Kate Hardy - A Baby Of Her Own

‘At last.’ Sam materialised beside her almost instantly. ‘You OK?’

‘Just tired,’ Jodie said. ‘I think I’ll call it a night.’

He nodded. ‘I’ll drive you home.’

She shook her head, mindful of Fiona’s comment. Nobody wanted Sam to go back into his shell, but on the other hand she didn’t think she could spend much more time in his company without making a complete fool of herself. ‘Stay and enjoy yourself,’ she said. ‘I’ll make my own way back.’

‘You will not,’ said Sam. ‘For a start, there’s no way you could have cycled in wearing that dress.’

‘Taxi,’ Jodie informed him. ‘I’m just going to call one.’

He shook his head. ‘I’m not waiting out in the cold with you when my car’s just round the corner.’

‘You don’t have to wait.’

‘Yes, I do. You’re my partner for this evening,’ he reminded her. ‘So stop arguing. I’ll drive you home.’

How could she resist? ‘Yes, sir,’ she said meekly.

He didn’t say much on the way out to the car park, and no one commented that they were leaving early—they were all too busy enjoying themselves. Jodie climbed into Sam’s car and he drove her home. She noted that he didn’t need to ask directions. Clearly he’d remembered the way to her house from Mario’s.

When they arrived at Jodie’s house, she looked at him. ‘Would you like to come in for a coffee?’

His face was unreadable. ‘Thanks, but I really ought to be going.’

‘Of course.’ Jodie hoped that her disappointment didn’t show on her face. He was right, anyway. If he came in for coffee and the fire between them started again, and he kissed her, and—She caught her thoughts. No. Not now. Not now, or she’d end up throwing herself at him and embarrassing them both. ‘Thanks for the lift,’ she said quietly.

‘Pleasure.’ He paused. ‘Jodie…’

Every nerve was suddenly aware of him. Was he going to kiss her? She looked at him, wide-eyed, and her tongue came out to moisten her dry lips.

He was going to kiss her. She could see it in his eyes. Even in the shadowy depths of the car, she could see the sultry silver gleam—he wanted her as much as she wanted him. Now he was going to reach up, cup her face and slowly lower his mouth to hers. He was going to nibble at her lower lip until she opened her mouth and kissed him properly, and then—

‘See you on Monday,’ he said.

‘Right.’ She banked down the intense surge of disappointment. How stupid could she get? Of course he hadn’t been about to kiss her. That almost-kiss, before, had been in the heat of the moment. They’d been in the middle of a party, with soft music playing and everyone around them full of Christmas cheer—they’d both been carried away by events around them, that was all. He wasn’t going to kiss her in the middle of the street in his car on a freezing cold night.

Or anywhere else, for that matter, or he’d have taken up her offer of coffee.

‘See you,’ she said, trying to sound as neutral as possible. She climbed out of the car and closed the door very carefully—although she felt more like slamming it, she didn’t want Sam to think her a sulky, childish brat.

Sam waited in the car, watching until she’d unlocked her door and was safely inside. Then he closed his eyes and rested his head on the steering-wheel. He’d been so close to losing his head. He’d wanted to drag Jodie into his arms and kiss her senseless. He could still remember the feel of her skin against his mouth and it had taken all his will-power to refuse her offer of coffee. If he’d accepted, he knew he’d have spent the rest of the night in her bed, their bodies tangled together even in sleep.

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