With a disgusted snort, Hadley cleared the dessert dishes from the table and set them in the sink. With a lonely evening stretched out before her, she puttered in the kitchen, washing the plates and wineglasses, wiping down the already-immaculate counters and unloading the dishwasher.
None of these tasks kept her thoughts occupied, and she ran her conversation with Liam over and over in her head, wishing she’d explained about Noah so Liam would understand why it was so important that she maintain a professional distance.
After half an hour she’d run out of tasks to occupy her in the kitchen and carried Maggie upstairs. The baby was almost half-asleep and showed no signs of rousing as Hadley settled her into the crib. For a long time she stared down at the motherless child, her heart aching as she contemplated how fond she’d become of the baby and realized that the end of January was fast approaching.
Soon she wouldn’t have to worry over Maggie’s welfare. Liam would find another nanny. It shouldn’t make her heart ache, and yet it did. Hadley began to pace the comfortable guest room. Once again she’d let her heart lead instead of her head. Nor was it only her charge who had slipped beneath her skin. Liam had skirted her defenses as well. Earlier that day she’d accepted that Liam wasn’t Maggie’s father, but yet he’d demonstrated a willingness to step up and raise his niece, and that said a lot about his character.
Hadley stopped to peer out the window but could see nothing but fat white flakes falling past the glass. The day she’d driven up the driveway to the ranch house, she’d never dreamed that the crush she’d developed on him a decade earlier might have been lying dormant all these years. Born of hero worship and adolescent fantasies, it shouldn’t have survived all the life lessons Hadley had learned. Her guilt over the role she’d played in Anna’s accident, her poor judgment with Noah, the financial consequences of choosing the wrong career. All of these should have made her incapable of acting foolishly.
So far they had.
But that was before Liam Wade reentered her life. Before, she couldn’t think about the man without longing to fall into bed with him, ignoring all consequences for the chance to be wildly happy for a few hours.
The baby made a sound, and Hadley went to make sure she was still asleep. Over the past week, Maggie had grown more vocal as she slept.
Hadley settled a light blanket over the baby, knowing she was fussing for no good reason. She still couldn’t calm the agitation that zinged along her nerves in the aftermath of turning aside Liam’s advances during dinner.
“I should have just slept with him,” she murmured, the declaration sounding unbearably loud in the silent house. Then at least she’d have a good reason to regret her actions.
“It’s not too late to change your mind,” a low male voice said from the doorway.
Startled, Hadley whirled in Liam’s direction. Heat seared her cheeks as she spotted him lounging against the door jam, an intense gleam in his half-lidded eyes. “I thought you went out.”
“I did, but it wasn’t any fun without you.” He advanced toward her, his intent all too clear.
When his arms went around her, pulling her tight against his strong body, Hadley stopped resisting. This is what she wanted. Why fight against something that felt this right?
“Kiss me quick before I change my mind,” she told him, her head falling back so she could meet his gaze. “And don’t stop.”
She laced her fingers through his hair as his mouth seized hers. Nerve endings writhing like live electric wires, she lost all concept of gravity. Up. Down. Left. Right. Without Liam’s arms anchoring her to him, she would have shot into space like an overheated bottle rocket.
After the first hard press of his lips to hers, Liam’s kiss gentled and slowed. He took his time ravishing her mouth with a bit of pressure here and a flick of his tongue there. Hadley panted in a mix of excitement and frustration. He’d been so greedy for that first kiss. She’d expected what followed would be equally fast and demanding.
“Your lips are amazing,” he murmured, nipping at her lower lip. “Soft. Pliant. I could spend all night just kissing you.”
Pleasure speared downward as his tongue dipped into the shallow indents left behind by his tender bite. “Other parts of me are just as interesting.” She arched her back and rubbed her breasts against his chest, hoping he’d take the hint and relieve their ache.
“I imagine you will provide an unlimited source of fascination.” He nuzzled his lips against her neck and bracketed her hips with his long fingers, pulling her against his erection. “Shall we go to my room and see?”