Free The Holiday by Kate Perry Page A

that, and
we haven't played nearly enough. But I promise I'll restrict our outings to
after work the rest of the week if you come out with me today." He brushed
a hand over her shoulder. "I was staring out my office window at the
lovely day, and thinking about you, and I realized that the place I needed to
be was actually Holland Park with you. Say you'll go."
    "Let's go," she said,
grabbing her purse.
    They arrived a short while later.
The walk through the park was lovely, and she relaxed into his company.
    "This is what I wanted to
show you," he said gesturing ahead of them. "Kyoto Gardens."
    "It's a Japanese
garden," she said softly, enchanted by the gentle waterfall in front of
them.
    "Holland Park houses the
lovely Kyoto Gardens as well as an orangery, a cricket pitch, a youth hostel,
and peacocks."
    "Peacocks?" She
couldn't help grinning.
    "Hostile creatures, quite
frankly." He squeezed her hand. "You said you missed your father. I
thought coming here might make him feel closer."
    Her heart stuttered and then felt
like it filled with warmth. Impulsively, she kissed him. "Thank you. It
does make me feel close to him."
    "When I miss my father, I go
to the Bank of England." At her questioning look, he smiled. "My
father loved it there. He used to take me as a child, teaching me about money
and the way it flows through the world. Energy, he called it."
    "You miss him."
    "I do. He was a good
father."
    In front of them, an adorable
little girl tugged on her parents' hands excitedly, wanting to explore a path
to the left. When they let her go, she skipped happily toward it, pirouetting
once on the way.
    "I wonder what sort of
father I'll be," Colin said.
    She turned to him. "Do you
want children?"
    "Yes." There wasn't the
slightest bit of hesitation in his answer. "I used to think I didn't,
because it was expected of me. But in all the things expected of me, that's one
thing that I don't mind doing." He studied her. "Don't you want
children?"
    "I haven't thought of it."
She and Aaron were expected to have children—it was what you did. But
since he'd died she hadn't considered it.
    The peace she'd been feeling dissipated
a little. She didn't want to talk about children. The subject opened
complicated doors.
    She'd have to steer the
conversation back toward safer grounds—sex. So she stopped in the middle
of the path, pressed herself against him, and kissed him.
    There was no prelude to softness,
no illusion of sweetness. Their kiss was all passion and heat and need.
    She moaned into his mouth,
feeling him stir against her belly. "Colin, take me home."
    Colin didn't need to be told
twice. He rushed her to his home, as fast as he dared because he didn't want to
risk killing them.
    Leilani laughed as he hurried her
out of the car and into his home, but she didn't fight it. "You're
eager," she said.
    He unlocked the door. "You
don't seem to be dragging your feet."
    "Feet aren't what I'm
thinking about right now."
    She spoke in that soft, slightly
shy, extremely sexy way she had, and he went completely ready and able. He
turned to kiss her, but he cursed when he heard the unmistakable frantic
clicking of the beast. "MacLeod, sit."
    But the dog rushed at them, happy
to see them.
    Colin stepped in front of Leilani
to spare her the onslaught. "Sit, MacLeod."
    The dog sighed and then sat.
    "Did he just roll his
eyes?" Leilani asked.
    "I wouldn't put it past him.
Come on." He took her hand and dragged her a couple steps. Then, because
it was quicker, he tossed her over his shoulder and carried her to his room.
    MacLeod barked once, as though
approving, and trotted after them.
    Leilani laughed. "Colin, I'm
heavy. You'll hurt yourself."
    "You're a feather. Now don't
distract me. I don't want to drop you."
    She laughed again. "MacLeod
thinks we're playing."
    "We are, just not with
him." At his bedroom, he turned around and pointed at the dog.
"You're staying out here."
    The dog pouted and dropped to the
floor with a huff.
    Entering his