He found her curled up on the sofa against the window, fast asleep. His day had been quite frantic with back-to-back meetings that had kept him out of the office. A crisis at the Penn Street demolition site had taken most of the chunk of the day. He had called and asked her to stay behind.
"I'm sorry darling, but I have to sort this out. Don't leave."
Of course, he had heard from Lorilee that she had been rude to her. He had had to put the woman in her place.
Crossing the room, he sat on the edge of the sofa and carefully brushed the hair from her forehead. He also felt guilty. He had been the one to hasten things along, by making certain everyone in the company knew about their relationship and had left her alone to deal with the backlash.
Sitting there and staring at her, he felt emotions tumbling around inside him and melting the ice he had formed over his heart. Shaking his head, he wondered how she had managed to get under his skin and find the heart of him. It had taken such a short time to have the love blowing through him like a summer storm. Now his life would never be the same again.
She stirred, her eyelids flickering open. A smile came and twisted his heart into knots. She looked so damn sexy, with that sleepy look about her. He just had to kiss her.
"Hi."
"Hi," she murmured. "You're back."
"Sorry I'm late. You were tired."
"And nauseous." She stretched languidly and reached up to wrap her arms around his neck.
Lifting her up, he placed her on his lap. "Any retching?"
She shook her head.
"I heard you had quite a day as well." Amusement laced his tone. "You threatened Lorilee's job?"
"Who? Oh." She fiddled with his sweater and refused to meet his eyes. "She was being a bitch." Her eyes flickered up to meet his. "And sounded quite like a jealous lover. Did you sleep with her?"
His thick brows arched. In the past, no woman had ever dared ask him anything that personal, he would not have tolerated it. But with her, with the woman who held his heart in her slender fingers, he would answer anything.
"You know better than that."
"That does not answer the question."
"And I'm not going to. You know you're the first and only. I never crossed the line before." He brushed his fingers over her cheek. "You've ruined my very fierce and formerly ruthless reputation."
"Should I apologize?" she asked him archly.
"One would be good." Tilting her head up, he pleased himself by laying his lips on hers and giving her a good long kiss that stirred them both up. Ending the kiss, he pressed his forehead on hers and took a deep fortifying breath as the madness waged war inside him.
"Lorilee is incredibly good at her job." He lifted his head to stare at her. "I poached her from a competitor because she knows how to weave a story and do damage control."
Using his thumb, he wiped the moisture from her bottom lip.
"I told her about the pregnancy," she said defiantly.
"So, she said." His expression was neutral and gave her nothing. All day she had been concerned about that and wondered how he would feel.
"I asked you to wait." She was searching his face but could not find anything.
"That you did." His eyes met hers. "Was that a punishment for going ahead?"
"I was pissed off at the woman and I wanted to rattle her." She shrugged. "Now, I'm beginning to think it's not such a good idea."
"She's discreet and loyal, because I pay her to be. She'll keep the knowledge to herself until I say otherwise."
Her eyes flashed as an image of the chic brunette flashed through her head. "Is that what you want? To hide the fact that I'm pregnant with another man's baby?"
Lifting her off his lap, he rose and went to press the button for the cabinet. "It's been a hell of a long day." Uncapping the bottle of scotch, he poured a finger into the glass. "Have you eaten?" He turned towards her.
