Bargaining for Baby(20)

But his look said not to worry. "It's a tradition. A bit of fun."

The master of ceremonies called for guests to be seated. Maddy soaked up   the conversation with their dinner companions, which included a   criminal lawyer and a geologist recently returned from areas surrounding   Uluru, or Ayers Rock as it was still known to many.

Guests continued bidding until the lot was officially closed and the   highest bidder announced. The room erupted with applause when Jack was   awarded the five cartons of beer. He also scored a painting by a   well-respected indigenous artist. After a dessert of strawberry and   passion fruit-topped Pavlova, the lights dimmed more and the music   lilted into a familiar dreamy tune.

Jack pushed out his chair and offered his hand. "You like dancing, I presume."

Arching a bow, she accepted his hand. "I can hold my own."

But when he gathered her close on the dance floor beneath the slow   spinning lights, it was clear who the expert was. Once his strong warm   hand was wrapped around hers, he rested them both against his lapel   while his other hand lightly pressed on the sensitive small of her back.   As he began to lead, Maddy breathed in his delicious woodsy scent and,   trying not to sigh, happily followed. She was so relaxed after the   champagne and conversation at the table that she instinctively went to   rest her cheek against the shoulder of his jacket.

His breath stirring her upswept hair, the magic of his body as he held   her close and moved … it all felt strangely surreal. As if every one of   her feel-good hormones had been released and her brain had no room for   anything other than wondering how she could possibly get closer to   Jack's unique brand of hard heat.

In time she pulled herself back.

Dangerous. They were in a room full of people who were clearly   interested in the relationship between widower Jack Prescott and this   new woman. To give them more to talk about wouldn't do, particularly   given at least one of them knew her father. She didn't want it getting   back that she was romantically involved or Drew Tyler could assume that   romance was her reason for requesting those few extra days away. Still …

Jack's chest felt so safe and his hand around hers felt so right. If she   didn't want to stir any pots, her own included, it might be time to   change the tone. A subject came to mind that had lain between them these   past days. Now seemed the right moment to clear the air-as well as  make  her point clear.

"I hope you didn't think I overreacted the other day when I heard about the creek."

His step faltered almost imperceptibly before he continued to slow dance   her around in a tight circle among other couples on the floor.

"I assure you," he said. "There's nothing to worry about."                       
       
           



       

Maddy chewed her lip. His wife and child both had died. She didn't know   the specifics because Cait was reluctant to discuss it further. The  last  thing she wanted was to sound thoughtless, but the bottom line was  that  Beau's well-being had to be her main concern.

"I was only trying to point out that drowning can happen in a creek as   easily as a suburban pool. Obviously nothing could be done to border off   a creek," she rationalized. "As long as a good eye's kept on him at  all  times, I'm sure you're right. There'll be nothing to worry about."  She  couldn't help but add, "It's just that kids are known to wander  off."

Which brought to mind a movie she'd seen long ago where a little boy had   been lost in a desert. His lips cracked, blinded from scorpion venom,   he'd wandered around, close to death, for days.

Feeling as if ants were crawling over her skin, she shuddered, then quizzed Jack.

"Does Australia have scorpions?" She had the biggest feeling it did. "I   know we have snakes." Some of the deadliest in the world.

"Yes, we have snakes," he confirmed. "Scorpions, too, but in the bush   we're down on murders and police car chases and high on helping each   other out."

She took in his wry expression and let out that breath. Yes, she should   keep things in perspective. Growing up in the country wasn't  necessarily  a bad thing, or more hazardous than being raised in a city.  She needed  to keep telling herself that Beau would be happy in his new  home after  she had left and slipped back into her own life. This is  what Dahlia had  wanted for him … even if she hadn't wanted it for  herself.

"You look beautiful in that gown," Jack murmured against the shell of   her ear, clearly wanting to move on from that subject, too. "Everyone in   the room thinks so."

Her heart swelled so much she didn't know if her ribs could contain it.   Usually she was gracious in accepting compliments, but everything about   Jack affected her more deeply. As her cheeks heated, she offered  silent  thanks for the muted lighting. She felt like a sixteen-year-old  at her  first dance with the boy every girl wanted to date.

Trying to make light of it, she shrugged.

"The color's quite striking."

"That's what I thought about your eyes when we first met."

A simmering kernel of want began to pulse in her core and she fell   deeper into his mesmerizing eyes. He was so sexy, so handsome. Fatally   hypnotic. With every passing minute, Sydney seemed farther and farther   away.

With his thumb circling low on her back, he nodded at a point above her head. "Notice all the fairy lights."

She nodded. They gave the room an incredibly romantic feel, although   that was more likely due to her dance partner's smoldering attention.

"Over there-" he tipped his head "-they've made a replica of the Southern Cross."

Arcing around, she took in the five larger lights which were patterned   to reflect the star formation that was synonymous with Australian skies.   She noticed some hazy, larger lights that seemed to hover upon the   horizon of the room. "What formation are those meant to be?"

"You've heard of Min Min lights?"

She grinned. "Sure." The strange appearance of those lights in the outback was legendary.

He cocked a brow. "But did you know that Min Min light sightings are more prevalent in this district than any other?"

Her blood pressure spiked. In the fast-track world where she lived,   Maddy didn't admit it often but she believed that not everything could   be explained by science.

"Min Min lights were part of Aboriginal folklore long before modern day   sightings made them famous," Jack said. "Experts agree the mysterious   lights that show themselves to travelers at night aren't imagination.   They appear in the distance, sometimes hazy, sometimes brilliant enough   to light up objects around them. When you think you're getting closer,   they can disappear only to reappear at your back, speeding up behind   you, or at the side, seeming to watch."

Maddy involuntarily swallowed then tried to shake her dark fascination off.

"You're trying to scare me."

He chuckled and squeezed her hand. "Don't worry about them. I'm here."

Her blood flowed like hot syrup through her veins. But she straightened   her shoulders and cast a casual glance around. Had anyone heard their   conversation? Could anyone see her blush?

He tilted her face back toward him. "And I plan to keep you as close as possible all night."

Her brea**sts tingled and swelled, and she couldn't quite catch her   breath. He was openly seducing her-here, amid hundreds of people. And   the longer she drank him in, the more light-headed she became.                       
       
           



       

Giddy from the dance, from the music and from his charm, she dragged her gaze away.

"I … I don't know … "

His polished shoes stopped moving. With a firm hold of her hand, he   headed for a set of glass doors and didn't stop until they stood on an   otherwise vacant balcony surrounded by a dark velvet dome which held all   the stars in the sky.

He faced her and his big palms sculpted over her shoulders, winging them   slightly in as he held her still with a penetrating gaze.

"The last thing I want," he said in an earnest tone, "is for you to go   through with something you're not entirely comfortable with." His   intense hooded gaze lowered to her mouth. "So if you're uncomfortable-"   he purposefully, slowly angled his head and his lips grazed hers "-even  a  little-" his lips brushed again and the hold on her shoulders  tightened  "-I can always stop."