of the year. She was dynamite. Too hot too handle. Nothing new there.
“Nice to see you, too, Linney. Now, care to tell me why you broke into my condo?”
“I didn’t. Merlee gave me a key.”
“That explains it.” He let his gaze scan her body again, then wished he hadn’t. Her breasts were perky little mounds that pushed against the thin cotton T-shirt that scooped just low enough to show a hint of cleavage. The white shorts hit midthigh, showing off the perfectly tanned legs. Legs that had once wrapped around him while—
He fought the stirrings back into submission before he reached really dangerous territory. “So why are you here, or do you chase after every guy who gets his picture in the paper?”
“Just the cute ones.”
She walked over, rose to her tiptoes and gave him a peck on the cheek. “We’re friends, Cutter. I wanted to welcome you home.”
There was a tenseness about her that made him sure that wasn’t the whole story—not by a long shot. “You can do better than that, Linney.”
“Not in present company.” Linney put her hand out and Cutter spotted the little girl who’d just stuck her head around the counter that separated the living area from the kitchen. The preschool-age child walked over and scrunched behind Linney’s shapely hip before stealing a sheepish glance at Cutter.
So Alfred and Linney had a daughter. Might even have a house full of kids. “Where’s big Al,” he asked, “or is he going to jump out next?”
“You heard about the marriage?”
“Word gets around.”
“All the way to the Middle East?”
“Just the big stuff.”
“Alfred and I are divorced.”
That he hadn’t heard. “Is this where I’m supposed to say I’m sorry?”
“Are you?”
No and yes. It was easier to resent the both of them if they were living their idyllic life in the world of the rich and modestly famous. “Divorce is tough on kids,” he said, knowing it was the most honest statement he could offer.
“Alfred and I didn’t have children.”
So there was a new man in her life. And still Linney was here, in his condo, the spitting image of the woman who’d starred in thousands of his unsolicited erotic fantasies over the last six years. But only after he was sound asleep and too out of it to remember that she’d walked out on him without so much as an adios.
“Look, Cutter, I know it’s in bad taste to just let myself in, but I wasn’t sure when you’d be home and I didn’t want to keep Julie out in the hot sun.”
“How did you know I was staying here?”
“Your aunt Merlee called last week and told me. She thought I should give you a call and welcome you to Houston.”
“I didn’t know you and Aunt Merlee were such good friends.”
“We talk at the symphony during intermission, mostly about you. Our seats are only two rows apart.”
“Nor did I know you were a fan of the symphony.”
“There are lots of things you don’t know about me.”
“Apparently. Is this story going somewhere, Linney? Because I’ve had a really long day, and I’m not up for entertaining.”
“You don’t have to get in a huff, Cutter. Just tell me where you keep your extra sheets and blankets and I’ll make Julie a bed on the sofa.”
“Whoa! This is not a hotel.”
“I know, but I need a favor. One night.” She managed a strained smile. “And I cooked dinner. There’s pasta with red sauce. No meat. You didn’t have any—or much of anything else except beer and moldy cheese.”
“I wasn’t expecting company.”
“Just for one night, Cutter. I promise. We won’t put you out.”
“I only have one bed.”
“Julie can sleep on the sofa.”
Which would leave the one bed for him and Linney. It was hard enough controlling his libido standing in the same room with her. Fat chance he’d be able to do it with her stretched out next to him between the same pair of sheets.
“You can’t stay here.” His command came out a lot harsher than he’d intended. Julie started to cry.
“Now see what you’ve done.” Exasperation and a tinge of desperation tugged at her voice and expression.
Linney dropped to the sofa, took the small child in her arms and started rocking her back and forth. “Cutter didn’t mean to frighten you, sweetheart. He’s glad you’re here. He loves little girls. Tell her, Cutter.”
“I adore them. Linney, we have to talk.”
“Right, as soon as Julie’s asleep, but that will take a little longer now that you’ve upset her.”
Cutter still had no clue what was going on, but the chances that he was going to sleep alone in this apartment tonight were growing slimmer by the second. If the vibes of anxiety Linney was emitting weren’t at frightening levels, he’d insist she go to a hotel.
But there was more going on than Linney had admitted in front of the child, and there was no way he could just toss her out if she were in some kind of real trouble. His gut instinct was that she just might be.
“Put Julie in my bed,” Cutter said. “The sheets are fresh. The cleaning woman was here today. You can sleep with her and I’ll take the couch.”
“Thanks, Cutter. I knew I could count on you.”
Their gazes met and he had that same crazy sensation he used to get when he was parachuting into a hostile environment with no clear means of escape.
“Just for tonight, Linney. Don’t even think of unpacking a suitcase or finding a spot for your toothbrush.”
“No luggage,” she admitted. “No toothbrush, either. I was kind of hoping you’d have an extra for your sleepover guests.”
“I don’t have sleepover guests.” At least he hadn’t until now.
Cutter watched Linney walk toward the bedroom with the young child clutching her hand. He followed the pungent odors to the range and lifted the lid. A deep red sauce was simmering in the pot.
He dipped a spoon into it, blew on the hot liquid, then hesitantly sampled the sauce. Not half-bad. It surprised him that the wife of a man as wealthy as Al Kingston actually cooked.
And she’d become a mom. In none of his fantasies on the cold, hard, mountain earth had he ever
