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would be to thank him for the compliment, but she could barely speak
enough to say, Paul s around back. I ll show you out.
KD spent most of the afternoon vacillating between regretting his
decision to accept the Murrays invitation to lunch and drinking in the
sight of Kelsey. He watched her in her sexy-cute sundress with the same
thirst he downed the lemonade he had with his steak and salad. When
he ate the pineapple-lime cheesecake Kelsey had baked, he imagined
eating it off her naked body.
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Born Again Virgin
He almost choked on a mouthful when Tash asked eagerly, Are you
going to swim with me, Auntie Kelsey?
Jeez. If she took off that dress to reveal some itty-bitty bikini, he
wasn t going to be able to leave the table for another hour at least.
I don t think so, Tash.
Aw, come on, Auntie Kelsey. I want to show you how I can swim
from one side to the other with my floaties on.
Go ahead, Kels. Paul will help me clear up. KD, why don t you take a
swim, too? It s as hot as the devil today.
Gabby sent him a knowing wink across the table. Somehow, although
they had never spoken about it, he sensed she was an ally in his fight to
prove himself to Kelsey. Not that he didn t appreciate the help, but he
wasn t sure he should swim in the pool with Kelsey when there were kids
about.
He needn t have worried. Kelsey was too smart to get herself caught
in any situation she didn t like. Bite your tongue, Gabrielle Murray.
You re not doing any more work. I ll clear up while you take a nap and I
won t take no for an answer. I ll swim with you in a little while, Tash.
The women disappeared into the house, leaving him alone with Paul
and the kids. Tash and Thomas ran straight to the pool, Thomas doing a
dive bomb that sprayed water all over them while his sister squealed.
Hey, calm it down, kids, the baby s sleeping, Paul scolded.
The baby s always sleeping, Thomas groused.
Not always, Paul muttered. Oh sure, he sleeps like a log in the
day, he told KD. But at two a.m.? Forget it.
That s got to be tough.
Yeah, but it s worth it. These kids and the wife? They re everything.
And Gabby s a great mother. The pride in the other man s voice was
obvious, the smile on his boyish face as bright as the afternoon sun as
he watched his kids play. After a while, he breathed a contented sigh.
This the life.
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Sami Lee
It sure is, KD agreed, for once not thankful for the relative
simplicity of his own life when viewed next to a life full of chaos and
responsibility. Instead, he saw the good in it all. The easy camaraderie he
sensed between Paul and Gabby, the effervescent enthusiasm with which
their kids approached everything. The overwhelming fullness of it. By
comparison, his life of contract jobs and meaningless flings seemed
empty.
He d gone soft, for sure. Between Gabby and Kelsey, he hadn t stood
a chance. Gabby had gone and named her kid, in part, after him Dexter
Kelsey. Little DK Murray. He d always hated his middle name, but he had
to admit he was touched by Gabby and Paul s decision to use it.
And Kelsey had& well, just been Kelsey. She d bowled him over with
her beauty and her strength and her hidden sweetness. Okay so
sometimes it was hidden a little too well, but he knew it was there. Had
known it in the rare moments they d laughed together, when he d seen
the soft vulnerability in her eyes while they made love. And the way she d
handled Gabby s roadside birth had filled him with admiration. If he
hadn t already been in love with her he would have fallen, there and
then.
With women, he d always taken the easy path. Chosen the willing,
uncomplicated ones who wouldn t make demands, who were happy to be
a part of his life for whatever short period of time he deemed desirable. In
the beginning he d thought he could do that with Kelsey. But when he d
left last week, the thought of never seeing her again had knifed through
his heart.
She d changed him and there was no going back.
He felt Paul Murray watching him with astute brown eyes. After a
long, thoughtful moment all he said was, You and Kelsey?
I think so. KD ran a frustrated hand through his hair. At least, I
bloody hope so. If she ever decides I m worthy.
Paul laughed. Yeah, she s a tiger. But a marshmallow inside, I
reckon. Be patient. You ll do that if you love her.
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Born Again Virgin
KD heard the unspoken question and looked the other man in the
eye. Gabby and Kelsey had been friends since high school, so Paul had
known Kelsey for as long as he d known his own wife. His readiness to
protect her was as plain as the dimple in his left cheek.
His mother had been snooping, trying to get him to open up about
why he was sticking around, but he hadn t revealed the truth. Neither
had he confided in Frank. Despite the fact he barely knew Paul Murray
or maybe because of it, KD found himself admitting throatily, Yeah. I
love her.
Saying the words out loud was like having an ocean wave sweep him
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