Page 34 of Her Fantasy Husband

“A symptom of what?”

“It doesn’t matter. Anyway, floating in that lifeboat afterward, realizing how close I’d come to dying, I decided to change that. A couple of other guys were with me, and we all made these vows to go back and change something in our lives. And I vowed to have sex.”

“Because to have sex you first needed to sort out the other stuff that was holding you back? Mainly your marriage to me.”

She was bright. “Yeah. And once I’d decided, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. So I need that annulment.” Christ he sounded like a selfish bastard.

“And…last night didn’t help?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and sat back. “Made it worse. I haven’t felt this horny since… Hell, I’veneverfelt this horny.”

“Oh.” She thought for a moment, licked her lips, cast a quick glance at his face and then away. “We could…”

He knew exactly what she was suggesting, and the blood shot to his groin. He ignored the sensation. “No, wecouldn’t. I want no-strings-sex, not married sex.”

“I don’t have any strings.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment.

“Hmm. How about I give you some sort of dispensation. Say it’s all right, that you can go out and have your no-strings-sex, and I don’t mind.”

“You don’t?”

She tossed him a haughty look. “Why would I?”

Because you want me, baby.But he kept those words to himself. They wouldn’t help. “No can do. I’d stillfeellike I’m cheating.” He’d thought about it, had been eyeing up women all morning. Sally was beautiful, and in the past, she’d made it more than clear that she’d be there if he needed anything—anything at all. But he couldn’t envisage it happening.

“Jesus, you’re difficult.” Lexi scowled at him.

“We men can be single-minded.”

“Maybe we can get you some bromide or something to add to your coffee.”

He chuckled. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed. Logan was right—he was a miserable bastard.

Her eyes widened at the sound, and she stared at him. Without thought, he found himself inching closer along the sofa.

Whoa. Don’t go there. Not happening, remember.

But somehow he couldn’t seem to stop. She still clutched her cup in her small hand, and he pried it free and placed it on the coffee table. He wasn’t going to do anything. Really, he wasn’t. Just maybe see if her skin was as soft as it looked. He reached out and trailed a finger down the curve of her cheek. Softer. And warm. He traced over her full lower lip, and her breath feathered his fingertip, sending shivers down his arm.

He was leaning in, intent on her parted lips, when her cell phone rang. She jumped, and he jerked back as she cleared her throat and rummaged in her bag. She pulled out the phone, got to her feet, and talked for a moment, though the words made no sense to him.

He was in big trouble.

He needed to stay far away from Lexi until he had sorted this out. He was obviously not to be trusted around her. So the answer was distance.

She popped the phone back in her bag and turned to him. “That was Sadie—my secretary. Apparently, my grandmother and Daniel are on the way. I have to go.”

“We still haven’t worked out what we’re going to do.”

“I’ll call later. If I deal with this, maybe they’ll disappear back to New York.”

“You want me to come with you?” The words were out before he could think better of them. Where had that idea come from? She wasnothis responsibility. It was nothing to do with him that the brightness had faded from her eyes as she spoke on the phone. But he realized he didn’t want her facing that couple alone. She shouldn’t have to.

She frowned. “Why?”

“Moral support.”

“I don’t need moral support. I’ve managed so far.”

Why was he pushing this? “We can have lunch afterward and discuss our divorce in a nice, civilized manner.” Except she didn’t make him feel civilized.

She studied him for a moment longer, head cocked to one side. “Civilized?” She gave a quick nod. “Okay.” And with that she was gone.

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