoughts racing through everyone’s mind.
Shortly thereafter, Audrey, seven months pregnant with her fourth child, arrived with her brood, filling the house with three adorable, energetic little girls ranging in age from four to nine, none of whom had any qualms about clamoring for their uncles’ attention, loudly and enthusiastically. Within minutes, the men had spurred the girls into a wild, rambunctious frenzy. Squeals of laughter reverberated in the kitchen, along with the patter of shoes as Joel and Josh instigated a game of tickle monster around the large oak table.
The madness was deafening, crazy and wonderfully distracting.
Anna propped her hands on her slim hips and raised her voice a few decibels to be heard over the noise in her kitchen. “Girls, no running in the house!” Then she turned to her sons. “And since you boys can’t behave yourselves either, and seem to be just as bad as the kids, out you go.” She hitched a finger toward the back door.
Joel slung an arm over his mother’s shoulders, dwarfing her beneath his six-foot-plus height. “Aw, Mom, we’re just getting warmed up.”
Her mouth pursed and she slanted him a strict look. “Don’t ‘aw, Mom’ me, Joel. You may be able to wrap every other woman around that finger of yours with your sweet-talking charm, but you forget that I’ve been immune since the day you were born.”
He chuckled, but didn’t refute that remark.
Josh grinned and headed toward the back door as ordered. “Come on, girls. Let’s go feed the horses. I know where Grandpa stashes the sugar cubes.”
Three pairs of eyes lit up, and they all scrambled from the kitchen and raced down to the stables as fast as their sneakered feet could carry them. Paige watched from the kitchen window as Joel, Josh and Nick followed at a leisurely pace behind the girls, their male comradery evident in their smiling expressions, deep chuckles and occasional slaps on the back.
“Ah, finally, blessed silence,” Audrey said, amusement and relief mingling in her lilting voice. “Now, if I’m real lucky, this little guy will settle down, too.” She rubbed her rounded tummy lovingly.
Paige smiled. “So, it’s going to be a boy this time?” she asked.
The other woman beamed with happiness and hope. “That’s what the sonogram showed, so we’ve got our fingers crossed. I’m not going through this again, not even if we end up with four girls.” Blowing out a weary breath, she met Anna’s gaze. “Joel isn’t the only one good at sweet-talking. He must have taken lessons from Vince.”
“It’s a Marchiano male attribute, I’m afraid.” Anna gave a long-suffering sigh, though the sound was tinged with affection. “Any one of them could cajole candy from a baby.”
Paige didn’t doubt it-Josh had charm aplenty, as well as a sensual allure that stirred her in ways no other man ever had. Irresistible and persistent were apt descriptions for the Marchiano men.
“Why don’t the two of you go out on the porch and relax?” Anna suggested in a way that left little room for either of them to protest. “Everything’s done here in the kitchen except the cleanup, and I can get it done faster on my own.”
Paige and Audrey made their way outside. Settling into the wicker chairs on the porch, they enjoyed the light spring breeze and the sound of children’s laughter floating in the air. It was a wonderful sound, Paige thought. So innocent. So trusting. So guileless. It struck a maternal chord in her she found difficult to ignore.
Josh had taken his sports jacket off, along with his shoulder holster and gun-which she assumed he’d put away somewhere safe in the house so the girls wouldn’t find the weapon. Gone was the stubborn detective who’d been her bodyguard for the past three weeks, and in his place was a physically fit, gorgeous man who looked carefree and unencumbered by the events of recent weeks.
With a wistful pang near the vicinity of her heart, she watched Josh play ball with his middle niece, Holly, encouraging her when she missed a catch and lavishing praise when she managed to land the ball. In between, he chased after Beth, the youngest, and tossed her into the air until she was breathless with delight. He even managed to tease his oldest niece, Amanda, and tug gently on her pigtails as she fed Desirée, one of the mares in the nearby corral. He clearly adored his nieces, and the feeling appeared mutual. And there was no shortage of attention from Joel, either, who mercilessly tormented the girls with tickling. Both men were totally at ease with children, which brought to Paige’s mind how impatient Anthony had been with little ones, how unwilling to interact with them. At the time, she’d written off his remoteness to lack of experience with toddlers, but now understood that children hadn’t been a part of Anthony’s plan.
Josh, however, was a natural-born nurturer. Loving. Kind. Patient. He exhibited those qualities with his nieces, and he’d displayed them with her, too. Josh was everything Anthony hadn’t been-a tender, giving lover, a faithful friend, and someone with the potential to be a caring, loving father.
Her throat closed up, and she blamed the rush of emotion on the hormonal imbalance that seemed to have had
her in its grip for the past week. She’d been on an emotional roller coaster and wasn’t surprised that something as simple as witnessing Josh’s ease with children would reduce her to a melancholic state.
In the distance she heard a telephone ring. A minute later, Anna opened the screen door and poked her head out
“Audrey, that was Vince on the phone,” she said as she dried her hands on a terry towel. “He wanted to let you know he’d be a few hours late. He just arrested a drunk driver and has to get him booked and a report written.”
“Thanks, Anna.” Audrey cast the other woman an easy smile, her hand resting on her distended belly. “If he doesn’t make it for dinner, I’ll take some leftovers home for him.”
It amazed Paige that Audrey could sound so matterof-fact about Vince’s last-minute cancellation. Anthony had done the same thing, backing out of dates or engagements without warning due to work, or just plain not showing up for dinner when she’d been expecting him, but she’d never grown used to his erratic schedule.
How did Anna and Audrey make dealing with their husbands’ profession look so easy and uncomplicated?
Unable to help herself, she spoke her thoughts out loud. “Don’t you ever worry about what Vince does for a living?”
Audrey tilted her head and regarded her speculatively through kind, blue eyes. “That’s an odd question coming from someone who was married to a vice cop.” Her tone was wry.
She shrugged lightly. “That’s probably why I’m more sensitive about it.” She’d worried plenty about Anthony’s safety, spent too many sleepless nights wondering where he was and if he was okay. And when he didn’t come home at the end of his shift, or call, the concern increased to the point of anxiety.
“I used to worry, all the time,” Audrey admitted. “But that kind of stress doesn’t do me, or the girls, any good.” Her gaze touched on the three imps playing a game of freeze tag with Josh and Joel, then traveled back to Paige. Her eyes reflected a deep, abiding love for her family. “I’ve accepted what Vince does for a living, because I know he loves his job. I would never ask him to choose between me and his career. We’ve got a strong marriage, and when he’s home, he gives me and the girls one hundred percent. That’s more than most husbands give their wives and family.”
It had been more than Anthony had given her.
“Respect, trust and an open line of communication,” Audrey continued wisely. “That’s the foundation of any successful marriage. If you have those elements, you can handle any other obstacles that might get thrown into the mix.”
Paige desperately wanted to believe the other woman’s advice, but her own personal experience had left a bitter taste in her mouth, had hollowed out the depths of her souL
Her gaze automatically sought out Josh, and he glanced toward the house and waved, a roguish grin canting his mouth. She waved back, unable to stop the wild beating of her heart or the liquid heat that quickened her blood. He had that kind of effect on her senses.
She respected Josh. She trusted him with her life. They communicated on a level she and Anthony hadn’t come close to reaching. But after the harsh lessons she’d learned during her marriage to Anthony, Paige realized a greater concern.
She feared she’d be the one who couldn’t give Josh the one hundred percent their relationship deserved.
9
UNABLE TO SLEEP, despite how relaxed her body and mind were, Paige scoured the bookshelf in the guest bedroom for something to read. She was still basking in the warmth, teasing and family harmony that had carried through the evening. There was so much love evident in this household, and none of the Marchianos minded sharing that affection with her. With Anthony, she’d felt so alone for so long, craving the kind of kinship no phone call home could ease. At least for the weekend, she felt she belonged to this crazy, loving, wonderful family. And soon she’d be back in Connecticut with her own parents and siblings.
Skimming past the true-crime paperbacks to the next row down, Paige selected a short romance novel with a light premise, propped her pillows against the headboard of her bed and settled in for a few hours’ escape.
Minutes later, a quiet knock sounded at the door. Before she could issue an invitation, Josh slipped inside her room, closing the door soundlessly behind him. He’d changed from his casual attire of that afternoon into a pair of soft cotton pajama shorts and nothing else. His chest was gloriously bare, his body firmly muscled. Considering he slept beside her in his briefs on a nightly basis, she would have thought she’d have grown immune to the sight of his toned body. But it never failed to elicit a delicious heat and excitement, and forbidden thoughts that had no business being in her head.
Holding a plate with a slice of German chocolate cake on it, he moved toward the bed. “Hi,” he murmured, an irresistible grin curving across his mouth.
The warm, sexy rumble of his voice made her increasingly aware of the skimpy chemise she’d grabbed from the boutique to wear. At the time, she hadn’t given much thought to night visitors or bringing along a robe to cover up. The silky material, held up by thin straps, covered her adequately from breast to thigh, yet the snug bodice displayed enough cleavage to draw Josh’s eye and make her self-conscious.
“Hi, yourself.” Setting the book aside, she tugged her covers a little higher. “Are you sure you should be in here?”
He hesitated at the opposite side of the bed. “Don’t you want me here?”
“Of course I want you here,” she replied, her response honest. “I always enjoy talking to you. But isn’t everyone in bed for the night?”
“Yeah, which means my parents will never know I was here.” He sounded like a mischievous little boy getting away with something sneaky. Without asking, he pulled down the covers, fluffed up the pillow and slipped into bed beside her as if he belonged there, all the while balancing that huge piece of cake. Settling in, he shoved a bite into his mouth and chewed. “So, you couldn’t sleep either, huh?”
He sat so close, her next breath was filled with the warm, male scent of him. And the fragrance of chocolate. The powerful combination went straight to her head. “No, but I feel totally relaxed.”
“That’s exactly what I want to hear.” He lifted his fork to her mouth, tempting her with a piece slathered in rich frosting. “Want a bite?” His smile was wolfish and daring.
It wasn’t sweets she suddenly craved. “No, thanks. I’m still full from dinner.” She watched him devour the slice in record time and shook her head. “Isn’t that your third piece tonight?”
“Yeah,” he said, unrepentant. The last bite disappeared between his lips and he closed his eyes to savor the taste.
Her gaze dropped to his lips, watching the way his tongue licked away the crumbs and frosting there. Her stomach fluttered and an achy emptiness grew inside her. Struggling to keep her need for this man at bay, she poked him in his firm abdomen and teased, “You’d better be careful, Detective Marchiano, or you’re gonna get soft around the middle.”
His lashes lifted, and a frown wrinkled his forehead, as if the possibility concerned him. “You think so?”
Her mouth tipped up in a grin. “Keep eating like that and you will.”
“No worry there.” Setting the plate on the nightstand next to him, he rolled onto his side to face her and propped himself up with his elbow. The movement twisted the covers around his hips, made them slide down to her waist. His dark, smoky eyes didn’t miss that fact, or the sight of her nipples beading against silk. “Once we get home I’ll be back to my steady regimen of coffee, fruit on the run and prefab microwave dinners, when I remember to eat.” He rubbed his flat belly. “That bland diet always keeps me fit and trim.”
“Microwave dinners?” Infusing her tone with feigned pity, she reached out and with her palm, caressed the light stubble lining his jaw. “Aww, poor baby.”
He caught her hand before she could withdraw it, and just like that, the spark between them flared to life. She saw the magical awareness in his gaze
, felt it in the subtle tightening of her body. His eyes seemed to pull her into their golden depths, seducing her, leaving her breathless with anticipation.
Bringing her fingers to his lips, he touched the tips with his tongue, let his warm breath caress the dampness. A delicious shiver raced up her arm, pooled heavily in private places.
That lazy smile of his slowly eased up the corner of his mouth. “If you genuinely felt sorry for me, you’d marry me and make sure I got three healthy meals a day.” His voice held an odd tightness, despite its casual, humorous tone.
A growing pressure banded her chest, painful in its intensity. She wanted to believe he was joking, but knew beneath all that charm and seduction his words were as serious as an out-and-out proposal. She let him down as gently as possible. “You wouldn’t be home most of the time to eat dinner, let alone breakfast and lunch.”
He absently stroked the inside of her wrist with his thumb, generating tiny circles of heat. “If I had you to come home to, you could bet I’d make every effort to enjoy every meal and then some.”
Sadness and regret flickered through her. “That kind of devotion ends once the honeymoon is over.”
Promises of forever shimmered in his gaze. “It doesn’t have to.”
“In my experience, it does,” she argued.
Somewhere along the way, their conversation had taken a personal spin, their words filled with meaning. Josh wanted her in his life, intimately and permanently; she couldn’t bring herself to commit her heart and soul, and a man like Josh would accept no less.
He didn’t push the issue, though she caught a fleeting glimpse of frustration in his expression. He released her hand, severing the tie between them, and Paige felt as though she were adrift, with no anchor in sight. She fought an overwhelming urge to cry for everything she’d lost in that single moment and blamed it on those unruly hormones flowing through her body.
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