Page 88 of Lawbreaker

“Your family is terrific,” he said. “My grandparents were like your parents. They were good people. They had nothing to do with anything outside the law. Maybe if I’d been left with them, I’d have turned out better.”

“There’s nothing wrong with you,” she said indignantly.

He studied her curiously. “You can’t have been around Stasia all this time without knowing something about my past.”

“Of course not.”

He scowled. “And it doesn’t bother you?”

“It does,” she confessed. “Because I kept hearing about the death threats against you.”

He was fascinated. “I meant the things I’ve done.”

She searched his eyes. “I worried about what might happen to you,” she said simply, and flushed when he kept staring. “Even though you just tolerated me while all that business was going on, when you were in danger.”

“I tolerated you because I could have eaten you like candy, even then,” he said gruffly.

Her heart raced. He drew her up closer and bent to her mouth, then kissed her slowly, insistently, his lips demanding but tender, nurturing. Her hand slid up to his hard cheek and rested there while she drowned in joy.

He lifted his head, his breath a little quick. “You missed those first steps with boys and went in headfirst with me,” he said huskily. “I hope you don’t regret it.”

She shook her head slowly, searching his face with eyes that adored it. “No way.”

“One day...” he began.

She put her fingers over his sensual mouth and smiled. “There isn’t any ‘one day,’” she pointed out. “There’s today. Right now.”

He chuckled softly and kissed her again. “Okay. That’s the way we’ll play it.”

She curled up against him. She’d never been so happy in her whole life.

His big hand tangled softly in her hair. He felt the same way. His life had been empty until now. He’d had women in it, he’d made lots of money. But there hadn’t been this incredible joy, this feeling of warmth that burst inside him. Women had never had such an effect on him. He’d loved his first wife, but even that experience hadn’t had this intensity. Everything felt new and bright and shiny.

He glanced at the thin gold watch on his wrist. “I have to make a couple of phone calls and then I’m going to turn in.” He got up and pulled her up and kissed her to within an inch of her life.

When he let go, she was breathless and her were eyes were so bright with joy that they almost blinded him.

He smiled slowly. He loved her reaction to him. “What would you like to do on the weekend?” he asked. “Ballet? Broadway show? Opera?”

“Anything,” she whispered, her eyes riveted to his. “As long as we go together.”

His heart jumped. He’d been so careful to keep her at arm’s length, but now he was really in over his head. There was no way out. And he didn’t care. He was happier than he’d ever been.

He sighed. “Okay. We’ll decide in the morning.”

“Have you heard from Mrs. Murdock?”

He nodded. “She called earlier, when I was answering calls in the office,” he said. “They’re still running tests and talking to specialists.” He touched her soft mouth. “It’s just as well. I’m not ready for you to leave.”

She grinned.

He bent and kissed her nose. “Go to sleep.”

“You, too.”

He let her go. “We’ll go walking in the park in the morning, how about that? Unless you’d rather go shopping?”

She shook her head. “Walking is nice, especially on days when it’s just a little nippy and the leaves are turning. I love this time of year!” She sighed. “The only thing I love more is when the Christmas decorations go up. I love to see the bright colors everywhere, and the big Christmas tree over the ice-skating rink. The holidays back home are lovely, but New York is flashy. I adore it!”