His Miracle Bride

‘It is.’

‘So why aren’t you working?’

‘I have been working. I was out in the hall when I heard Wendy. Then I came up here to think.’

‘Am I stopping you thinking?’

‘Yes.’

‘There’s a blunt answer,’ she said, and chuckled. ‘Someone sensitive might take that to mean “shove off”.’

‘But you’re not sensitive?’

‘Nope.’

‘You should be in bed. You hardly slept last night. I’m sorry Wendy woke you.’

‘I’m not. It’s far more important to banish demons than sleep. You, as a Tarzan lookalike, should surely know that.’

‘Shanni…’

‘I know. I’m out of line.’ She stared out at the moonlit sea some more. It was almost getting boring, but otherwise she had to look at him, and looking at Pierce was really, really hard. ‘You and the kids are so needful.’

‘Will you cut it out?’

‘I’m not very good at butting out of what’s not my business.’ She shrugged and then smiled again. ‘Besides, it’s keeping my mind off my own troubles-and you are paying me for it.’

‘Paying you for what?’

‘For taking care of the children.’

‘So take care of the children,’ he snapped, sounding exasperated. ‘Leave me out of it.’

‘But you guys are all mixed up. You’re a family that’s not working.’

‘We are not a family.’ It was practically a roar, and she blinked and took a step back.

‘Whoa.’

‘I never meant…’

‘You never meant you’re not a family?’

‘Yes. No. Hell, Shanni.’

‘You’re terrified.’

‘I’m not. The kids will recover here. I’ll get the bulk of my work done. Then we’ll set our minds to find a proper housekeeper.’

‘It can’t work.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because you’re involved.’

‘I’m not involved.’

She paused, not sure where to go from here. This man was all macho male on the outside, but inside she was starting to see he was the same battered kid she’d met almost twenty years ago.

‘Hey, the human race isn’t scary,’ she whispered.

‘Isn’t it?’

‘No, it’s not,’ she said, and suddenly she reached out and took his hands. It was a gesture made almost before she knew what she was doing, but it felt right. His hands felt good in hers-big and warm and reassuring.

She was reassuring him, she thought, getting a bit confused. It was Pierce who was standing on the battlements looking like he was seeing ghosts. She wasn’t taking warmth-she was giving it.

Her blanket had fallen off.

‘It’s okay to fall for the kids,’ she said. ‘Love’s not really scary.’

‘Says the lady with the ice bucket.’

She chuckled. ‘See, if I hadn’t thought I’d fallen in love, I’d never have known what it was like to toss a bucket of ice water over a naked slimeball and his floozy.’

‘And that’s a plus?’

‘Definitely a plus.’

‘You’re nuts.’

‘I know,’ she said, gathering her dignity about her as best she could-slightly tricky when she was covered in pink pigs and her blanket was around her ankles. ‘But at least I’m not scared to have a go.’

‘At falling in love?’

‘At life,’ she said with dignity.

‘You’re saying I’m scared of life?’

‘Who knows?’ She stared up at him for a long moment. His face looked harsh in the moonlight, dark and angular and stern. But she knew what it was like when he smiled. She wanted him to smile again. Badly.

‘Come shopping with Wendy and me in the morning,’ she said. She was still holding his hands. For some reason, it seemed almost impossible to let them go.

‘I’m not sure what the set-up here is. Hamish and Susie may have plans.’

‘They do have plans. Their plans are to give the kids the best time they know how. If that involves us absconding with one small girl to make her happy…’

‘The others might get upset.’

‘Don’t you believe it. They look after each other, this lot, and if we explain Wendy needs some TLC I’ll bet they won’t make a single protest.’

‘TLC?’

‘What you need,’ she said. ‘Tender loving care.’

‘Shanni…’He pulled back with his hands, but she didn’t let go.

‘Stop looking terrified.’

‘I am not terrified.’

‘Are too.’

‘Let go.’

‘Of course I will,’ she said, and her stupid wayward mouth kept on working even though a lesser mortal-or a more sensible one-would have pulled back long since. ‘I’m battered, too, remember? No way am I sliding into another dumb relationship, so you’re safe with me. But you’re not safe from everyone, Pierce. You can’t stay in isolation for ever. It doesn’t even feel good.’

‘I don’t…’

‘You don’t know what it is to connect.’ She smiled, teasing, not sure that what she was doing was sensible or even possible. ‘It’s great. Just close your eyes and jump.’

And before he could say a word-before he could make a move to protect himself-she released his hands, she placed her own hands on the sides of his face and tugged him down. And she kissed him.

It was meant to be fun. It was meant to be different from the night before-a teasing, bantering kiss, a reminder to this aloof man that connecting could be fun. Maybe after last night she was crazy to make such a gesture. But she did, rightly or not. And what followed…

Her blanket had already fallen off, but now…more than her blanket fell off. Her prudence, her sanity, her dignity, all disintegrated in that tiny instant when his lips came in contact with hers.

It was crazy. It was ridiculous. Unlike last night, this time she’d meant to be a woman in control of the situation, teasing him a little, flirting, maybe even mocking.

But it wasn’t working. Because none of those descriptions of what she was doing fitted the reality of now.

She wasn’t teasing. Nor was she in control.

She was aware of one thing only. The feel of his lips on hers.

Wow.

As simple as that. Wow.

She’d kissed before-of course she’d kissed before-but where had this feeling been then? This sensation of heat-of fusing-of two halves coming together, connecting as if they’d been torn apart and had been trying to find their way together long since.

Heat…

The sensation of his lips touching hers sent fire right through her. She could feel it coursing from her toes to her fingertips.