Kate Hoffmann - Paris or Bust!

“He’s done at three.”

“That will give us plenty of time.”

“Why are you being so nice to us?” Roxanne asked, her tone suspicious.

“Because it’s so easy,” he replied.

“Are you sure you don’t have any ulterior motives?”

“Just one,” he said.

“And what’s that?”

Kit glanced around, then grabbed her and pulled her behind a tree, pressing her back against the trunk. He bent close and kissed her. But this time the kiss wasn’t soft and fleeting and tentative. She opened beneath his assault and the taste of her went right to his head.

Slowly, he explored her mouth, instantly addicted to the sweet warmth. A flood of desire raced through his veins and suddenly he wished they were alone, all alone, in some quiet, dark spot-like the janitor’s closet.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, knowing that he only had a short time to enjoy the experience. Then, certain that he’d satisfied his craving for the moment, he let her go. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out from behind the tree and they continued their walk.

“Sorry,” he murmured. “I just had to do that.” He glanced at her and watched as a tiny smile curled her damp lips.

“The aquarium would be nice,” she said, acting as if nothing had happened. “And after that, maybe I can make you dinner? I promise, no jelly on the menu.”

Kit didn’t even bother to hide his delight. “It’s a deal.”

He jogged up to the puddle that Rachel and Michael had found, grabbed Jenna and jumped into the middle of the water. The kids laughed and screamed and before long, Roxanne had joined them. Kit reached out to her and pulled her against him. She looked up into his eyes and smiled, as if there were no other place in the world she’d rather be.

And Kit had to admit he felt the same way.

“I LIKED THE BABY SEAHORSES,” Danny said. “Did you ever think there would be horses that swim?”

“Seahorses aren’t really horses,” Kit said, reaching for the milk to refill Michael’s cup. “They’re syngnathids . That means ‘bony fish.’ They just look like horses. Did you see how they swim? They have two dorsal fins that they flap together.”

“Like butterfly wings,” Danny said.

“Yeah, like butterfly wings.” Kit looked over the table at Roxanne. She felt her heart skip a beat, as it had so many times over the course of their day together.

There was a time when she wondered if she’d ever completely forget her troubles, or if she’d feel normal again. But today had been a good day-a great day. She was ready to move on, to make a life for herself and her children. And maybe, if she was lucky, Kit would be a part of that life.

“How about you, Mommy?” Kit asked. “What was your favorite thing at the aquarium?”

“Mommy?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Sorry. What was your favorite thing, Roxanne?”

“The parrot fish,” she said. “I thought they were the prettiest.”

“I liked the birds,” Rachel said. “The puffies.”

“Puffins,” Kit corrected. “What about you, Michael?”

“Frogs,” he replied.

This is what Roxanne had always dreamed family life would be-sitting around the dinner table, talking to the children, enjoying one another’s company. John had never wanted to eat with the kids. He’d always insisted that Roxanne feed them first, then put them to bed so he could have a “quiet” dinner with his wife. In truth, John rarely spent any time with the children.

“Yeah, that poison frog. He was cool,” Danny said.

“You know there’s a difference between poison and venom,” Kit said.

“How do you know so much?” Danny asked, staring up at him in awe. “You’re really smart.”

“I used to spend a lot of time at the aquarium when I was younger,” he said. “I was there on the day it opened up and after that, I used to visit whenever I could.”

“What was your favorite?”

“I always liked the stingrays.”

“Danny, why don’t you take your brother and sisters into the living room,” Roxanne suggested, “and clean up your toys. I’ll wash the dishes and then maybe we’ll watch a movie together.”

“What movie do you want?” Danny asked, turning to Kit.

“Oh, honey, I don’t know if Mr. Lawrence wants to stay for-”

“I do,” Kit interrupted. “I’d love to stay for a movie.”

Danny jumped up from the table, then helped Jenna down from her high chair. They raced off to the living room, Danny insisting that they choose Aladdin and Rachel countering with Beauty and the Beast.

Kit pushed away from the table and picked up his plate and glass. When Roxanne made a move to do the same, he gently pushed her back into her chair. “I’ll clean up. You made dinner. It’s the least I can do.” He glanced around. “Where is the dishwasher?”

“It’s in a box in the basement,” Roxanne said, her face warming with embarrassment. “That’s one of the renovations we never got around to. Actually, it goes pretty fast if one person washes and the other one dries. Rachel and Danny often help me. That’s why we usually use plastic.” She slowly stood and joined him at the sink. “I’m glad you stayed for dinner.”

“So am I. You’re a good cook.”

Roxanne looked up at him, then let her impulses take control. She pushed up on her toes and kissed him, their lips meeting for an instant before she pulled away. But when she did, he moaned softly and caught her mouth again.

The kiss was slow and lazy, warm and deep. Roxanne’s knees went weak, but she didn’t need to worry about falling, since Kit had slipped his hands around her hips and held her tight. But they didn’t stay there. As they kissed, he smoothed his palms along her waist, pushing her sweater up until he met bare skin.

Her breath caught in her throat, then came out in a sigh. It had been so long since she’d been touched, since a man had made her feel this much desire. His hands were gentle, sliding around to the small of her back, then up to the nape of her neck.

She’d never experienced such intense longing, for every sensation. The taste of his tongue and the heat of his hand and just the smell of his cologne was enough to send every rational thought from her head. She wasn’t a mother of four kids or John’s ex-wife anymore. She was the woman Kit Lawrence desired, the woman he couldn’t keep from kissing.

Roxanne liked to believe that she held some kind of power over him, but she knew the opposite was true. With anyone else, she might have been more hesitant, more circumspect. But since that first time he’d kissed her, all Kit had to do was turn his gaze in her direction and a rush of unbidden thoughts would fill her mind, wild, crazy, sexual images. Roxanne had already fantasized about how it would be between them. And now she wanted those fantasies to come to life.

Kit grabbed her waist, then gently lifted her up onto the edge of the counter, setting her down next to the sink. He stepped between her legs and gave her one long kiss, then pressed his forehead to hers. “I’d better get to work.”

“Yes,” she said, breathlessly.

He finished clearing the table, then filled the sink with soapy water. Every few minutes, he’d steal another kiss and Roxanne would oblige. With the kids in the house, she knew it could go no further, but she didn’t care. For now, kissing him was enough.

“So, what’s going on with the contest?” he asked. “Have you heard anything?”

Roxanne shrugged and took a wet plate from his hand. “My sister entered me. She wrote an essay and I guess they judge me on the essay. I don’t know if I have to do anything else, except be a good mother.”