Brenda Harlen - Extreme Measures стр 5.

The thought terrified her, as did the realization that there was so much more at stake than just her heart this time.

Shed always known it was possible that he might come back someday. But it had been a remote concern, almost unreal, so long as he was halfway across the country. Now that he was here, she knew it was time to face the deception shed lived with every day for the past five years.

She had to tell him. She couldnt keep the secret any longershe wasnt sure she even wanted to. But knowing what she had to do didnt make it any easier to find the right words.

Colin, you have a child.

It sounded simple enough, except that Carly was her child. Nikki was the one whod been there every day of Carlys life: when shed cut her first tooth, taken her first step. Shed been the one to sit up with Carly through sleepless nights, to kiss her scraped knees, to worry over every cough and fever.

Still, she knew that biology gave him certain rights, not the least of which was the right to know hed fathered a child. She had wanted to tell him about Carly years ago. Shed wanted to save her marriage, to be with the man shed loved, but shed refused to use their baby to do so. Shed loved Colin fiercely, completely, and it would have devastated her to know that hed only stayed with her for their daughter.

So shed kept her pregnancy a secret, consented to the divorce, and a few months later, shed given birth to Carly.

Now he was back, and everything seemed to be spinning out of her control.

She heard the sound of a car approaching, breathed a sigh of relief that Arden was finally home from her meeting at the womens shelter. Arden Doherty was her cousin, her roommate, and her best friend. And she was the only person Nikki could talk to about the chaos that had come to town with her ex-husband.

Nikki turned around as the vehicle pulled into the driveway. Her heart pounded frantically against her ribs as she realized it wasnt Ardens car. And it wasnt her cousin who got out of the car.

It was Colin.

Her easy smile froze; panic clawed at her throat.

The shock of finding Colin outside the clinic where she worked didnt compare to the sense of terror building inside as he moved toward the front porch of the house where she lived. Where their little girl was sleeping inside.

What was he doing here?

And more importantly, how quickly could she get him to leave?

She fought against the panic, forced her tone to remain neutral. What are you doing here?

He stepped onto the porch, leaned a shoulder against one of the upright posts. Havent we already had this conversation today?

And didnt we say everything we needed to say? she countered.

He took a step closer, deliberately invading her personal space. I think we have some unfinished business.

His gaze dropped to her lips, and she knew he was thinking about kissing her again. Just as she knew she couldnt let it happen.

She lifted her hands to his chest, intent on pushing him away. She could feel the heat of his skin through his shirt, the unyielding strength of his muscles, the thunderous beating of his heart.

Its been a really long day and I have to get up early in the morning and Im sure you have things to do and if you want to get together for coffee some time on the weekend maybe we could do that, but now really isnt

Her words trailed off as he skimmed his knuckles down her cheek.

You babble when youre nervous. His lips curved in a slow, seductive smile that made her breath catch in her throat and her pulse race. I like that I can still make you nervous.

She could hardly deny it. Nor could she deny the anticipation that surged through her veins as his head lowered toward her.

Then his mouth closed over hers and a wave of desire crashed through the last, lingering vestiges of her resistance. Overwhelmed by yearning, overpowered by need, she closed her eyes and surrendered to the sweet, mindless pleasure of his kiss.

His lips were as masterful as she remembered. Shed never known anyone who could kiss like Colin, with a kind of arrogant confidence that might have been annoying if it wasnt so darned arousing.

Her lips parted on a sigh to welcome the teasing caress of his tongue as he deepened the kiss. She hadnt felt his arms come around

her, hadnt been aware of her own reaching for him, but suddenly they were entwined together and the press of his long, lean and very hard body sent dangerous currents racing through her. She shifted closer, the friction of the subtle movement making her skin burn, her body ache.

It had been yearsfive years, in factsince shed felt anything close to this kind of arousal. And all it took was a kiss.

Or maybe it was Colin.

She had no defenses against him. She never had. It was this fleeting thought, this reminder of their disastrous history, that finally penetrated the sensual haze fogging her brain and jolted her back to reality.

She pulled out of his arms. I want you to go, Colin.

Making me leave isnt going to make the attraction between us go away. He brushed his thumb over the curve of her bottom lip, moist and swollen from his kiss. The chemistrys still there. You might not like it, but you cant deny it.