Page 196

Aha! See!

“But that’s not why I approached you in the bar. You looked familiar, not fast. Yes, you were sexy and gorgeous with a killer body and eyes that make my cock take notice, but you felt familiar. You felt different, right, in a way other women don’t. And when I tasted you…”

Her knees weakened as his lips brushed against hers.

“There was no going back. There is no going back. You feel it too, Kat. I know you do.”

“I…”Do not say it. Do not tell him you want him. “I don’t want to be a hookup.”

His eyes narrowed, and his voice filled with desire. “What do you want to be?”

How the hell should I know?A girlfriend? A date? A lover? She was a woman who conquered her fears and took life by the horns, but she couldn’t come up with an answer to save her life. All she knew was that she wanted to besomethingto him, which was probably a very bad idea.

“When you’re ready to tell me what you want, let me know.” He released her, leaving her weak and confused as he picked up the coffee cup and headed for the door. He reached for the handle, and she swallowed to keep her heart from climbing out of her throat.

“I want what you can never be,” she finally managed.

He stopped with his hand midreach. His chin dropped, as if in defeat. He turned slowly, and the determination in his eyes was unmistakable. She swallowed hard at her misinterpretation of his actions as he closed the distance between them.

“How can you possibly know what I can and cannot be?” His tone was so dark and serious that it momentarily numbed her.

“You said you were all about fast women.”

“No. I said I havealways enjoyedfast women.”

“What is it with you andwords?” She crossed her arms, a barrier between his heat and her heart.

“Words are clear. If you use them well, they leave no room for misinterpretation.” His gaze softened. “I have alwaysenjoyedfast women. Past tense. That’s a true fact. But for whatever reason, I find myself completely and utterly captivated by you. I want to know everything about you, what fears you want to conquer, what emotions you’re hiding. I want to explore and enjoy you,Kat. Present tense.” He paused, and the silencepulsed and swelled between them. “So tell me, Kat. What is it that you want?”

The door to the patio slid open and Layla ran out, barreling into Kat. “Auntie Kat!”

Kat tore her eyes from Eric’s, relieved at the interruption. If they’d been alone for one more second, God only knew what answer she would have given him. The man was so intense, and everything he said was so impassioned, she was surprised the sparks between them didn’t ignite.

“Hey, sweetie!” She hugged Layla, eyeing Eric over her head and still floundering for an answer. “Look how tall you’ve grown, and your hair has gotten so long. You are gorgeous, just like your mom, but you look twelve, not ten.”

Layla giggled. “I’ve missed you so much. Mom’s giving Christian a bath and Daddy is making breakfast.” She was the spitting image of her mother, with cocoa-colored eyes, shiny dark hair, and a sparkling smile. She turned to Eric and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Uncle Eric, I’ve missed you, too.”

As Eric scooped Layla into his arms and kissed her cheek, the tension Kat had felt only moments ago disappeared. “I’ve missed you, too, kiddo.”

“Daddy said to tell you to stop bothering Auntie Kat and to go inside and help him cook breakfast.”

He set Layla down on the patio, but his focus never left the little girl. “Then I’d better go help. Your father is a mess in the kitchen.”

“No, he’s not,” Layla said with a laugh. “He loves to cook.”

Eric crouched beside her and whispered something in her ear that made Layla giggle. She looked up at Kat and nodded. Kat wondered what the heck he was whispering, but she wasn’t about to ask. Eric reached behind Layla’s ear, and when he opened his hand, there was a gold charm bracelet in his palm.

Layla gasped as he hooked the bracelet around her slender wrist and rose to his feet, then bowed dramatically. “I bid you farewell, my beautiful ladies.”

After he walked inside, Layla held her wrist up for Kat to admire the pretty bracelet with the heart charm dangling from it.

“That’s beautiful, Layla. Does Uncle Eric bring you gifts often?”

“Uh-huh. Sometimes he sends them in the mail with a card. He sends them to Christian, too.” She blinked up at Kat with mischief dancing in her eyes, and Kat felt her heart squeeze at Eric being so thoughtful. “He said soon you were going to call him Prince Eric.”

Kat’s jaw fell open. She remembered when Hugh and Brianna had first met, right before Layla’s sixth birthday, when Layla was going through a major princess phase. She’d called HughPrince Hugh. What in the hell would make Eric say such a thing to a little girl who obviously adored him? It was one thing to mess with her feelings, but a little girl’s?

She didn’t know how to respond, and she really didn’t know what to make of the man who was so sweet with Layla, fully engaged, warm, and loving, while he oozed sexuality and possessiveness with Kat. How would she make it through the weekend when every time they were close he nearly brought her to her knees with desire?