Free Family Affair by Debbie Macomber Page A

as when she was living with Mark. Although it’s been hard on her, discovering exactly what kind of man he is was the best thing that could have happened.”
    “She’ll be fine,” Lacey said confidently.
    “Thanks to you.”
    “Oh, hardly. Sarah will come away from this experience a little more mature and a whole lot smarter. I know I did with Peter. But it takes time. Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
    “I’ll say. Look how long it took me to get to know you.”
    “It was worth the effort, wasn’t it?”
    He took one hand from the wheel and patted her knee. They were sitting so close to each other that their hips touched. The morning was muggy, but neither of them moved, enjoying this small intimacy. “The wait was well worth the while,” he agreed and then added, his eyes dark and serious, “I’m crazy about you, Lacey; I have been for months.”
    “I’m crazy about you too,” she returned softly.
    What was definitely crazy was that they should admit their feelings for each other in a moving van in the heavy flow of San Francisco traffic.
    After having spoken so freely, both seemed a little embarrassed, a little relieved, and a whole lot in love. Lacey felt as if she were in college all over again. The years of her marriage and the aftermath of the divorce vanished, as if they’d never happened.
    Leaving his car in the underground parking lot, they caught the elevator. The instant the door slid closed, Lacey was in Jack’s arms. His mouth sought hers with the desperation of a man locked in a dark room, unable to find the exit. His arms half lifted her from the floor, giving her the perfect excuse to cling to him.
    “I’m crazy about you,” she said. She felt drunk, as if she’d spent the last few hours sitting in a bar instead of the last few moments in his arms.
    He caught her face between his hands and kissed her until she trembled and whimpered. He moaned.
    “Jack.” From somewhere deep inside she managed a weak protest. “We’re still in the elevator.”
    He lifted his head and looked around. “We are?”
    She wrapped her arms around his waist and tilted back her head to smile up at him.
    “Where’s your sense of adventure?” he teased, kissing her nose. He reached over and pushed the button for the fourth floor.
    This intense feeling of desire was new to her. If he didn’t continue kissing her, loving her, touching her, Lacey thought she’d die. It was as if years of dammed-up longing had broken free deep inside of her, swamping her senses.
    He kissed her again and she sagged against him just as the elevator delivered them to the fourth floor.
    “Your place or mine?” he asked, and then made the decision for her. “Yours.”
    Her hand trembled when she gave him her keys, and she was gratified to see his fingers weren’t any steadier. In that moment, she loved him so much she couldn’t bear it a second longer. Her arms circled his middle and she kissed the underside of his jaw, teasing him with her tongue, running it down his neck to the hollow at the base of his throat and sucking gently.
    “Lacey, stop,” he protested.
    “Do you mean that?” she whispered, lifting her face.
    “No . . . never stop loving me.” The door opened and they all but stumbled inside.
    It was then she heard Cleo’s pitiful meow. Jack heard it too. He glanced over his shoulder and then turned his gaze back to her. His eyes were tightly shut.
    “Cleo’s having her kittens,” he announced and moved away from her.

Nine
    “C leo’s having her kittens now!”
    Lacey hurried into the apartment.
    “Oh, my goodness!” She pressed her hands over her mouth and stared into the closet, where Cleo had made herself a comfortable bed in a darkened corner.
    The Abyssinian meowed pitifully.
    “Oh, Cleo,” Lacey whispered.
    Cleo ignored her, rose from her nest, and walked over to Jack, weaving between his legs, her long tail sliding around his calf. Then moved back into the closet and cried again, softly,