Mary Lyons - The Playboy's Baby

More importantly, she wasn’t into one-night stands. There had been a time, in the immediate and unhappy aftermath of the breakdown of her marriage, when she’d been stupid enough to think that having sex would provide some sort of comfort. But it had only taken one unfortunate encounter for her to realise that was a total fallacy. So, it was no good getting too starry-eyed. She might regard last night as a totally magical experience. But, as far as Matt was concerned, it might well have proved to be nothing more than a very pleasant diversion.

‘Here, let me dry your fingers,’ he murmured, walking across the kitchen and firmly wiping her hands with a thick kitchen towel, before placing his arms about her nervous figure.

‘Now...I think it’s about time I had a good-morning kiss, don’t you?’ he continued, before pressing his lips to hers.

The sweetness and warmth of his mouth was wonderfully reassuring, and she savoured the strength of the arms clasping her to the dark hair of his bare chest; her nostrils filled with the cool, astringent scent of his aftershave.

‘Incidentally...’ he murmured, slowly raising his dark head and regarding her with a faintly quizzical gleam in his green eyes. ‘Just in case you have any doubts about my intentions... I meant everything I said last night.’

‘Really?’

‘Really and truly—cross my heart and hope to die!’ he murmured, both of them smiling at his use of the solemn childhood vow.

‘I’m not going to beat about the bush, Sam. We’re both sensible adults, and I’m sure you must recognise, as well as I do, that what we have going between us is something very special. And, yes, I know that I hurt you very badly in the past,’ he added as she stirred restlessly in his arms. ‘But I had no choice. Not with the university authorities breathing down my neck. Not to mention the obvious fact that you were so young—with the whole world in front of you. Believe me, there was no way we could continue our affair.’

‘Yes...I can see that now. Although, at the time...’

‘At the time, I behaved like a callous brute,’ he admitted sadly, his lips tightening in self-disgust as he glimpsed the brief flicker of recollection and pain in her blue eyes.

‘But it’s all quite different now. We have to let go of the past, because just about everything has changed,’ he continued. ‘Everything, that is, except our very strong attraction for one another. We’re both now fully grown up, and although we lead frantically busy lives—we can do it. We can make our affair work this time round. In fact, since it only takes four hours to cross the Atlantic by Concorde, I’m going to make damn certain that it does work!’

As she gazed up into the deeply hooded green eyes staring down at her so intently, Samantha realised that if she hadn’t yet quite managed to sort out all her emotional feelings for this man he was quite right about letting go of the past

After all, she was a lot older and wiser. There was no way he could ever hurt her again—or cause her to suffer those agonising pangs of first love. All that was water under the bridge. Besides, he’d made it crystal-clear that he was talking about an affair—which meant no total commitment on either side.

You can handle it, she told herself firmly. You’re a modern woman, and fully in charge of your emotions, nowadays. Besides, as he’d said, they both had very busy careers.

Making love with Matt was truly wonderful, stupendous—and just about any other glowing adjective she could think of—but it was only one part of her life. Her career was vitally important to her, and she wasn’t about to give it up for any man—even if he was the sexiest thing on two legs!

So, what was there to worry about? She certainly wasn’t going to make the mistake of once again falling deeply, irrevocably in love with this man. To be blunt, she’d been there, done that—and worn the T-shirt! Lust was one thing—love quite another. So, there was no reason why she shouldn’t have a super-charged, highly intense affair with Matt. Absolutely no reason at all.

‘Well...?’ Matt demanded tersely, his arms tightening involuntarily about her. ‘For heaven’s sake, darling—I’m not exactly talking about a fate worse than death! I merely want to make love to you, as often as possible. Surely you’re not going to turn me down?’

‘Well...I don’t seem to have any problem with your basic proposition,’ she teased, laughing as he gave a highly dramatic sigh of relief, before once more pressing his lips firmly to hers.

‘And now, having sorted out the small print in the contract, I’m going to jump into some casual clothes, and then make us a strong cup of coffee. OK?’

‘Ah—now you’re talking! That’s definitely one proposition I’d never turn down.’ She grinned, suddenly feeling incredibly cheerful and happy.

‘Mmm...that was great,’ she sighed some time later, having been served toast and marmalade as well as several steaming cups of coffee. ‘However, I really can’t stay here all day. So, I guess it’s time I went back to my hotel.’

‘Come along—there’s something I want to show you before you go,’ he said, rising from the kitchen table. And, although she was disappointed that he hadn’t suggested they spend the day together, Samantha had enough sense to realise that without prior knowledge of her visit he undoubtedly had other engagements booked for that day.

‘I want you to see why I originally decided to buy this apartment,’ he told her, taking her arm and leading her down the hall to the over-decorated sitting room. Operating the remote control to open the curtains, he beckoned her towards the tall, floor-to-ceiling arched windows, which opened on to a small, ornate iron balcony.

‘Oh, Matt—it’s great! What a wonderful view!’ she exclaimed, gazing down at the wide, shady street between his building and the green grass of a large park—which contained a rather grand-looking monument supported on marble columns—and beyond which lay the sparkling blue water of what, she quickly realised, must be the Hudson River. ‘Did you spend ages looking at various apartments before finding this one?’

‘Well, it did take a long time, and then...’

Whatever else Matt might have been going to say was lost as he was interrupted by the loud, strident tones of the front-door bell.

‘Back in a moment,’ he muttered, leaving her to admire the view as he walked quickly back across the room towards the hall.

Savouring the early sunshine and bright, fresh morning air, she was only dimly aware of a low buzz of conversation as Matt appeared to be talking to somebody, out in the hall. However, he was soon back by her side, and asking whether she felt like another cup of coffee.

‘That would be very nice. But I think I really ought to return to my hotel.’

‘Have you got anything in particular lined up for the rest of your stay?’

She shrugged. ‘Well, no, not really—but I’d like to see as much of the city as I can. Which is why I must get back, and...’

‘I was hoping that you hadn’t any firm commitments.’ Matt grinned down at her. ‘Which is why I’ve been putting together an itinerary, for the rest of the weekend. And, since you’ll be staying here, of course, I think we’d better get dressed and hit the town, as soon as possible.’

She frowned up at him. ‘What do you mean, I’m “staying here”? You can’t seriously imagine that I’d be prepared to go sightseeing in either this towelling robe or the dress I wore last night? If so, you must be off your trolley!’

‘Don’t be ridiculous, darling!’ he drawled coolly, his deeply hooded green eyes glinting with laughter. ‘I wouldn’t dream of asking you to do any such thing. Which is precisely why I telephoned your hotel, earlier this morning—while you were busy experimenting with the ice-making machine—and asked to have your bags delivered here, to the apartment’