to. I want you.”
Ryan hugged her close. Minutes went by before he let her slide down him. His lips hovered close to hers. “I love you, too. Never stopped and never will.”
* * *
Long, wonderful, contented and soul-filling hours later, Ryan rolled over in his bed to look at Lucy naked beside him. She’d come a long way, not once trying to conceal herself or prevent him from looking until he’d had his fill. Not even an argument when he’d wanted to make love to her with the lights on.
Unable to resist, he dipped down to kiss her rosy lips before he asked, “When do you think Alexis and Sam will visit again?”
Her brow wrinkled in confusion. “I don’t know. Why?”
Leaning over her, he kissed away the crease. “I thought we might invite them to a wedding if they could come back soon.”
“And if they can’t come back soon?” She trailed fingers over his chest.
“Then they may miss it,” he growled as her fingers traveled lower.
Her gaze left her fingers to come up and meet his. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
He grinned. “Lucy Edwards, I promise to give you that family you dream of. You’ll always be a part of me, never alone again. You are my life. I love you. Will you marry me?”
Those blue eyes she loved expressed that love so clearly. She wrapped her arms around Ryan’s neck and pulled him closer. Precious minutes later her lips released his. “Oh, yes, I’ll marry you. Whenever you say.”
She put her head down on his chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart. The one that held her in it. “I’ve been thinking.”
“I’m not sure I like that idea.’
Lucy gave him a nip with her teeth. “Not funny.” She rose so that she could see his eyes. “I was just thinking about how much I admire how close you and your family are. And how far apart mine has been for so long. I’d like to invite my parents to the wedding. It’s time someone reached out and tried to build some kind of connection. Maybe a wedding is a good place to begin.”
He covered her body with his and his mouth rumbled against hers. “I think that’s a great idea. Now, how about we practice that having a family of our own idea?”
“You have to ask?” She gave him a quick kiss. “You make me happy, Ryan. Something I’ve not been in a long time.”
“I aim to please.”
“The O’Doherty way,” she whispered, as his mouth took hers in a kiss warm with promises of tomorrows to come.
* * * * *
NYC Angels: Flirting with Danger
Tina Beckett
Barefoot in Manhattan
Dr. Brad Davis’s success with women is the talk of Manhattan’s Angel Mendez Children’s Hospital—but even he knows that Nurse Chloe Jenkins, his best friend’s little sister, is strictly off-limits. But when she shows up on his doorstep barefoot, seeking refuge and wearing little more than lingerie, Brad is very tempted to break all the rules….
Newly single Chloe is moving on from her cheating, soon-to-be ex-husband. But she has no idea how to be single! Drop-dead-gorgeous Brad is the perfect partner for her pretend dating road test, but can Chloe resist the very real temptation?
To my dear husband, who has held my hand when I needed it held and has smiled at my insanely ridiculous desire to own a chicken, and who promised that someday I would have one. I’m holding you to that promise, honey!
NOTHING COULD CONCEAL her shame.
Not this time. Still, Chloe Jenkins yanked the belt of her beige trench coat tighter, until she was sure it would cut her in two—much like her heart had been. What had seemed sexy a half-hour ago now seemed unbearably pathetic and sleazy. The New York City subway station was jammed with bodies, even at this hour, and she shoved wet hanks of hair from her eyes, glad to finally be out of the rain.
What was she supposed to do now?
Hurling your wedding rings at your cheating bastard of a husband with the words “Consider this our divorce!” may have seemed like the perfect exit line—the only way to escape with a shred of dignity—but charging out of that hotel room had left her with few options. She was in a huge city where she knew no one.
Except...
The air shuddered from her lungs. There had to be some other way.
She could always go home to Connecticut.
And face her brother? Her family? They’d known the truth all along, but she’d been too much of a naïve sap to listen.
The doors opened and she stepped into the train, careful to keep her bare toes far from the nearest occupant.
She could head to a car rental facility. She had her purse and her wallet, thank heavens.
But she’d foolishly left her shoes behind in the room, and it was illegal to drive like this, even if they’d lease her a car. And if the tie on her coat came loose, she’d be totally exposed.
Her face burned hotter. Okay, maybe she wouldn’t be totally exposed, but the peek-a-boo black negligee and sheer panties left little to the imagination.
Even for her ex, who—when she emerged from beneath the cocoon of covers, fury spilling from every pore—had allowed his eyes to crawl over her body, a spark of interest finally coming to life in the drunken depths.
God. Why had she even bothered to try?
Because she didn’t believe in giving up. At least, she hadn’t before now.
The train suddenly slowed as it came to its next stop, and she lost her balance for a few frightening seconds, scrabbling to regain her handhold while keeping her coat from coming open.
Someone bumped into her from behind as they tried to exit, the hard shove sending her reeling a second time. She bit her lip and tasted blood.
“Sorry.” Hands came out to steady her, but Chloe flinched away, terrified someone would find out what she’d tried to do. She checked with the tip of her tongue the damage her teeth had caused. Not exactly the way she’d planned to spend the night.
You’re right, baby, she does look frigid.
Travis’s current paramour had clung to his arm and giggled at the sight of Chloe under the covers, the duvet pulled up to her chin.
What had been meant as a last-ditch effort to save her
