the edges of a passion that had been so strong it had created a life.
His hands moved over her back as she slid hers up around his neck and their kiss deepened, merging them into a perfect moment and sheer pleasure in each other’s arms.
Jonathon’s quiet moan as he began to grow hard for her, against her body as he held her close, seemed to wake them from their love dream and break the spell that they were both lost in.
She gasped and looked up at him and his eyes grew wide as he reluctantly let her go, his mouth and body wanting more of her as he hesitated, and then made himself step back from her. She tried to catch her breath and she looked away from his handsome face.
“I’m sorry...” he whispered hoarsely. “I... I don’t know how...” He shook his head and looked away. “I’m sorry. I had no business doing that.”
She bit her lip. “I was doing it, too. I... it’s just been a long time, you know, and you... uh... I’m sorry, too,” she said quietly.
He raised his eyebrows and drew a deep breath, trying to cool the flames in him. “A long time?” he asked lightly, wondering how long a time it had really been.
She laughed and put her hands on the stroller, shaking her head slightly. “Yeah, you know... two years.”
He stared at her. “You haven’t been with anyone since we...” He looked at Carly, and Maggie shook her head. “No. I’m a mommy now, Jonathon. There’s not a huge dating market for mommies.”
Jonathon nodded and turned so that they were shoulder to shoulder, walking again alongside the water.
“Well, if you want, I could babysit if you want to go out on a date. That is, if you find someone you like.” Even as he said it, something twitched in him and he felt possessive of her, not wanting her to find anyone to date. He tried to brush the jealousy aside, but it wouldn’t budge. He focused on his daughter and thought to himself as he walked along that he was rich with family, and it was the greatest gift he had ever had.
Maggie gave a soft laugh at the idea that she could find someone to date. “I’ll keep your babysitting offer in mind,” she told him. “I’ll let you know if I find someone,” she said. She was thinking just then that she didn’t want to find anyone; that she was walking next to the one that she liked. The one that she wanted and felt so much heat for. She was walking with her family. It was strange, and surreal, but as strange as it was, that was what they had. A patchwork family.
They spent the early evening playing in the park with Carly, having a wonderful time, laughing and loving being together, and then it was time for her to go to bed, and he took them both home and helped Maggie put their daughter to bed.
He walked out to the living room with her and hugged her warmly. “I’m sorry about before, maybe it’s just a little confusing; you know, trying to figure out how all of this goes. I didn’t mean to make things complicated... I hope we’re all right,” he said quietly, looking at her and holding her hands in his.
She nodded and smiled at him. “Hey, I gave in to it, too. I was right there kissing you back. We just need to work on being friends,” she said with a little laugh and a smile.
He nodded and leaned over to kiss her cheek, letting his lips linger there for a moment as he breathed her in, and then he stood back and let her go. “We’ll do that. We can make this work,” he said, and then he winked at her and walked out of her door.
Maggie watched him go and tried desperately to calm the fires of need that had fanned up in her, threatening to burn her from the inside out. She walked over to her purse and dropped her keys into it, and when she did, she saw the envelope from Keith poking out.
She lifted it out and opened it up and inside she found a card with a sweet and loving apology and a warm message welcoming her into their family. There was also a check for five hundred thousand dollars. Maggie clutched her
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