Free The Unclaimed Baby by Sherryl Woods Page A

said. “I mean, it’s just a bubble bath. There’s nothing provocative about that.”
    He scowled at her as he led the way out of Dolan’s and waited while she locked up. When she glanced up there was a wicked glint in his eyes.
    â€œDon’t push your luck, darlin’, or I’ll be sharing that bubble bath with you,” he warned.
    Now there was an interesting idea, she thought before she could stop herself. Dear heaven, what was happening to her? She didn’t want to seduce Cord Branson.
    Or did she? Was that why she’d been so frustrated and edgy all week? Was she more attracted to him than she’d wanted to admit? Was she actually jealousof the amount of attention he was devoting to the baby, rather than to her?
    No, she told herself firmly. Of course not. Flirting was just that. Teasing. Setting off a few sparks. Part of nature’s male-female game. It didn’t have to imply anything more. It never had to go beyond taunts.
    But there was no mistaking the slow reawakening of her senses the past few days. Maybe that was just indicative of the healing process and nothing more. Maybe it didn’t have a thing in the world to do with Cord, per se. Yeah, right.
    So, the bubble bath was out, but a long, quiet evening stretched out ahead of them. Cord was going to fix her dinner. Behind that offer was a surprising sensitivity to her exhaustion.
    When was the last time anyone outside of a few family members had seen through the facade she’d been putting on since shortly after Kyle’s death? Everyone was constantly talking about how brave she was, how strong. Cord instinctively seemed to know better. Somehow that kind of intuitive understanding was scarier than the stirrings of desire he’d sparked in her.
    Moreover, he’d just announced that he was going to stay the night. A sexy, virile man was going to be sleeping under her roof, albeit for the most innocent of reasons. Even so, that certainly hadn’t happened in a very long time.
    Anticipation, something she hadn’t felt in months, stirred deep inside her. She was actually looking forward to going home, looking forward to the eveningstretching out ahead of her. It felt a lot like a miracle. Her steps, which normally slowed as she neared that empty, lonely house, picked up a little.
    She glanced at Cord as they walked up the front walk. He turned toward her and smiled, that easy, crooked smile that could charm a saint.
    It would be so easy—too easy—to get used to this, she warned herself. This, too, was temporary. The baby was their link. When she was gone, the bond would be broken. The realization was a harsh reminder not to let herself care too much for either of them, to bask in the warmth of having a thoughtful, attentive man beside her, to seize tonight and look for nothing more.
    Ashley had fallen asleep on the walk. Cord put her into the portable crib, then turned to Sharon Lynn.
    â€œGo take your bath. I’ll see what I can rustle up in the kitchen.”
    â€œI’ll help,” she said automatically.
    He shook his head and turned her toward her bedroom. “Go, before I have to strip you out of those clothes myself.”
    She tilted her head and studied him consideringly. “You’d do it, too, wouldn’t you?”
    He grinned. “With pleasure.”
    â€œMaybe a quick shower,” she decided.
    â€œIt won’t be the same.”
    This time she grinned. “For you or me? I have a feeling your imagination’s been working overtime conjuring up images of that bubble bath.”
    â€œThat’s exactly right,” he admitted, surveying herboldly. “Give me something here. Take the bubble bath.”
    He sounded as if the images alone would be enough to torment him. That was enough to convince her. It had been a long time since she’d stirred a man’s fantasies. “Maybe I will.”
    She left him staring after her, felt his