Free Marrying The Boss by Judi Nolan Page B

the other. It had been a long time since he'd tasted anything
as delicious. Even Kris's carrot cake took second place to freshly
baked chocolate chip cookies.
    Belatedly he wondered where the author of
this stunning miracle had gone. He debated which of the six large
bedrooms Kate now occupied. The dangerously seductive image speared
through his senses with renewed intensity. The thought of her
fragrant softness and a wide, comfortable bed sifted through his
conscious mind, provoking an unmistakable response.
    " Dammit! " he swore, low, hard and savage.
    It didn't help. The images kept crowding
in, shredding his tight control, making his body ache with rising
desire. He stamped down hard on the unfurling sense of
need.
    It was nothing he couldn't handle.
Tomorrow night he would run off his deepening sense of frustration.
He'd run the full length of a marathon if necessary. Anything to
get by.
    His conscience stabbed
him. Finishing his coffee in a long swallow, he left the kitchen
and went into the lounge.
    " What the––?" He stared at the chaotic scene.
    Every cushion and pillow in the room had
been heaped into the middle of the floor. A cave of sorts had been
created with blankets and four dining chairs.
    He frowned at the organized disaster.
Going down on one knee, he peered into the cave's mouth. Jamie's
book bag and a discarded torch guarded the entrance. The soft drift
of torchlight illuminated the interior. They'd created a cozy nest
inside among the cushions.
    The sight of his son, dressed in his
favorite pair of action figure pajamas, curled close against Kate's
side, hit him low. They were both asleep. Remnants of chocolate
chip cookies surrounded his son's mouth. Kate's soft lips also
showed traces of their illicit baking spree.
    Spencer sat back on his heels. His body
surged to attention. They looked so cozy and warm, far too content
to disturb. He was seriously tempted to crawl right in there beside
them.
    He bleakly reminded himself that three was a
crowd, passing a denying hand through his hair as he rose to his
feet, stripping the coverings from their hideaway.
    He reached in to lift Jamie out first. His
son murmured in his sleep, but didn't waken. Carrying him down the
hall to his bedroom, Spencer placed him on the mattress before
covering him with the comforter.
    He left the door ajar and returned to the
lounge. Standing, staring down at her, he was unsure what to do
about Kate. His throat constricted as, against his will, he felt
his lower body begin to cramp and harden further.
    God help me . He could not afford to become
involved with this woman in any way. What he needed from her, she
wouldn't be interested in providing and Jamie needed a woman who
would always be around to care for him. It was be impossible
dream.
    He had to find some way of
shifting Kate Martin out of his house. And soon.
    He stared down at the drifted wings of
soft spun copper hair threaded across her flushed cheek. She looked
warm and very comfortable. He guessed he would have to put her to
bed. Common sense told him he couldn't leave her here no matter how
much he wanted to do so.
    Leaning down, he braced himself as he slid
one arm behind Kate's knees, the other going behind her back for
support as he gathered her into his arms. She yawned and stretched,
the soft curve of her breasts pressing intimately to the hard wall
of his chest as she squirmed against his hold, settling closer
against him.
    Perspective and distance. Spencer groaned
inwardly, his arms and senses suddenly full of fragrant feminine
warmth and soft, satiny skin. What the hell did he think he was
doing?
    " What are you doing?" Kate stiffened in his
grasp. "You can put me down, you know. I'm not asleep and you're
very late."
    " I can see that you're not asleep. Good
morning."
    " Is it morning already?" Kate leaned back
to frown at him, her soft lips pouting with disbelief.
    She noticed Spencer's face was etched with
strain. Strands of his dark hair had fallen across