Robin Gianna - Her Christmas Baby Bump

The patio of the pub they came to held a few hardy souls sitting at a table, but most were cozy inside. Cheerful music somehow penetrated beyond the thick brick to where they stood, and through the windows Hope could see a crowd of people mingling and laughing. Those days would be completely behind her very soon, and she closed her eyes and smiled, visualizing her new future.

Motherhood.

Despite the chill, she wasn’t ready to go inside. She wanted to breathe in the fresh air and take in the surprising pleasure of walking with a man holding her close before there would be no possibility of that happening anytime soon.

She looked up at Aaron, surprised to see his eyes were on her and not the pub, his expression inscrutable. “Shall we walk just a bit farther?” she asked, wanting the moment to last a little longer. “That bridge up ahead is spectacular.”

“The whole city is beautiful. I’ve been impressed with its architecture since the day I got here.” He tugged her closer as they resumed their walk. “The path ends at the bridge, so we’ll have to double back or climb the stairs from the riverbank to the restaurants and pubs up there.”

The glow of lights faded behind them as they neared the dead end just before the old gothic-style bridge, where one lone punt disappeared on the water beyond it. Aaron dropped his arm from her shoulders, sliding it down to grasp her hand again as he turned to look at her. “I enjoy walking along here often,” he said, his voice quiet. “But tonight it’s especially beautiful. Thanks for coming with me, even though you didn’t really want to.”

“It was punting in an evening dress that was the problem, Dr. Cartwright. And the cold air. And the threat of exercise.” Though she wasn’t feeling at all cold. In fact, an intense warmth seemed to be creeping across every inch of her skin beneath her coat. “Who knew I’d be glad you dragged me here?”

He laughed, the sound a soft rumble in his chest as he drew her close. “So my gamble paid off.” Then he lowered his mouth to hers.

For one split second, she was stunned with surprise. Then it was quickly gone, replaced by a punch of desire the likes of which she hadn’t felt for a long, long time. Her eyelids flickered closed as his mouth moved oh-so-skillfully on hers. Teasing and tasting, sweet then intense, with a hunger that made her dizzy. She gasped into his mouth as her heart pounded and her knees wobbled, and she blindly lifted her hands to grip his wide shoulders so she wouldn’t sink straight to the stone path.

His mouth moved from hers to caress the sensitive spot beneath her ear before warmly sliding across her jawline and up her cold cheek to rest at the corner of her lips. “You taste better than anything on that buffet dessert table, Hope,” he whispered. “Better than champagne. Better than the finest vintage in Napa Valley.”

“Have you had every fine vintage in Napa?” she breathed.

“No.” She could feel him smile against her mouth. “Not necessary to know with absolute certainty that it’s true, though I’ve had my share.”

His share of wine or his share of women? Women for sure, if rumor was to be believed. And she did believe, because there was no doubt other women found him as completely irresistible as she did, considering she’d barely spent an hour with the man and was kissing him as she hadn’t kissed anyone in pretty much forever.

His mouth covered hers again in another kiss that left her quivering. When their lips finally separated, quick breaths came hard and fast against each other’s cold skin.

Moonlight gleamed on his dark brown hair, creating shadows beneath his prominent cheekbones and highlighting a stubborn jaw. His brown eyes no longer seemed warmly chocolatey, but instead glittered like molten onyx, hot and dangerous. Her insides quivered and she tried to think of something to say, but couldn’t come up with a single, rational thought.

“I’ve decided you were right,” he said in a low voice.

“Right?”

“About punting tonight. Staying inside where it’s warm and showing you another of my talents is a much better idea.”

That startled a laugh out of her. “Mmm-hmm. And I can guess what those talents might be, Dr. Has-A-Big-Ego. I can also guess that showing me those talents was your plan all along.”

“Plan, no. But hoping to get to know the beautiful Hope I’ve noticed so often in the hospital? That I’m delighted to learn is single?” His hand slipped down to grasp hers, his thumb stroking across her empty ring finger. “Oh, yeah. I freely admit I’d hoped for that.”

“That’s a lot of hope in one sentence,” she said, trying for a little humor so she could catch her breath and banish thoughts of those talents he boasted, which, based on his amazing kissing skills, she was more than ready to believe on a scale of one to ten were probably a twenty.

As for being single, that was true. The way she was wired, apparently. Something sadly missing in her DNA. The other reason she wasn’t really available despite her single status would doubtless surprise him. Maybe even shock him.

“I guess it is. But one thing I never thought to hope for is this unbelievable chemistry between us. Unless it’s only me who feels like a nuclear bomb just went off in my head from kissing you. Is it?”

She stared into the gaze searching hers, the question hanging in their dark depths. She opened her mouth to answer, but found her throat all closed up at the heat she saw there, at the dangerous current swirling around as if the two of them were standing in some electrified tornado.

“Is it, Hope?”

Her name on his lips, spoken in a deep voice that promised a delicious pleasure she hadn’t had in so long, and definitely wouldn’t have for even longer, maybe even ever, sent her closing the gap between them. Shocking her. Speaking her surprising answer against his lips. “No. It’s not just you.”

The kiss was excruciatingly soft and sweet and went on so long, she felt dizzy. When their lips separated, they just stared at one another until he spoke in a rough voice.

“I live just a block away.” His warm lips pressed softly against one chilled cheek, then the other. Feathered against each eyelid before his gaze met hers again. “I want you, which I’m sure doesn’t come as a surprise. Will you come home with me to see where our undeniable chemistry leads? And if you decide it leads to just a glass of wine or brandy, that’s okay.”

Oh. My. God. He wanted her. The sexy man she’d have to confess she’d had more than one fantasy about wanted her.

Not that she was completely taken aback, after his comment about nuclear explosions and those knee-melting kisses they’d shared. And after hearing the stories of his lifestyle. Her heart pounded so hard in her chest, she was sure he could probably hear it.

Did she really want to be another notch in his bedpost?

Her gaze took in how his dark hair blew across his forehead, how his lips were curved in a small smile, how his brown eyes gleamed with an unmistakable desire and, for the first time in her life, she wanted to say Oh, yes! to a one-night fling.

As she looked at him she thought about her new life right there on the horizon. A new life which would be all about changes to her body and sleepless nights and new responsibilities. Didn’t she pride herself on knowing what she wanted and making it happen? What would be wrong with enjoying one, doubtless delectable night with Aaron Cartwright? She never worked with the man, and a one-night fling wasn’t any kind of real relationship anyway, right?

“I...um...” She licked her lips and tried again. “I’m not in a place in my life where I want a relationship.”

“I’m never in a place in my life where I want a relationship.” His smile widened. “At least not one that’s long-term. I don’t stay put in one place long enough for that. But time with you, getting to know all about Hope Sanders and who she is and what she likes? That I’d like very much.”