and managed to carry their lunch and two bags inside. He returned for the others.
Dana laughed. “Now I know why my mom never let my dad go shopping alone.” She unloaded the bags. "Flowers, thank you.” The sight of the candy earned him a punch. “The bear made her smile. “You can put it in Jenny’s cradle after we eat.”
Simon opened the insulated bag and removed their lunch. Dana poured fresh iced tea for them.
One bite of the burger brought a growl of pleasure from Simon. “I’d forgotten how great these were.”
“Me, too,” Dana said. “Been two years since I had one.”
“Why so long?”
“They’re peasant food, don’t you know. Randy wouldn’t eat anything so common. We always dined at the best restaurants or ate at home.”
Simon heard shades of irony in her voice and felt hopeful. If she’d loved Randy, the love had ended before the marriage. “Sounds like the snob I remember.”
Dana laughed. “No comment.” She scooped one of the large fries covered with cheese into her mouth. “When are you leaving town?”
“I’ll head back after I meet Matt.”
“Hope it turns out the way you want.”
He rose and cleared the table. “This is some huge house.”
She met his gaze. “Only the biggest and best for a Grantlan.” She turned away. “I have my maiden name back.”
“Why?”
“Part of the divorce agreement.” A monitor crackled. The baby’s cries filled the air. Dana rose and left the kitchen.
Simon opened the dishwasher. His cousin had been a real prick. Just how badly had Randy’s demands hurt Dana? Simon wondered if he would be around to learn.
He left the kitchen. When he reached the family room he halted. Emotions swarmed like wasps after something sweet. Dana held the baby to one of her breasts. He looked away. His cock throbbed. You are sick. He shook his head to dislodge lust-filled thoughts.
* * *
Dana saw Simon pause in the doorway. Abruptly he turned away. Her face heated. She’d forgotten the shawl she’d intended to use when she fed Jenny. Dana held the baby to her shoulder and patted the infant’s back. She hadn’t meant to embarrass Simon or herself. The shared meal had brought a yearning for them to be more than old friends. Had failing to use discretion been some unconscious act? She had no right to tease him. She wanted what she couldn’t have, especially when he planned to leave Fern Lake today.
With shaky hands Dana buttoned her blouse. She carried Jenny to the cradle. Would Simon leave now? She stroked the baby’s cheek. She should boot the computer, read her emails and listen to any phone messages. Instead, she wanted more time with Simon.
She crossed the room. “Thanks for all your help. I’m glad you were here.”
So am I.” Simon lowered his gaze. “I should have come years ago.”
“You must have had your reasons. We can’t change what happened.” He smiled. The one she remembered from years ago. Trickles of heat flowed beneath her skin.
As thought streamers of fire rolled through her body, she stepped closer. His arms circled her waist. His mouth touched hers. Dana dove into the flames. He stroked her back. Her hands rested on his shoulders. She wanted him. Though an impossible dream and much too soon, part of her didn’t care. She felt his hardness against her abdomen. There was one thing she could do.
Step by step they inched toward the couch. As they sat their lips parted.
“I can help you,” Dana said.
Simon stared. “We can’t.”
She ran her hands over his chest and felt his muscles quiver beneath her palms. She unbuttoned his shirt. “There things I can do. I’ve done them with you years ago.”
Simon grasped her wrists. “Dana, this isn’t the way and it’s not the time.” He pulled her close and devoured her mouth.
The drugging sensations of his kiss made her forget the thought that arose. He didn’t want her. She ran her hands over Simon’s chest. She’d never been this eager with
Dana laughed. “Now I know why my mom never let my dad go shopping alone.” She unloaded the bags. "Flowers, thank you.” The sight of the candy earned him a punch. “The bear made her smile. “You can put it in Jenny’s cradle after we eat.”
Simon opened the insulated bag and removed their lunch. Dana poured fresh iced tea for them.
One bite of the burger brought a growl of pleasure from Simon. “I’d forgotten how great these were.”
“Me, too,” Dana said. “Been two years since I had one.”
“Why so long?”
“They’re peasant food, don’t you know. Randy wouldn’t eat anything so common. We always dined at the best restaurants or ate at home.”
Simon heard shades of irony in her voice and felt hopeful. If she’d loved Randy, the love had ended before the marriage. “Sounds like the snob I remember.”
Dana laughed. “No comment.” She scooped one of the large fries covered with cheese into her mouth. “When are you leaving town?”
“I’ll head back after I meet Matt.”
“Hope it turns out the way you want.”
He rose and cleared the table. “This is some huge house.”
She met his gaze. “Only the biggest and best for a Grantlan.” She turned away. “I have my maiden name back.”
“Why?”
“Part of the divorce agreement.” A monitor crackled. The baby’s cries filled the air. Dana rose and left the kitchen.
Simon opened the dishwasher. His cousin had been a real prick. Just how badly had Randy’s demands hurt Dana? Simon wondered if he would be around to learn.
He left the kitchen. When he reached the family room he halted. Emotions swarmed like wasps after something sweet. Dana held the baby to one of her breasts. He looked away. His cock throbbed. You are sick. He shook his head to dislodge lust-filled thoughts.
* * *
Dana saw Simon pause in the doorway. Abruptly he turned away. Her face heated. She’d forgotten the shawl she’d intended to use when she fed Jenny. Dana held the baby to her shoulder and patted the infant’s back. She hadn’t meant to embarrass Simon or herself. The shared meal had brought a yearning for them to be more than old friends. Had failing to use discretion been some unconscious act? She had no right to tease him. She wanted what she couldn’t have, especially when he planned to leave Fern Lake today.
With shaky hands Dana buttoned her blouse. She carried Jenny to the cradle. Would Simon leave now? She stroked the baby’s cheek. She should boot the computer, read her emails and listen to any phone messages. Instead, she wanted more time with Simon.
She crossed the room. “Thanks for all your help. I’m glad you were here.”
So am I.” Simon lowered his gaze. “I should have come years ago.”
“You must have had your reasons. We can’t change what happened.” He smiled. The one she remembered from years ago. Trickles of heat flowed beneath her skin.
As thought streamers of fire rolled through her body, she stepped closer. His arms circled her waist. His mouth touched hers. Dana dove into the flames. He stroked her back. Her hands rested on his shoulders. She wanted him. Though an impossible dream and much too soon, part of her didn’t care. She felt his hardness against her abdomen. There was one thing she could do.
Step by step they inched toward the couch. As they sat their lips parted.
“I can help you,” Dana said.
Simon stared. “We can’t.”
She ran her hands over his chest and felt his muscles quiver beneath her palms. She unbuttoned his shirt. “There things I can do. I’ve done them with you years ago.”
Simon grasped her wrists. “Dana, this isn’t the way and it’s not the time.” He pulled her close and devoured her mouth.
The drugging sensations of his kiss made her forget the thought that arose. He didn’t want her. She ran her hands over Simon’s chest. She’d never been this eager with
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