Free The Surprise Conti Child by Tara Pammi Page B

magical hands. Told him of the weeks she spent in the hospital, seeing Izzie’s face burst into tears at the sight of her in the stark bed, of wondering if she’d have use of her hand again.
    â€œYour hand?” He walked around her seat immediately. “What happened to your hand?”
    He lifted her left hand in his bigger one and studied the crisscross of scars across the puckered skin in the back. The pithy curse that fell from his mouth almost distracted her from the gentle, almost reverent touch.
    Bluntly cut square nails. Long, tapered fingers. Rough calluses. She studied his hands to her heart’s content. He traced the veins on the back of her hand, sending a tingle up her arm.
    â€œIt got crushed in the impact. The nerve damage was far too extensive. But they said continued physical therapy will help.”
    She tried to pull her hand away, suddenly feeling self-conscious. But he didn’t let go. “Was that the hardest part?”
    Alexis looked down at their joined hands, her throat swelling. With his soothing tone and gentle caresses, he made her long for something that she couldn’t even define.
    The worst offender was mistaking that she interested him. That he was as aware of her as she was of him.
    â€œThe hospital food.”
    A soft smile curved his mouth, changing the entire vista of his forbidding features. Like one ray of sunlight that pierced even the thickest, densest darkness.
    A carefree, laughing Leandro.
    It was as novel as it was attractive. Even back then, her first impression of him had been how serious he was.
    â€œIs Isabella like you? Strong and stubborn?”
    Smiling, she nodded. “Actually, the hardest part was the sheer amount of insurance paperwork that I had to deal with. But Justin was a great help with that.”
    It was like she’d seen the show about predators on National Geographic. Just an infinitesimal tightening of those features—head cocking, muscles bunching in his shoulders. Regrouping before attacking. “Who is Justin?” He didn’t quite meet her gaze.
    â€œHe’s my friend Emma’s brother. Moved back last year.”
    â€œA good friend then?”
    Something in his tone tugged but the pounding in her head easing, Alex couldn’t care. “We’ve been on a few dates this past year,” she said, thinking back on how strange it had been to step out without Izzie. How hard it had been to accept Justin’s help knowing that he liked her and she...she didn’t feel anything like that about him.
    Having known Justin for a long time, her parents, however, had all but started planning their wedding.
    â€œA boyfriend then?” He stood up and moved behind her again, his hands moving to her head again as if they had never left.
    When she looked up at him, a frown marred his brow. “Izzie likes him, too,” she said, parroting her mother.
    â€œAnd you, Alexis? Do you like him?” The question was silky smooth but the speed with which he asked made her heart race.
    â€œIt’s hard to not like Justin. Especially when I found last year how quickly men run in the opposite direction because I come with a child in tow.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œEmma decided I needed to get back out there and took out an ad on Forever.com . Forget forever , apparently, being a single mom means I don’t even get a first date. This one creep who did contact me said it’s good to have proof that I was fertile.” She cringed. “Fortunately, Justin proved I wasn’t quite as plague-ridden for men as I thought.”
    â€œYou miss excitement in your life then?”
    â€œWill you count it against me in this test if I say yes?” she said teasingly.
    â€œA test?” He sounded so innocent that she laughed. “To what end?”
    â€œTo gauge my credibility as a mother and guardian before you settle money on Izzie?”
    He did really laugh then. It was a