“Tessa touched her hand to his cheek. “You’re strong, brave, protective -” “So is a Doberman.”

“For a moment he said nothing, then he reached over and traced a line down her cheek with his finger. "When a man looks into a woman's eyes, lass, he doesna want to see the horrors he has kent written there. He wants to see joy and warmth and some measure of innocence. Tis the natural duty and desire of a man to protect his woman and children from the world's bitterness.”

“He opened her door, helped her to the ground, and heldher before him. “You’re cold.”Unable to meet his gaze, Kara spoke without thinking.“N-no, it’s not that.”His brow furrowed for a moment and then he seemed tounderstand. He grinned, a sexy know-it-all grin, and ran afinger down her cheek. “I’m glad I was able to provoke areaction.”Her sexual frustration became irritation. She glowered athim. “How is it you remain so unaffected?”His eyebrows rose, and he gave a snort. “Unaffected?”Without warning, he cupped her bottom, pulled her hardagainst him, and she felt the unmistakable evidence of hisarousal. He was rock-hard, huge.Her inner muscles clenched—hard—and the air rushedout of her lungs. “Oh!”He thrust against her, his eyes dark with obvious malehunger. His voice was deep and husky. “Nothing about youleaves me unaffected, Kara.”

“I’m half Italian.”“Which half?” the words were out before Tessa could stop them. Was she flirting with him? She never flirted with men. His lips curved in a slow, sexy smile that made her heart trip. “From the waist down.”

“Tessa touched his wrist lightly with her hand. "Be brave," she said. "It's not a duck, is it?”

“She had just pulled her dress coat from it's hanger when Connor came bouncing out of her bedroom and down the hallway with something in his hand."Mommy, what's this jiggle stick?" She looked up to see her son standing not two feet away from Reece with her purple jelly vibrator in his hand. And he was shaking it, making it waggle back and forth.”

“I'm half italian""Which half" asked Tessa"From the waist down”