Barbara Dunlop: New Arrivals: His Inherited Family: Billionaire Baby Dilemma / His Ring, Her Baby / Cowgirl Makes Three

He ran the pad of his thumb from her cheekbone to the shell of her ear, and along her jawbone.

Her pulse jumped at the intimacy of the touch. But she forced herself to keep still, torn between trepidation and arousal, with only one tiny, sane part of her brain reminding her she had to put a stop to this.

She reached up and grasped his wrist, attempting to tug his hand away.

She failed.

A lazy smile grew on his face, and his breath puffed sweetly against her cheek, even as his thumb meandered to the curve of her neck. “I can’t help wondering.” He paused. “Just how far you’d be willing to go to keep me distracted.”

She swallowed again, her heart thudding deep in her tightening chest. “Why.” Her voice was a rasp. “Why would I need to keep you distracted? “

He leaned closer. “Because you’re up to no good.”

She bristled. “I told you. I got lost.” But the lie sounded even worse this time around.

“And you accidentally wandered into Konrad’s closet?”

“That’s right.” It could have happened.

“You’re damn lucky I have a forgiving nature.”

“Ha,” she managed to scoff.

He sat down on the carpet beside her and lifted the album from her hands. “I’ve already forgiven you.” “I didn’t do anything.”

“Then why is your neck going all red and splotchy?”

Devin’s hand automatically rose to cover it up, and Lucas grinned at the telltale action.

Then he shook his head. “I just hope I never need you to lie for me.”

“That seems unlikely,” she sniffed.

Instead of pressing further, he turned a page of the album. “You were very beautiful,” he told her.

Devin turned her attention to a photo of her and Monica. “We threw out our pictures,” she admitted.

“Yeah?”

She nodded. “We chucked my bridesmaid dress, too.”

“She must have been pretty mad.” He turned to a page that showed the bride and groom cutting the cake. Their smiles seemed so sincere.

“Can you blame her?” Devin asked.

“She made a terrible mistake.”

“By marrying Konrad.”

Lucas butted Devin with his shoulder. “Yeah, that’s what I meant.”

Devin gave a shrug. “You might have decided to finally be honest.”

He shook his head in disbelief, folding the album shut and replacing it on the shelf.

Then, to her surprise, his hand slipped around to the back of her neck. His palm was warm, his gaze intent, and his voice sent a predictable quiver through the pit of her stomach. “You have got to be the most exasperating woman on the planet.”

She struggled to hold on to her equilibrium, keeping her tone tart. “What? The women you know don’t usually talk back?”

His lips relaxed to a half smile, and he leaned meaningfully toward her. “At this point, they usually stop talking altogether.”

“Is that how you like it?”

“It makes the kissing easier.”

“Don’t you dare.”

He grinned. “Why not?”

“Because you promised.”

“I didn’t promise a thing.”

She ordered herself to stay strong. “Have a little respect.” “For what?”

“For this—” she gestured around them, hushing her voice in reverence “—for where we are.” “We’re in my brother’s closet.” “Exactly.”

“You’ve never made love in a closet?” He was moving closer.

Of course she hadn’t. She put her palm flat against his chest to hold him off. “Have you? ” “Not that I recall.”

“You’re joking, right?” How could a person not recall something like that?

“It’s a pretty roomy closet,” he pointed out, ignoring her question and making a show of testing the softness of the carpet.

“The truce is over,” she reminded him, eyeing the closet door. She was sure she could make an escape. And she was positive it was the right thing to do.

“I’m willing to renegotiate,” he told her.

“Lucas, be serious.”

“What makes you think I’m joking?”

“I’m saying no.”

He clamped his jaw. But he let his hand fall away. And he rose to his feet, holding out a hand. “Then, let’s go.”

She was glad he’d back off. She really was.

She stuck her hand in his and let him pull her to her feet. He kept hold of it, tugging her out of the closet and across Konrad’s bedroom, through the open door to the hallway.

“Just so you know,” he warned her as he pulled it shut behind them, “this room will have a lock on it from now on.”

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