Free Surrogate and Wife by Emily McKay

appearance.”
    His lips twitched in a way she was sure he knew irritated her. “Sure, if we were just going to hang out here all morning by ourselves, but…”
    â€œBut?” She arched an eyebrow.
    â€œBut the guys from the station are coming over.”
    â€œI’ve appeared in court like this.” She propped her hands on her hips. “I certainly think this will do for your friends from the station.”
    He continued to study her, he scratched the back of his head as if he was trying to solve a very complex puzzle. “Well, there you go. That’s the problem. You look like you’re going to court.”
    â€œAnd that’s a problem because…”
    â€œBecause you should look like you just tumbled out of bed.”
    Her heart seemed to skip a beat at his words. She sucked in a deep breath, but the extra oxygen didn’tcounteract what had to be some kind of weird prenatal heart arrhythmia.
    She opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a weak, “I… I…”
    â€œThe way I see it, the morning after her wedding night, a woman ought to look thoroughly…”
    Before she could stop herself, the words just popped out. “Thoroughly made love to?”
    A wicked gleam sparked in his eyes. “I was going to say satisfied.”
    â€œOh.” She could feel a blush creeping into her cheeks and she floundered for a moment. “I, um…”
    There were moments in life when she wished she was a completely different person. Someone witty and quick, instead of smart and serious. This was definitely one of those moments.
    Another woman might have thought of something clever to say that would have put Jake in his place. Or shocked him into silence. She merely stood there, gaping like a trout.
    In this game of witty repartee, it was Jake one, Kate big fate zero.
    â€œObviously, we need to start with this,” he said, reaching up and pulling the clip from her elegant knot.
    Her hair fell down about her neck as she heard the clip land on the table beside her with a clatter.
    â€œNow it probably looks like I just tumbled out of bed.” She grumbled in protest.
    He grinned. “That’s the general idea.”
    Instantly she brought one hand up to smooth her hair into place and reached for the clip with the other. Before she could repair the damage, he grabbed her arm by the wrist and tugged it away from her hair.
    â€œLet me.”
    Let him what?
    But before she could demand an answer, he finger combed her hair, gently parting it on the left.
    Stop this! she ordered herself. But she didn’t listen. His touch simply felt too good. Her eyes drifted closed.
    â€œYour hair is beautiful. You should wear it loose more often.”
    â€œIt gets frizzy,” she said weakly. “In the humidity. And it doesn’t do what I want it to. Looks uncontrollable.”
    â€œWild?”
    His voice was like a caress. Sensuous and a little rough. It sapped her strength and when she spoke her voice sounded weak.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd you don’t like that,” he surmised.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œBeing wild isn’t such a bad thing. It’s sexy.”
    Like Jake. He always seemed so wild. So reckless.
    Well, her hair might be wild, but she definitely wasn’t.
    She forced her eyes open. Forced herself to meet his gaze and to suppress the wave of longing she felt rising up inside of her.
    There was heat in his gaze, as well. Proof that this crazy awareness she felt wasn’t one-sided. But wanting Jake would do no good. And giving in to the want would only cause more problems than she could imagine.
    Yet before she could force herself to move away from him, he pulled his hands from her hair, only to lower them to the top button of her shirt.
    â€œThis shirt here. That’s another problem.” His voice was low and rough and grated against her already-sensitive nerves.
    â€œIt