Baby Experts 02 Read Online Free Page A

could take her wherever he wanted to go.
    He couldn’t seem to get enough. She could feel her skin getting hotter, her cheeks flushing to match his level of arousal. They were both revved up and ready for more. But when his hands moved to her waist and inched her blouse out of her waistband, reality became a pressing concern. As soon as his hand touched the skin of her midriff, she wanted nothing more than to let him finish what they’d started. Yet she knew she couldn’t. This was her boss. She needed her job, secret or no secret, and she’d just put it in jeopardy. How could she get out of this situation without looking like a foolish teenager who didn’t know what she was doing?
    But just as Jared had seemed to read her before, his hand slid away from her, his tongue ceased exploring and his mouth—although his lips clung a little—broke off their kiss. She heard his rough sigh.
    Then she opened her eyes to gaze into his.
    He turned from her slightly, rubbed his hand over his chin, shifted away, then focused on her. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
    It seemed as if the words were hard for him to say, as if he didn’t want to say them but knew he had to.
    “I shouldn’t have let you.”
    “It will not happen again,” he said as if reassuring himself of that. “This isn’t an excuse, but I’ve never met anyone who understood that moment of birth like you do.” He rubbed his hands on his thighs. “This won’t affect our working relationship. I mean, you don’t have to worry about your job.”
    That was a relief but didn’t address the attraction still simmering between them. “We can’t pretend it didn’t happen.”
    “No, we can’t. I’ll remember it every time I look at you. But I can control my actions.” He glanced toward the kitchen and the message machine. “Did you get any phone calls tonight from Chloie Madison?”
    “No, I didn’t.”
    He looked troubled.
    “That’s your cousin?”
    “Yes. I need her tomorrow.”
    Should she offer to help or not? Should she step in deeper or move away?
    Yet, thinking about how she’d loved taking care of Amy and Courtney, she offered, “I can help.” But perhaps her help wouldn’t be wanted after what had just happened. “My day off is tomorrow,” she reminded him. “I can look after the girls if you need me.”
    She saw in his eyes that he needed her in a much more basic and intimate way. But then the spark of desire diminished and control took its place.
    She added, “I usually just run errands on my day off. But after what just happened, I’ll understand if the situation is too awkward.”
    He seemed to think about the pros and cons. “The truth is—I’m surprised you’re still here.”
    Emily certainly couldn’t say she didn’t run from problems. That’s exactly what she’d done with the whole mess in Corpus Christi and her divorce. But she liked to think she was mature enough to face a problem without turning away from it. “What happened between you and me doesn’t have to affect me watching your girls. You have surgeries in the morning and won’t even be here.”
    “I’m interviewing a nanny in the afternoon, but that’s at my office. Are you sure you’ll feel comfortable with this?”
    Jared Madison demanded honesty. She’d learned that over the months she’d worked with him. “I like Courtney and Amy. I’ll be comfortable here.”
    He nodded and pushed himself up from the sofa away from her. “All right. I’ll take you up on your offer. But I’ve got to tell you, I don’t like being in debt to anyone. I’ll pay you. Your time is valuable, too.”
    “No,” came out of her mouth before she had time to think about it. “I don’t want any payment. Let’s just say we’re doing this friend to friend.”
    After he studied her again, really studied her, he nodded. “All right. For now. But I will find a way to repay you.”
    She really didn’t want him to repay her, and she suddenly realized why. The crush