CHAPTER THREE

      IT WAS THE first time Dani could ever remember propositioning anyone. And in some ways she was taking advantage of Alex; he’d opened his heart to her and told her exactly why he was keeping a distance between himself and the rest of the human race. He was vulnerable. Hurting.

      Then again, so was she. She’d spent months trying to convince herself that she was over Leo. She didn’t love her ex any more; but she was finding it hard to get past the knowledge that she hadn’t been enough for him. That something in her was lacking. That maybe she was too bossy and unloveable—and that was why he hadn’t wanted to have a baby with her.

      She hadn’t even told her best friend about that bit, feeling too ashamed of herself. Other people had it much worse—Hayley had had to bury the love of her life when she was only thirty years old—and Dani knew she was just being a whiny, selfish brat about her own situation.

      But just maybe she and Alex could help each other feel better. If only for a little while.

      She stroked his face. ‘I’m glad it’s a yes.’

      He turned his head to press a kiss into her palm. ‘Me, too.’

      His blue-green eyes had darkened. Gratifyingly so. And Dani felt desire kick deep inside her.

      ‘Then let’s go somewhere more comfortable.’

      She’d half expected him to hold her hand, but she wasn’t prepared for him to scoop her up in his arms—as if he wanted her so much that he couldn’t wait. It shocked her and thrilled her at the same time.

      ‘Which door?’ he asked when he carried her into the hallway.

      ‘On your right,’ she said.

      He finessed the door handle, switched on the overhead light and closed the curtains, all without dropping her.

      And then he let her slide down his body so she was left in no doubt about how much he wanted her.

      She reached up to him and kissed him.

      He untucked her shirt from her skirt, and unbuttoned it really, really slowly, keeping his gaze fixed on hers the whole time. Whenever his fingers brushed against her, it made her skin tingle.

      ‘My turn,’ she said, and undid his shirt. She blew out a breath. ‘Nice musculature, Dr Morgan.’

      He inclined his head to acknowledge the compliment. ‘Thank you.’

      She pushed the soft cotton off his shoulders. ‘Nice arms.’

      In return, he pushed her shirt off her shoulders. ‘Turn round.’

      Not sure where he was going with this, she did so.

      ‘Nice back, Dr Owens.’ And then he kissed the nape of her neck before loosening her hair from the scrunchie she kept it in at work.

      Her knees went weak. Alex’s touch was doing things to her that she’d forgotten could even happen.

      ‘May I?’ he asked, his fingers at the clasp of her bra.

      ‘It’s the Year of Saying Yes,’ she reminded him, though she liked the fact that he’d asked.

      ‘I know. But if you change your mind about this...’

      ‘I’m not going to change my mind,’ she said.

      He unsnapped her bra and let the lacy garment fall to the floor, then slid his arms round her and cupped her breasts. ‘Beautiful,’ he said, and kissed his way along her shoulder.

      Desire shivered through her. ‘Alex.’

      ‘I know. Me, too.’ He turned her to face him and kissed her lightly. ‘You’re gorgeous.’

      She hadn’t felt it. Not for months and months and months. She’d felt ugly and rejected and unloveable, and hated herself even more for being so self-indulgent when so many worse things were happening in the world. But Alex’s touch was helping to salve the bruise that went right through her.

      ‘So are you,’ she said.

      She paused with her fingers on the waistband of his trousers. ‘May I?’

      ‘Yes,’ he whispered, and the huskiness of his voice sent a thrill down her spine.

      She undid the button, lowered the zip and eased the material over his hips. The trousers pooled at his feet and he stepped out of them. She picked them up and hung them neatly over the back of her chair, and Alex laughed softly.

      ‘What?’

      ‘Very organised.’

      ‘If you’d been wearing jeans, I would’ve left them on the floor. But these are your work—’

      He stopped her by kissing her. ‘I was teasing. Actually, I really like the way you just sort everything out without comment or fuss. It’s adorable.’

      That hadn’t been what Leo had said. Her ex had seen her as a control freak. An emasculating bitch. And Dani wasn’t entirely sure that her best friend was right when Hayley had said it was simply Leo trying to make excuses for his behaviour and pin the blame on her.

      ‘Dani,’ Alex said, his voice gentle. ‘The deal was we’re not thinking. We’re just feeling. Tonight is tonight.’

      ‘Yeah. Sorry.’

      He drew her into his arms and stroked her hair. ‘Your ex was incredibly selfish and incredibly stupid. Don’t blame yourself.’

      Much, much easier said than done.

      ‘No,’ she fibbed.

      ‘Dani.’ He tilted her chin upwards, making her meet his eyes. ‘You’re lovely. Don’t let anyone make you think otherwise.’

      His kindness almost brought tears to her eyes.

      He slid his hands down her sides. ‘Right now, you’re wearing too much. And I’m not happy about your standing around in that walking cast.’ He groaned. ‘And that makes me feel horrible. I’m pushing myself onto an injured woman.’

      She wasn’t sure how much was theatrical teasing and how much he meant it, but the teasing note in his voice made her feel better. ‘It’s removable. And if you carry me to bed it’ll take the pressure off my foot.’ Pressure that wasn’t really there in the first place, but she was going along with his line of whimsy.

      He slid the zip of her skirt downwards, got her to step out of it, and then folded it neatly and hung it on the chair with his trousers. ‘I’m a neat freak, too,’ he said.

      Dani was grateful for that.

      ‘And you’re beautiful, but this overhead light is a little too harsh.’

      ‘I’ll switch the bedside light on if you deal with the