Free By His Desire by Kate Grey Page A

front of her, but she wasn’t working. She was staring into space and thinking about Keith.
    The messenger service had confirmed they had delivered the puppy an hour ago, but she hadn’t heard from him.
    She’d obviously made a mistake.
    If he didn’t want the dog, she would take him. Her landlord allowed pets.
    If he didn’t want her, that would be harder. But she’d just have to accept it.
    And she did have a few more days with him...unless she’d messed everything up by going too far. Getting too personal. Breaking the rules.
    She heard the library door opening, and she turned to see if Nancy was coming in.
    But it wasn’t Nancy. It was Keith. He stood in the doorway staring at her, and her body went hot all over, just like that day at the museum.
    She hadn’t seen him since the night they had dinner. She’d been blindfolded during every encounter with him. She’d heard his voice, she’d felt his touch, but she hadn’t seen his face.
    It felt shocking to see it now. To see him, and to see him looking at her. Somehow, she felt more naked than she had in his arms last night.
    “You got me a puppy,” he said after a moment.
    She nodded slowly. “I did.”
    “If I’d wanted a puppy, I could have gotten one myself.”
    Her heart was pounding. “Sometimes people need a push.”
    His blue eyes lasered into hers. “Maybe they do.” There was a short silence, and then he went on. “A puppy requires a lot of attention.”
    “Yes.”
    “What’ll happen when I’m out of the country on business?”
    “Um...Nancy?”
    “I don’t want to put more work on Nancy’s plate.”
    She tilted her head to the side. “Rumor has it you’re fairly well off. I bet you could hire someone to look after your dog while you’re on business trips.”
    “You can’t hire affection, which is what puppies need. I can’t pay someone to love him the way I do.”
    Her heart turned over. “You love that puppy? But you just met him.”
    “I know it’s soon. But that’s what’s in my heart.” He took a step towards her. “I was hoping maybe you would help me out. We could share custody.”
    Her breath caught in her chest, and it was a minute before she could speak. “That would mean staying in each other’s lives. Even after the week is over.”
    He nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. “That’s what I want. If it’s something you want.”
    She swallowed. “It is.”
    He took another step towards her. “Maybe you should think about it first. You’d be taking on a lot, Sarah. The puppy isn’t house trained yet—and neither am I.”
    She smiled at him. “It won’t be hard to train the puppy. Jack Russells are smart. As for you...” she paused. “I wouldn’t change a thing. I like you exactly the way you are.”
    His eyes lit up, and she saw him take a deep breath. Then he crossed the room in a few long strides and took her in his arms, bending her back in a kiss that took her breath away.
    When he finally broke away she was gasping.
    “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, framing her face in his hands and gazing at her. “It was torture staring at that portrait every day at the museum, knowing I’d never have the real thing. A part of me still can’t believe this is real. That you’re here, with me. Wanting to be with me.”
    “I want you to keep the portrait.”
    That took him aback. “But it’s yours. I mean...it should be yours.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t need it. I wanted it because it reminded me of my father, and because it gave me the illusion that we were connected.”
    She took a breath. “I loved my father, but we weren’t connected. That takes work...and courage. My father and I had neither.”
    “But that painting...”
    “It was always easy for my father to see people through his art. I think he did see me when he painted that portrait, and I’m grateful we had that, at least. But I’m looking for a different kind of connection now. The kind that’s not at a safe