Page 21 of Baby Daddy

“Because, as you pointed out, Iwas partially responsible for getting you fired.” He pulled into traffic, pleased that she hadn’t insisted he offload her at the nearest bus stop. Seeing him bare-chested must have thrown her good and proper. He’d have to remember that. “This way, Ihave a chance to redeem myself.”

“Oh. Okay, then. You can help.”

He half expected her agreement to sound grudging. It didn’t. It came across as generous. As though she was helping him. The sheer illogic of it amused him no end. She didn’t want his assistance finding a job because it ran counter to her independent nature. But if her compliance would make him feel better, she was happy to go along. Crazy woman. He slid her a quick look. Crazy, kissable woman.

“You never did say what you were doing at the café,” she prompted, the beginning of a frown puckering herbrow.

“I came to talk to you about the Yellow Rose.” That much was true enough. He wouldn’t mention his other reason. With luck, he’d just do it, assuming the opportunity presented itself.

Her frown deepened. “I was afraid of that.”

“I know you’re not happy about these dates, so I thought we’d go over your application privately and rerun it. That way, we can make sure you’re matched with the best possible candidate.”

“I don’t want to date anyone.”

“I understand that. But for Hutch’s sake, you’re going to have to. Ifigured you should at least have a decent selection of men.” Damned magnanimous of him, all things considered. Not that Cassidy saw it thatway.

She set her chin in a manner identical to Hutch. So that’s where the little squirt had learned it. “I don’t want even one man, let alone a whole slew of them.”

“I wasn’t exactly offering a slew,” he retorted, vaguely insulted. “Just a couple of alternatives.”

With a little sigh, she leaned back against the seat. Her careworn hands bunched the skirt of her dress, pleating the light blue folds before smoothing out the creases. “Hutch thinks he’s being helpful.”

“I know.” He waited.

“I’m... I’m not interested in a relationship.”

“I know that, too.”

“So why are you doing this? Why agree to date me?”

For a brief instant, he was tempted to explain about the kiss. Considering how skittish she was about this dating business, he thought better of it. Instead, he decided to show her. He pulled the pickup to the curb outside her apartment complex and switched off the engine.

Unbuckling his seat belt, he leaned across the space separating them and unfastened hers, as well. “What happened last time made me curious.”

She stilled, freezing up so fast it felt like a blue norther had lost its way and come screaming down on San Antonio, bringing with it a blast of icy arctic air. “What are you talking about?” She knew. Knew, but refused to admit it aloud.

“I’m talking about that kiss.”

Her misty gray eyes widened in alarm. But he caught the momentary glimmer of another reaction, as well. Ahint of answering curiosity. “Nothing happened,” she protested. “We barely even touched lips.”

Ever so cautiously, he cradled her face in his palms. Her skin was soft. So soft he worried about scraping her with the roughness of his hands. “Then there’s nothing to be concerned about.”

“I’m not,” she fibbed.

The lie was so blatantly transparent, he didn’t bother calling her on it. “Good. So this time when I kiss you, you won’t get angry, right?”

While she took a few precious seconds to weigh the pros and cons of her response to that one, he eased her deeper into his embrace. She didn’t resist, didn’t protest, so he did what came naturally. He kissed her. Fully. Like he’d wanted to ever since that last aborted encounter. Their lips met as thoughthey’d practiced a thousand times before. Joined easily, melded completely. She tasted incredible, like a brand new flavor he sensed would be his permanent favorite.

His reaction was as instantaneous as last time and far more intense—perhaps because it was a real kiss rather than a fleeting touch of lips. So much for needing further proof. One kiss and he’d know. And he did. Knew with every fiber of his being. Cassidy Lonigan was his future—asweet, hot, delicious, permanent sort of future.

He didn’t rush. The woman in his arms wasn’t a treat he intended to hurry. Hell, she wasn’t a treat at all. More like destiny. And one didn’t fight destiny any more than one galloped headlong through it. One worked toward it, fulfilled it, explored it. And enjoyed the hell out of it. He sank into her, intensifying the kiss. Yeah. One enjoyed every destined moment.

She made a small sound deep in her throat, an intriguing combination of surrender and rebellion. Her hands fattened on his shoulders even as her tongue crept into his mouth, slipping home like a thief in the night. It surprised him. He’d never thought Cassidy a woman of half measures. She struck him as the all-or-nothing type. And she proved it the next instant.

Rolling onto one hip, she wrapped her arms in a stranglehold around his neck and slanted her mouth more fully over his. And then she consumed him as if he was an ice-cold dessert served up on a scorching hot afternoon. She wriggled closer and her knee plowed onto his lap, damn near emasculating him. Sheer instinct had him catching her leg just in the nick of time, his palm rasping across her bareskin.

Her gasp burst into his mouth and he absorbed the slight shudder that shot through her. Curious to confirm the cause, he stroked his hand upward from her knee. Her pulse jolted inresponse and a soft moan of longing reverberated against his chest. How long had it been since she’d last been touched, he wondered, since a man had slipped a hand beneath her dress and given her pleasure? Had anyone ever caressed the sensitive skin along her thighs or massaged the taut muscles of her legs until she relaxed so deeply she couldn’t move? Did anyone ever see to her needs, or was she the one who always gave? It struck him as past time that she be on the receiving end of a littleTLC.

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