Free Bride on the Children's Ward / Marriage Reunited: Baby on the Way by Lucy Clark / Sharon Archer Page A

how many lectures he gave himself, determining to keep his distance, to keep whatever contact he had with her down to a minimum and make sure that contact was light and friendly. That was what he was planning to do tonight. Light and friendly.
    Then he saw her.
    He was positive his jaw went slack at the sight she made, walking across the lobby towards him with that sexy swish of her hips. She was dressed in another flowing creation, although this time it was a dress rather than a skirt and top. It came to just above her knees, revealing far too much leg for his liking. Her shape was perfect—nice and curvy, the way a woman should be. She was a bombshell with the most gorgeous hair, her auburn curls flowing loosely around her shoulders, clipped back on one side with a frangipani blossom.
    ‘Hi.’ She came to stand before him, her perfume making it difficult for him to think rationally.
    ‘What are you wearing?’ They were the first words out of his mouth, and he wished them unsaid the next moment. His tone held a hint of censure, of that big-brother protectiveness he’d often used on Sasha and Eden when they’d been younger.
    Eden’s response was to torture him further by doing a slow twirl. ‘Do you like it?’
    David couldn’t help but look at her as she showed off her delectable body. His heart was pounding wildly at the intoxicating sight she made and he shifted awkwardly.
    ‘I bought it this afternoon. I must say it feels so soft against my skin. Almost melts into it.’ Eden watched David’s reaction closely, loving the way he seemed stuck for words, his Adam’s apple working its way up and down his gorgeous throat as he swallowed nervously. She lowered her tone a notch and leaned a little closer. ‘I was thinking of you when I bought it.’
    David straightened the lapels of his jacket and cleared his throat. ‘Right. Well. We should…go.’
    ‘Sure.’
    ‘Do you have a jacket?’ Something ankle-length, which would hide her body from everyone else. David glanced around the lobby for a second, noting there were several appreciative glances being sent her way. ‘Or have you forgotten what Sydney is like in early spring?’
    Eden’s answer was to indicate the shawl she had draped over her arm. She went to open it and David quickly helped her, taking it abruptly from her hands before placing it around her shoulders. He hadn’t even realised she’d been holding it, along with a small clutch purse, because he’d obviously been too distracted by the rest of her.
    ‘I haven’t forgotten what Sydney weather is like, but my body is acclimatised to Ukrainian weather and it’s a tad colder there—especially in winter. It’s also why I went and bought a new dress. I never get the time to dress up and go out, so this is definitely a special occasion.’ She linked her arm through his, then leaned up and pressed a small, light kiss to his cheek. ‘Thank you for asking me out tonight.’ Her tone was one hundred percent sincere, and he found that side of Eden even more difficult to resist.
    David simply stood there, looking down at her, at this gorgeous woman who had been through so much in her life yet continued to persevere. He could see the pain hidden deep beneath her hypnotic green eyes, which were now highlighted with the skilful application of mascara and eyeshadow, making her even more stunning than usual.
    Eden didn’t move. Didn’t want to move. David was looking at her in such a way that she wasn’t at all sure what would happen next. She was sure if she leaned over to give him a kiss that they might end up changing their plans. If she’d had any doubts about whether or not he was attracted to her, they vanished into thin air.
    It had been her main purpose when she’d stumbled across the dress hanging in a shop window that afternoon as she’d walked from the hospital to her hotel. To see whether she could knock his socks off. She was pleased that she’d succeeded. However, they couldn’t