Free Stripped Raw by Prescott Lane Page B

to Zoe to chew. Then he kisses me on the head. “You work. Dimples and I will make dinner.”
    “You’ve worked all day,” I say. “You don’t have to.”
    “Go work so I can have you to myself when Dimples goes to sleep,” he says, grinning. I like his thinking, and suddenly I’m amped up to get my work done quickly. Heading towards my workspace, I turn back, seeing Kane begin to rifle through my tiny kitchen, looking for this and that, all with Zoe on his hip.
    Kane opens one of my kitchen cabinets. “We got this, don’t we?” he asks Zoe. The baby gives him a blank stare then smacks him in the head with the rattle.
    He doesn’t appear to have the first damn clue what he’s doing, but I appreciate the effort, that he’s flexible, that he cares for me. I hope he cares enough to stay after he hears what’s coming.
    *
    Tapping my pencil on my desk, I look at the clock, my mind drifting to the sweet, hot man in the next room. My next Skype appointment can wait. I tiptoe down the hallway and lean against the doorway to my apartment. Oh my God, I wish I had a camera.
    Kane has Zoe on the table in front of him, and they are feeding each other pancakes. Well, Kane is feeding Zoe, and Zoe is wiping maple syrup and mushed pancake all over his face. She leans forward, mouth open, and lands on his cheek—her attempt at a kiss. My niece is crushing on my man big time! It’s the sweetest exchange I’ve ever seen. If Kane bolts, I know Zoe will miss him.
    His royal blue eyes smile up at me, and I freeze this moment in my mind—this perfect moment of happiness. “We made pancakes,” he says with a certain sense of pride.
    “Let’s get you two cleaned up.” I walk into the kitchen, pick up Zoe, and wipe her down, then see Kane picking pieces of pancake from his hair. I put Zoe in her playpen and lift myself on the counter to get eye level with Kane. “Let me,” I say.
    His hands move to my hips, urging me forward on the counter until my legs are wrapped around him. It’s been forever since I’ve had a man between my legs, and my muscles clench. Clearly, my body knows what it wants—wish my head and heart were as sure. His lips gently land on mine, and the taste of sweet syrup circles my tongue.
    “I need to know how you taste,” he says.
    Wow, that’s direct! I guess most lawyers are, but I don’t think I’ll ever get used to him talking to me this way. Still, I like his ideas. But Zoe is here, and wide-awake, and my work is waiting. “I’ve got a few more clients. I’m so sorry. I know you’ve got. . . .”
    “I’ll wait.”
    “You’ll wait ? Um, it could be a while and. . . .”
    “I’ve got Dimples to keep me company.”
    I can’t believe this guy. He’s not just interested in sex. He’s happy just to be with me. He picks up Zoe and follows me to the workspace. The baby seems exhausted, her eyes glassy, as if the pancakes were some kind of sedative. He holds her to his chest and lightly bounces her around the room, as I talk to a few clients.
    It’s not long before I look up from my computer and find Kane stretched out on the sofa, with Zoe sound asleep on his chest. I can’t even remember a time when her father, Brandon, held her. It’s sweet what Kane’s done for her, for me. Maybe Zoe’s getting too close too fast? Maybe I am, too?
    I finish up my appointments and ease her out of his arms. It’s my turn to feel his chest, to be in his embrace. He quietly follows me back to my apartment, and I place Zoe in her playpen. Kane plops down on my bed and opens up his arms for me to come to him. I begin to crawl in beside him, but he pulls me down on top of him.
    His hand on the back of my neck, he forces me to his lips. Honestly, it’s not much of a fight. His kiss takes my breath away. It always does—each and every time. We’ve been going out a few weeks, and kissing is all we’ve done. Kane hasn’t complained, but his mind is obviously set on bigger and better things tonight.