Free To Love and Protect by Susan Mallery

opened her mouth and began to cry.
    “Not a good sign,” Liz said. “I wonder if she’s hungry.”
    “When did you feed her last?”
    “Two,” she said, suddenly remembering. Okay, maybe she wasn’t a complete maternal failure. “She’s going to be hungry. I need to prepare a bottle.”
    “You keep holding her and I’ll take care of the bottle.”
    Liz stared at him. “You can do that?”
    “If you talk me through it.”
    She explained what to do and watched as he performed the steps. While the bottle heated, he sat next to her on the bed and stroked the baby’s cheek.
    While Liz appreciated the company, she couldn’t help wondering why he bothered. Having an infant around didn’t exactly make the situation romantic. This wasn’t his child, she wasn’t his girlfriend, and yet David showed no signs of wanting to be anywhere else.
    “I take it there’s no significant person in your life right now,” she said as he rose to test the temperature of the formula.
    He glanced at her over his shoulder. “Last night wouldn’t have happened if I’d been seeing anyone else.”
    “Oh.” Right. Good point. “But the baby thing doesn’t scare you?”
    He grinned. “It would if you left the two of us alone. In fact, I would pass on scared and go right to panic.”
    “A big strong guy like you?”
    “In a heartbeat.” He moved the car seat to the bed and motioned to the now empty chair. “Have a seat.”
    She got comfortable, settled the still unhappy Natasha in her arms and offered her the bottle. The baby’s mouth clamped over the nipple immediately.
    “They told me she was a good eater,” Liz said as she watched her daughter drink. “I have some cereal to give her later.”
    He glanced at the stack of diapers. “Having Children’s Connection provide those must have made packing easier.”
    “It did. I heard horror stories of parents traveling halfway around the world to pick up a child while only being allowed to bring one suitcase. And they had to bring all the baby supplies. At least this way I had room for some clothes for Natasha and toys.”
    She looked at him. Having someone else around made her feel so much better than being alone, but she knew she didn’t have the right to keep him with her indefinitely.
    “David, you don’t have to stay.”
    “Are you throwing me out or giving me an excuse to leave?”
    “Giving you an excuse.”
    “And if I want to hang around?”
    Her heart fluttered. “I’d be delighted.”
     

    Shortly before midnight David stretched out on the bed and pulled Liz close. They were both still dressed and lying on top of the covers—their concession to keeping things on a “friends only” basis.
    Not that clothing made a damn bit of difference, he thought humorously. He wanted her just as much dressed as he had naked. Knowing how she would look and feel and taste only intensified his desire. Not that he planned to act on it. Not again.
    So he settled for the weight of her head on his shoulder and the heat of her hand on his chest. He ignored the throbbing hardness between his legs and the scent of her body. With luck, she was dealing with her own desire for him, but based on how she kept getting up and checking on the sleeping baby, he figured he was the only one in pain.
    “You need to sleep,” he told her. “You’ll be exhausted tomorrow.”
    “I can’t. I need to make sure she’s all right. Plus you’re awake. Don’t you have to be alert to save the world?”
    “I have a staff to help me out.”
    She snuggled closer. “Must be nice. So tell me about your work. What do you do, really?”
    He considered the question. “I take care of problems. Some are straightforward, others are more complicated. The Russians are very proud, and like most people, they don’t like foreigners interfering.”
    She raised her head and looked at him. “You told me pretty much nothing.”
    “But it sounded good.”
    “You’re one of ‘the Logans.’ Were you ever