Free A Woman's Heart by Gael Morrison Page B

had been none. Summoning her last remaining shred of will, she placed her hands on Peter's chest and pushed.
    His lips froze. "Damn," he swore softly, withdrawing as swiftly as he had pulled her to him.
    For a long moment, he stared down at her, his face drawn and grim. He, too, seemed to be fighting for control. The breath expelled from his lungs came out in a downward blast of air—like the heat of a dragon about to devour its victim.
    Swallowing hard, Jann stepped backward. Away from his reach, she struggled to ease the tightness in her throat and the pulsing need in her loins.
    "We keep doing this," Peter said hoarsely.
    "It has to stop."
    "Yes."
    His single word sounded so final, Jann's racing heart stilled.
    "I don't want it," she whispered, searching for the strength to believe her own words.
    He simply stared at her.
    "I don't need it. Especially not from you."
    "You do need it," he said quietly. "But you're right about one thing. It can't come from me." He turned to move away.
    Some impulse urged her to hold out her hand to stop him, but she cradled her body instead, locking one hand under each arm.
    "Why did Ruby leave?" she asked, desperate to talk of other things, not wanting to think now of how he affected her.
    "I told her there was no need to stay." He shrugged, the movement strangely stilted, as though his muscles no longer did his bidding.
    "You told her to go?"
    "Yes."
    "That's my decision, not yours."
    "Is it?" He went to the settee and scooped up two piles of the baby clothes. They looked ridiculously small in his large hands.
    "You know it is!"
    "Not for much longer."
    Jann's head began to spin as she tried to focus, which was impossible while looking into Peter's eyes. She stared at his hands instead.
    "What are you doing with Alex's things?"
    "Thought I'd put them away. I like to finish what I start."
    "Didn't Ruby fold those clothes?"
    "No." He smiled faintly. "I take it there's no difference in our technique?"
    She angrily sucked in a breath. Access was one thing, but this man was beginning to dominate her life. And most irritating was the fact that she couldn't help but be impressed with the way he handled Alex. Besides playing with the baby, Peter changed diapers and folded laundry. Did things only a parent would want to do.
    Without warning, he swept past her, carrying the clothes to Alex's cabin. Then within seconds, he was back for another load.
    "Stop it!" she exclaimed, putting her hand on his arm. "I'll finish after you've gone."
    "I'm not going anywhere." He shook off her hand and reached for a stack of sleepers.
    Then he looked at her, and his eyes darkened to a deeper green. He took one hesitant step toward her, as though not trusting himself to be close.
    "I don't want to hurt you, Jann," he said softly. "That's never been what I wanted."
    "If you try to take Alex, that's exactly what you will be doing."
    "He'll be better off with me."
    "He's best where he is."
    "I think we should have dinner together."
    "Together?" she repeated stupidly.
    Two tiny undershirts spilled from the pile in Peter's hand and landed on the floor. "Yes," he said, ignoring the fallen clothes.
    It was as though each drop of blood was magnified in Jann's veins, as though her hearing had become so acute she could identify the whirring of a dragonfly on deck.
    "Yes," Peter said again, moving at last to snatch up the undershirts and tuck them under his arm.
    Jann's mind swirled and hysteria boiled through her, threatening to erupt. "Why?" she asked again, fighting it back.
    "So we can get to know each other."
    "I don't want to know you." Even as she said them, Jann knew her words were false.
    "It'll be easier for you if we get to know each other."
    "Easier for me?” In what way would it be easier? If Peter got custody of Alex, he would be the one feeding him, comforting him, watching her baby grow. The thought of that was not easy. She shook her head no.
    "It'll be easier," Peter said firmly. "Trust