Free Accelerated Passion by Lily Harlem Page A

rule…”
    “He’s got another family, other siblings.”
    “That’s exactly it.” He turned. A frown creased his brow. “He has another family who are there every day for him, and I don’t want to upset that status quo. He’s happy, settled, content. We have fun together. I breeze in, spoil him rotten. We laugh, make memories. But that’s all it is.”
    “But he knows you, and he’ll grow up having you as part of his life. Small doses perhaps, but there.”
    “That’s what I hope.”
    “Seems to me you have it all figured out.”
    “You think?” He rubbed his chin.
    “It’s the best you can all do. A compromise. Seems to me Henri has come first in all of these decisions.”
    “He has, definitely.” He smiled. “And he’s a great kid. Doing well at school, speaks two languages fluently, just got a puppy who is driving his mother crazy, but he’s in love with it.”
    Frankie smiled. “It sounds like he’s thriving, and you can’t ask for more than that.”
    Dean ran his hand up his cheek then scrubbed his fingertips against his temple. “He is thriving.”
    “But it makes you miss him more after you’ve spent time together.”
    He set his gaze on her. “Yes. It makes me wonder if I made the right choices back then. Walking away, not proposing and settling in suburbia when she told me she was pregnant with my child.”
    Frankie stepped up to him. A wave of certainty washed through her. “We can only do what we feel is right at the time, no more and no less.” She looked up at his handsome face. “And you, Dean-World-Champion-three-times-over-Cudditch are a Formula One legend. The sport wouldn’t be the same without you. You push it up a level, push the other drivers, the mechanics, the evolution of the cars. You really think you’d be happy driving the school run in a Volvo estate?”
    “Well, I wouldn’t have gone that far.” He dropped his hand to his side.
    “Did you really want to marry Bridget?”
    “No, not at all. I didn’t even know her.” He shook his head. “But I bedded her. Shit. You must think I’m an asshole.”
    “No.” She smiled. “You like sex. So what?”
    “I do.” He stepped a little closer. “Like sex, that is.”
    She swallowed. “So you made the right decision. By not marrying her, I mean. If you didn’t even know her.”
    “Yeah. You’re right. It was a night of fun, nothing more.”
    Fuck. He liked sex. She liked sex, too—not that she was getting any. Was she really standing in Dean Cudditch’s bedroom, talking about illegitimate children and sex?
    It seemed she was.
    “Frankie…”
    His eyes had darkened to the color of the sky before a storm. His lips held a slight sheen to them—so damn kissable.
    “I should go.” She nodded at the door. “Shower, you know. I’m filthy…dirty…” She glanced down at herself.
    “Filthy and dirty? Not a bad way to be.”
    She frowned. “Get your mind from the gutter.”
    He tipped his head back and laughed. A deep booming sound.
    “What’s so funny?” She rammed her hands onto her hips.
    “You.”
    “Why?”
    “One minute, you’re one of the blokes. Then you’re a sweet girl and, to be honest, damn sexy with it. Then you’re being Miss Prim and Proper.”
    “I am not Miss Prim and Proper.”
    “So that’s the only one of those descriptions you object to?”
    He thinks I’m sweet and sexy?
    “Just remember.” She stabbed her finger against her chest then wished she hadn’t when she felt hard muscle beneath his T-shirt. Damn, what was she going to say? It had slipped her mind. Hard muscle, solid pecs…
    “Remember what?”
    “That I…”
    He raised his eyebrows. “What were you going to say, babe?”
    Ah, yes, that was it. Was it?
    “That if you call me babe again—”
    “I know. It’s burned into my brain. You’ll make sure I end the day without my nuts intact.”
    She frowned.
    “I just wondered what else might happen while you were down there. Can’t blame a guy.” He