One More Time - Louisa George Page 0,19

gravitas. ‘Okay, well, here’s an idea. You and Maitland Two could kiss and make up, at least at work. It would certainly stop us all having to duck for cover every time you meet.’

His eyebrows lifted, the message finally sinking into that messed-up brain of his. ‘That bad, huh? No one’s mentioned it before.’

‘That’s because you rule their world. Who would dare tell the marvellous Maitland twins off?’

‘You?’ For some reason that seemed to amuse him. ‘Why doesn’t that surprise me? But you’re probably right. It’s been going on so long it’s just the way we communicate. I guess it’s just habit now.’

‘Then go cold turkey, take a hypnosis course. Acupuncture? If you need help with the needles, I’m a pretty good shot.’ She jabbed the pen in his direction, sat back in her chair and fixed him with her best evil stare. ‘I know exactly where to stick them for maximum pain...er, effect.’

He leaned across the desk until his mouth was inches from hers. Kissing distance. Inhaling distance. Goddamn, the desk would never be big enough. ‘You certainly had maximum effect on me the other night, Nurse Radley.’

Heat shimmered between them. She caught her breath. It had all been going so well. She’d actually got him to see things from her point of view.

But now she just wanted to kiss him again. She looked at his mouth. The way his lips parted ever so slightly. They seemed to be infused with some kind of magnetic force that attracted her. Pulled her. Coaxed her forward. Inch by inch.

Until the only thing she was aware of was the lightest whisper of his breath.

Oh, no.

She shifted her gaze. Over his perfect nose. Past some freckles she hadn’t noticed before, dark, thick eyelashes. Up to his bright blue eyes. Saw the sparkle, the promise. The heat.

Bad move.

She swallowed and edged backwards out of immediate kissing range. ‘Your nephew needs a solid loving family behind him.’

‘And he has that. We all adore him. Surely you can see that everything we do, we do for Jamie?’ His hand cupped her chin. ‘You really care about him, don’t you? What’s that all about? What’s it to you?’

How the hell had this shifted to being about her?

At his touch her breath hitched. She couldn’t handle him touching her again, not here. Not ever. Didn’t want the flash of need that he instilled in her, which she’d just about kept under control for ten days. The way he made her forget everything. Made her feel alive and hopeful.

But, God, he felt good. Smelt good. And she knew how great he tasted.

Smacking her lips together, she moved his hand from her chin and tried to focus on the conversation. ‘I care about them all. That’s why I took up paediatric nursing. They don’t choose to get sick. They don’t choose to grow up in a world that’s fighting. Or have a say in how they’re parented. Or by who.’

She sucked in air, trying to clear the tight knot that had lodged in her stomach. It wouldn’t budge. And then it fused with the mish-mash of emotions Max stirred up in her until she didn’t know what she was doing. What she was saying.

She tried to refocus. ‘I want them all to have a nice life. Adults have too much to answer for.’ Before she realised it, he was on her side of the desk, standing over her, his hand in her hair. Fingertips stole their way up the back of her neck, into her ponytail. He tugged it loose. And she let him get away with it.

His mouth dipped to her ear. ‘Your kids are going to have a great mum. A bit scary...but you’ll be fighting their corner. That’s good.’ He didn’t mean anything by it. It was just a statement, but he’d hit a nerve. He made a habit of doing that one way and another. The man had a lot of annoying habits.

‘What’s that got to do with anything? I don’t want kids. A family. I don’t want any of that.’

‘Oh, yes, I forgot. You don’t want more. That right? You don’t want commitment. You don’t want more sex. And now you don’t want kids. Life’s just peachy as it is.’ His eyes darkened for a second, his breathing coming fast and erratic. She could feel how turned on he was as he pushed against her. ‘But you’re wrong, Gabby. All women want more.’

‘Well, I don’t.’ And she didn’t. She really didn’t.

But there was his mouth