Seduced by Metsy Hingle Page B

she had today.
    Remembering their earlier encounter, Michael thought about the way her eyes, that rich dark shade of coffee, had looked at him with such longing, how sweet her lips had tasted.
    His jeans grew painfully tight and Michael frowned, disturbed by how just the thought of her made him ache. Even more disturbing was that it was becoming more difficult to remember that his seduction of Amanda was part of his plan to save Summer.
    A flicker of guilt tugged at him again, but he pushed it aside. It wasn’t as if he would be using her and giving nothing in return. Theirs would be a true marriage in every sense of the word.
    The very thought of making love to Amanda, feeling, tasting all that beautiful soft skin, made his body burn even more.
    Muttering a curse, Michael shoved his bare feet into a pair of Top-Siders. The woman was not only messing up his plan but she had him feeling like a teenager.
    He didn’t like the feeling.
    Right now, he had to figure out a way to ease Amanda’s fears, whatever they were; otherwise, there was little chance she would fall in love with and marry him.
    Yanking open the bedroom door, Michael headed downstairs in search of Summer. “Hey, Shortstuff. Where are you?” he called out affectionately.
    â€œIn here, Uncle Mike.”
    Following the sound of her voice, Michael went into the den. Black-and-white saddle oxfords and a pair of white socks lay discarded next to the sofa. Still dressed in her pleated navy skirt and white blouse, Summer knelt in front of the wood-and-glass coffee table, her head bent over a stack of envelopes.
    Michael walked across the carpet and tweaked one of her long, black braids. “What are you doing?”
    She looked up at him out of those huge green eyes and smiled. “I’m addressing the invitations to my birthday party next week.” She held up one for him to inspect.
    â€œNice.” Stooping down beside her, he studied the bright red-and-yellow party invitation announcing the celebration of her eighth birthday at the Pizza Palace. He glanced over at the list written in her little girl script containing the names of her classmates. “Need any help?”
    â€œNope.” She shook her head and reached for another envelope. “This is the last one except for...” Summer paused and turned to Michael. “I’m inviting Sister Mary Grace and Mrs. Green to the party. Do you think it would be okay to invite Dr. Bennett, too?”
    â€œI don’t see why not,” Michael said, pleased by the idea.
    â€œDo you think she’ll come?”
    â€œI’m sure she will if she can. Amanda likes you a lot.”
    Summer’s face split into a big smile. “I like her a lot, too.”
    * * *
    The following Friday, Amanda knew she had made a mistake in coming to Summer’s birthday party. Despite the noise and chatter at the Pizza Palace, she was far too aware of Michael sitting directly across from her.
    Unable to stop herself, she watched Michael’s tongue flick tomato sauce from his bottom lip before he bit into the pizza.
    It’s lust, she told herself, ignoring the kick of emotion she had experienced when she’d walked in and seen him, looking sexy and appealing in charcoal jeans and an oxford shirt while he joked with the children.
    She admired and respected him for trying to make Summer’s first birthday without her mother a happy one, she told herself. Her feelings went no deeper than that. She wouldn’t allow them to.
    And as for her response to his kisses... He was an attractive man and an excellent kisser, she reasoned. Her reaction had been that of any healthy female.
    â€œWhat’s the matter? Have I got cheese stuck on my chin?”
    Amanda blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
    Michael wiped his mouth with a napkin, then grinned. “You were staring. And I thought maybe I’d smeared pizza sauce on my face.”
    Amanda could feel the color rise to