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better off she’d be.
    “Thank goodness I don’t have to feel guilty about that.” She started to step around him, but he caught her lightly by the arm to prevent her escape.
    “You’re a young, beautiful, unattached woman,” he said gently. “Why should you feel guilty about kissing me?”
    “I’m going to have a baby.” As soon as she’d blurted out the words, she recognized how inane that sounded. But she couldn’t help it. Hearing that she was pregnant was suddenly making her feel and think differently about herself and life in general. She couldn’t be the impulsive, carefree girl she used to be. From this point on she would always put her baby first.
    He groaned with disbelief. “Carrying a baby isn’t an affliction. And I do believe that kissing is allowed during pregnancy.”
    Angry at herself for allowing this man to shake up her senses, she said, “Not by me—or you—or us.”
    Then, before he could counter that remark, she turned and hurriedly walked away.
    * * *
    Later that evening, as the three of them sat around the supper table, Sassy had to admit to herself that Jett could cook as well as he could kiss. The food was delicious and so was the memory of being in his arms.
    He’d called her pretty. Had he really meant that? She’d certainly not expected to hear him say such a thing. He was a man with high standards. She could see that by the way he lived. And, at her best, she had an average appearance. So the compliment could have just been his way of apologizing, she mused. Or, God help her, maybe the fact that she was pregnant and unmarried had given him the idea that she was promiscuous.
    Quit thinking about him, Sassy. Forget how his lips felt as they’d moved over yours. Forget the way he tasted and the way the male scent of his body enveloped you like a dreamy fog. Giving in to a man has already gotten you into a big fix. You can’t allow this one to lead you down a wrong path. You’ll be gone from here in a few days, and then Jett Sundell will be nothing more than a dim memory.
    She was thankful that, as the meal progressed, Jett and Bella kept the conversation flowing with small talk about local happenings and the weather they’d endured so far this winter. And for a few minutes Sassy was grateful to have her mind on things besides the baby, the kiss and the Calhouns.
    “Jett, since you cooked, I’ll volunteer to clean the kitchen tonight,” Bella said, as the three of them finished the meal with slices of chocolate cake.
    “I’d be glad to help,” Sassy quickly offered. “In fact, I’d feel better if you’d let me do all the cleaning.”
    “Not on your life,” Jett replied.
    Bella backed her brother up by saying, “Thanks for the offer, Sassy. Maybe next time. You’ve had a long day. You go along with Jett and relax in the living room. I’ll take care of everything here.”
    Relax with Jett? How could she manage that, when just looking at the man whipped her pulse into a mad gallop? Putting her fork aside, she said, “Bella, I’m a maid. I’m used to doing the cleaning.”
    “You’re not a maid here,” Jett pointed out.
    Sassy had never planned to set foot in this man’s home, yet he was treating her as if she was a special guest. Was he just showing basic good manners? Or trying to get on her good side for some reason?
    She was still trying to figure out the answers to those questions when he rose from his seat and helped her to her feet. Sassy had little choice but to accompany him to the living room. Once there, she sat on the couch while he went over to fireplace and added two more logs to the low-burning flames.
    When he finally put away the poker and started toward an armchair, her coiled nerves had her suddenly blurting, “Please don’t feel like you have to sit around and entertain me. I’m sure you have other things you’d like to be doing.”
    Changing direction, he strode over to the couch and eased onto the cushion next to hers. Sassy’s heart