knew she could never, ever let him know about the pregnancy. Send him on his way back to Spain.
âOne little dinner date,â he said softly, leaning forward to brush his lips against her throat. âJust go out with me tonight, okay? Come on. Iâll bet weâll have a good time getting to know each other a little better,â he coaxed. He was close enough that she could feel his warmth, smell his woodsy aftershave.
âWe shouldnâtââ
âYouâd rather eat alone than with me?â he whispered.
âNo, butââ
âGood. Itâs settled.â His lips trailed kisses lightly along her throat, and she ached to turn her head and kiss him fully. With that first brush of his lips, she was lost. He leaned back. âIâll pick you up about seven. I made reservations at Claireâs.â
Her eyes opened. What had she done? How did he get his way so easily with her?
âAaron, you couldnât have come back from Spain to take me to dinner.â
âYes, I did.â
If he was lying, he was doing a magnificent job of sounding convincing, but then she knew in his job he must be accustomed to some slick talking to get what he wanted.
âBut what about your job? You canât just leave on a whim.â
âI have so many vacation days piled up, I can take off for a long time. When I started this job, I was in love with it. I guess I thought I was doing my part to help save the world. I gave it my everything. I didnât take vacations very often, so I have a lot of days coming. Besides, I asked for a leave of absence and they granted it.â
Appalled, she stared at him. âLeave of absence! Youâre in Royal for more than tonight?â
âDonât sound so thrilled,â he drawled, and his eyes were full of questions. âYou keep looking at me as if Iâm some kind of monster.â
âNo! Oh, no! I just am shocked about your leave of absence. It takes some adjusting to think of you in Royal instead of Spain.â
He placed both hands on either side of her face while his gaze probed hers. âWhy does it take some adjusting to have me here? Thatâs not too flattering.â
âIâm sorry,â she said, heat burning her cheeks. Why couldnât she control her darn blushes! âIâm just surprised.â
âWell, get used to it, lady, because I came home for us to get to know each other a little better,â he said in a husky voice.
She pulled away from him and stood, her knees bumping his knees. He was on his feet instantly and his hand rested on her waist, stopping her from moving away from him.
âPamela, I donât know whatâs going on in that pretty headof yours, but yes, I want us to get to know each other better. Iâve been thinking about you constantly since that night.â
âOh, my heavens! I donât believe it.â
He frowned. âWell, you better believe it, and Iâll do my damnedest to convince you because memories of you have played hell with my work. Youâve got some notion in your head about the kind of woman I want in my life, but youâre wrong.â
âOh, Aaron,â she said, his words tearing at her.
âAt least, letâs just take a little time. Maybe weâre not compatible, but letâs give ourselves a chance to find out.â
She didnât have that option. In spite of her longing, her feelings for him, his charm and persistence, she knew she had to keep her secret from him and send him packing back to Spain.
âI donât think thatâs a good idea.â
âYou promised dinner tonight. Iâm holding you to that.â She gazed up at him, aware of his hand on her waist, his nearness, his green eyes filled with determination and a look that kept her pulse racing.
He brushed her lips lightly with a kiss and moved away. âIâll see you at seven, darlinâ.â He strode through