Free Almost a Family by Donna Alward Page A

a heartbeat. Each took a step and a half and they were in each other’s arms. As she’d imagined, Jason’s right hand captured the back of her head as it had thousands of times before, while the other wrapped around her back and pulled her close against his hard chest. His mouth was firm and hot against hers and she pressed closer, losing herself in his taste and texture, and confirming that nothing had changed. They were still a perfect fit.
    She lifted her hands and threaded them through his dark hair, leaving trails in their wake as he stepped her backward, pressing her against the foyer wall. His hips pinned her there while his tongue danced with hers. He made a soft sound in his throat and she felt a current run from her breasts to her core. Only one thing passed through her mind as his hand slid up her ribs. Sara was asleep.
    At that moment, she felt something vibrate against her pelvis.
    “Of all the rotten timing,” Jason muttered, tearing his mouth away from hers. He reached down, took the cellphone from his pocket and looked at the number.
    Molly stared up at him, her eyes dazed as desire coursed through her body. Oh no. In another few minutes, he could have carried her to bed and she wouldn’t have put up a fight. Not one ounce of opposition. The thought exhilarated and frightened her all at once. Would making love to him now be the same as it had been? Better? Would all their anger and recriminations fuel it to burn even hotter?
    Yeah, until they were both completely obliterated by the flames.
    She could not lose control with Jason. She could not. Things were already too messy. She was absolutely going back to Calgary when Kim was better. What had she done?
    He scowled at the phone and she saw his lips were puffy from kissing, his hair untidy. She lifted her fingers and touched her own lips. They were still humming from the force of his mouth on hers. The rest of her was resonating like a plucked string.
    “It’s the answering service. I’ve got to call in.”
    She nodded jerkily. “I should wake Sara. She and I have to have a chat anyway.”
    He sent her a look that said he was sorry they’d stopped. It said this wasn’t a good idea. It said things were growing complicated. It said I don’t want it to end here. She felt his lingering touch in that moment, even though his hands were no where near her skin. It was tempting to say the hell with it all and simply launch herself back in his arms.
    “Go,” she whispered, and with one last complicated look, he disappeared. A second later, she heard his deep voice on the phone.
    She went to the living room and stared at Sara’s sleeping form for a few moments. It seemed no matter what steps she took to avoid Jason, someone, something was always there, pushing them together. It wasn’t fair. She’d spent years building her own life apart from him. He’d done the same. But now, in a few short weeks, she was right back there again. Wanting him more with every breath. Caring about him. Their lives entangled.
    It had to stop. She’d built the life she wanted. She leaned over and shook the little girl’s arm lightly.
     
    Jason hung up the phone and headed to the living room. Stopping in the doorway, he grinned at the stern tone in Molly’s voice as she sat on the edge of the sofa. She’d be so good with kids of her own, he thought, and his heart stopped for a moment before beginning to tick again. Molly didn’t want kids. Or more precisely, she didn’t want his kids.
    He stepped inside the room and heard Molly say, “You can’t do that. You are absolutely not allowed to leave without me with you, and especially not to go alone. I was worried sick!”
    “I’m sorry, Aunt Molly.” The girl lifted honest brown eyes to Molly’s. “I wanted to see Uncle Jason and you’d say no.” Her little voice was clogged with tears.
    “Why would you say that?” Molly’s voice was puzzled as she questioned Sara.
    “You always fight. When Mommy’s home, we