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Authors: Elizabeth August
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work.”
“Marriage should be built on a foundation of love.”
His jaw hardened. “Very successful ones are built on a foundation of friendship and respect. And, we already know we’re physically compatible. I just want you to think about it.”
In her mind’s eye, Lisa could see Claudette standing beside him, her arm curled possessively around his. “No. I’ll marry you and I’ll allow Andy’s name to be changed to Logan, and I’ll sign all the papers necessary to make him legally your son, but I will never consider ours a real marriage and I won’t stay married to you after all the legalities have been completed.”
Slade considered trying to change her mind, but she would always want more than he was willing to give. “If that’s the way you want it, then that’s how it will be.”
Lisa’s stomach knotted and she realized she’d hoped he would give her some reason to believe that if she agreed to try to make their marriage work, he might allow her past the barriers and into his heart.
He wouldn’t let you in before , a small voice chided her. You were an idiot to even consider the possibility he’d change even for his son’s sake .
To her relief, the food arrived at that moment.
Almost too tired to eat, Lisa didn’t even try to make conversation. She ate, then crawled under the covers and went to sleep.
Slade continued to sit in his chair. Watching her as she slept, he felt an emptiness and knew that if he let down his guard, she could fill the void within him. He forced the image of his late wife to the forefront of his mind. The pain was stronger than the emptiness. Pulling his gaze away from Lisa, he, too, went to bed.
Chapter Five
S lade woke early the next morning. Seeing Lisa snuggled into her covers with her face nearly buried in her pillow brought back a fresh flood of memories of waking with her. Before he was in need of a cold shower, he rose and dressed.
Lisa had been feigning sleep. Opening her eyes just a crack as he rose, she felt her whole body flame at the sight of him. She was well aware that he preferred to sleep in the nude, but this morning he was wearing jockey shorts. She guessed this bit of modesty was out of courtesy to her. But in her mind’s eye she visualized him without them and the heat became even hotter. The temptation to give in to his wishes and to be a wife to him blossomed into life. He’ll never feel anything deeper than lust for you . She pushed the thought from her mind.
She waited until he’d gone into the bathroom, then rose and hurriedly dressed. The sooner they were out of this room the better. Even after all she’d been through withhim, the lust he evoked in her was close to overwhelming.
“Thought we’d get some breakfast from a fast-food place on our way to Grady’s,” she said when Slade came back into the room. “I’d like to catch him before he heads out to his office.”
For a long moment Slade stood, his gaze traveling over her, and Lisa saw that morning lust look in his eyes. Then his expression became shuttered. “Right,” he said, and continued past her to retrieve his holstered gun.
The realization that if he’d touched her, there was a strong possibility her resistance would have crumbled and she would have gone into his arms shook her to the core. Don’t you dare weaken , she ordered herself, and continued on into the bathroom to splash cold water on her face.
A short while later she and Slade were back at Grady’s house. Slade pressed the intercom button but again received no response.
“Nobody’s home,” a male voice called.
Lisa looked to the sidewalk and saw a man with a Great Dane on a leash, obviously out for a morning stroll. Climbing out of the car, she gave him her best smile. “We’re looking for Mr. Grady.”
Slade had climbed out of the car and the man’s gaze shifted to him. “You don’t look like local law enforcement,” he said, coming closer for a better view of the badge Slade was wearing.
“Marriage should be built on a foundation of love.”
His jaw hardened. “Very successful ones are built on a foundation of friendship and respect. And, we already know we’re physically compatible. I just want you to think about it.”
In her mind’s eye, Lisa could see Claudette standing beside him, her arm curled possessively around his. “No. I’ll marry you and I’ll allow Andy’s name to be changed to Logan, and I’ll sign all the papers necessary to make him legally your son, but I will never consider ours a real marriage and I won’t stay married to you after all the legalities have been completed.”
Slade considered trying to change her mind, but she would always want more than he was willing to give. “If that’s the way you want it, then that’s how it will be.”
Lisa’s stomach knotted and she realized she’d hoped he would give her some reason to believe that if she agreed to try to make their marriage work, he might allow her past the barriers and into his heart.
He wouldn’t let you in before , a small voice chided her. You were an idiot to even consider the possibility he’d change even for his son’s sake .
To her relief, the food arrived at that moment.
Almost too tired to eat, Lisa didn’t even try to make conversation. She ate, then crawled under the covers and went to sleep.
Slade continued to sit in his chair. Watching her as she slept, he felt an emptiness and knew that if he let down his guard, she could fill the void within him. He forced the image of his late wife to the forefront of his mind. The pain was stronger than the emptiness. Pulling his gaze away from Lisa, he, too, went to bed.
Chapter Five
S lade woke early the next morning. Seeing Lisa snuggled into her covers with her face nearly buried in her pillow brought back a fresh flood of memories of waking with her. Before he was in need of a cold shower, he rose and dressed.
Lisa had been feigning sleep. Opening her eyes just a crack as he rose, she felt her whole body flame at the sight of him. She was well aware that he preferred to sleep in the nude, but this morning he was wearing jockey shorts. She guessed this bit of modesty was out of courtesy to her. But in her mind’s eye she visualized him without them and the heat became even hotter. The temptation to give in to his wishes and to be a wife to him blossomed into life. He’ll never feel anything deeper than lust for you . She pushed the thought from her mind.
She waited until he’d gone into the bathroom, then rose and hurriedly dressed. The sooner they were out of this room the better. Even after all she’d been through withhim, the lust he evoked in her was close to overwhelming.
“Thought we’d get some breakfast from a fast-food place on our way to Grady’s,” she said when Slade came back into the room. “I’d like to catch him before he heads out to his office.”
For a long moment Slade stood, his gaze traveling over her, and Lisa saw that morning lust look in his eyes. Then his expression became shuttered. “Right,” he said, and continued past her to retrieve his holstered gun.
The realization that if he’d touched her, there was a strong possibility her resistance would have crumbled and she would have gone into his arms shook her to the core. Don’t you dare weaken , she ordered herself, and continued on into the bathroom to splash cold water on her face.
A short while later she and Slade were back at Grady’s house. Slade pressed the intercom button but again received no response.
“Nobody’s home,” a male voice called.
Lisa looked to the sidewalk and saw a man with a Great Dane on a leash, obviously out for a morning stroll. Climbing out of the car, she gave him her best smile. “We’re looking for Mr. Grady.”
Slade had climbed out of the car and the man’s gaze shifted to him. “You don’t look like local law enforcement,” he said, coming closer for a better view of the badge Slade was wearing.
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