Free Back to the Heart by Sky Corgan Page B

not leaving in a week?”
    “Well, I do have to go back next Monday for a business meeting, but I’ll return as soon as I can. I’ve already talked things over with your mother, and she says she could use the extra help.”
    It took everything in Ana to contain the excited grin. But then her grin softened. What if he wasn’t telling her the truth? What if he was only saying he would stay so that she’d give in to him? She couldn’t allow herself to be fooled again.
    “So you’ll go on your business trip, and then you’ll come back?”
    “That’s the plan.” He nodded.
    “How long will you stay after that?”
    “However long it takes for you to realize what I knew from the moment I first laid eyes on you.” He was looking at her like a predator setting up for the kill. Ana’s heart beat faster in anticipation.
    “And what’s that?” She lowered her eyes, avoiding the intensity of his gaze.
    “That we’re meant to be together.” He caressed her cheek then, and she allowed herself the pleasure of his touch, pressing her face against his palm and closing her eyes. She wanted to believe so badly that this was how he truly felt. Because she felt it too. Any woman would be blessed to have his love. And maybe, just maybe, he was worth taking a chance for.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Ryan’s touch ignited something carnal and desperate inside of Ana, the need to feel sensual again, like a woman, not just a mother-to-be. Never in a million years had she thought she’d feel this passionate when she was pregnant. But here she was, sitting in the barn, waiting with bated breath for Ryan to take her to places she’d sworn she wouldn’t be going with any man for at least a few years after the baby was born.
    His hand felt so warm as he caressed the nape of her neck, drawing her to him. “Can I kiss you?” he asked.
    Yes! Don’t ask, just do it . Now she was grinning so broadly that she was worried she wouldn’t be able to pucker up. That fear was unmerited, though. As soon as his lips were in range, she was stealing his breath, savoring the sweet taste of his mouth pressed against hers. If she had opened Pandora’s box the night before, now she was ripping the lid right off it.
    Even if Ryan disappeared next week, she needed this to know that Rick hadn’t broken her. Fear had been holding her back, but if she were afraid of being betrayed for the rest of her life, then how would she ever learn to love again?
    As Ryan lavished attention on her mouth, Ana reached up to begin unbuttoning his shirt. She knew what was under it—had longed to touch the hard muscle and smooth skin beneath. What she was more curious about was the rest of him. Any woman would be. In fact, she had seen more than one undressing him with her eyes. Now she was going to undress him herself.
    Inch after inch of sun-kissed skin peeked out as she worked to unfasten one button after another, though she didn’t get to enjoy it until she finally pulled free from the kiss to push the shirt over his shoulders, her fingertips grazing the skin beneath. The sight of him shirtless and aroused took her breath away.
    Once his shirt had been discarded on the hay bales behind them, he inched closer to Ana, wrapping his hands around her waist and sliding them up her blouse. She would have raised her arms to allow him to take it off if she didn’t miss his lips so much. After so few kisses, he was already like a drug to her. She couldn’t get enough of him. Every kiss made her crave him more.
    Eager as she was, he was surprisingly cautious. He kissed her with passion, but she knew he was holding back. There was so much heat in his eyes.
    “Put your hands on me, Ryan,” she whispered into his ear before taking his earlobe between her teeth and nipping it.
    A groan left his throat, and he drew her closer, laying her back on the hay and kissing a path from her mouth to her neck. Ana closed her eyes and savored every touch, every gentle kiss. When his hand made its