“But I didn’t want a hookup. I didn’t want to be a one-night stand. That’s why I kept losing my courage, and why I couldn’t approach you. You were on this reckless path, determined to make an early exit, while all I wanted was to try to keep a piece of you alive.”

He didn’t know if he wanted to punch something or grab her and hold her close. He was angry and frustrated and confused, too. She had the strangest way of making him feel things he didn’t want to feel. “How would having my kid help anything?”

“Because I’d have a part of you. You wouldn’t be totally gone. You’d still exist—”

“This is nonsense, Sadie.”

“Maybe to you, because you have no idea how wonderful you are. You place no value on your life, and can’t seem to care that people really, truly love you and if something happens to you, hearts will be broken. My heart will be broken. Yes, you’re tough, and you’ve survived a lot, but you’re not immortal, and you’re not replaceable, and when you’re gone my life will never be the same. That’s why I wanted your baby.” Her tears were falling so fast she couldn’t catch them all. “I wanted something of you to love and cherish when you’re no longer here—”

He grabbed her and pulled her to him, kissing her to stop the stream of furious words. Her lips were cool, and yet her breath was warm, and he wrapped an arm low around her waist, anchoring her to him so that he could more fully explore her soft, warm mouth. She tasted sweet and fresh with a hint of mint, making him think of a candy cane.

He deepened the kiss, wanting more of her sweetness and warmth and softness. She felt right in his arms, achingly familiar, and it crossed his mind that she felt like home, whatever that meant.

But then she pushed against his chest, not hard, but just enough for him to know he had to let her go. Reluctantly he released her, and even more reluctantly stepped away.

“Not fair,” she choked, looking up at him with bright dark eyes, soft pink lips, and flushed cheeks. “You can’t kiss me like that when I’ve given you up!”

“Well, maybe I haven’t given you up.”

“You never had me—”

“Oh, darlin’ I’ve had you for years.”

Her eyes widened with outrage, and she turned away, but he wasn’t having it. He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her again, and the moment his lips covered hers, he felt a jolt of pure energy race through him. She must have felt it too, because she shivered and leaned into him, pressing herself close, her arms wrapping around his neck, holding him tightly.

He urged her even closer, using his hand in the small of her back to bring her hip to hip, chest to chest. Sadie felt so right in his arms—fierce and fragile and impossibly alive.

“Somehow we’re doing this all backward,” he murmured against her mouth.

She murmured a protest, and he took advantage of her parted lips to taste and explore the sweet heat of her mouth. Her full lips quivered, and his tongue stroked her lips and tongue. She shivered against him, and he grew hard, hungry with desire and need.

He wanted her, and he wasn’t going to share her at all. He’d fight any man who wanted to try to take her from him.

“Ahem,” a sharp, pinched voice sounded behind them. “Do you think that’s really appropriate here?”

He knew that voice but couldn’t place it. Lifting his head, he eased his hold on Sadie, but he wasn’t about to let her go. And then he spotted Mrs. Bingley, practically vibrating with disapproval, and he smiled. “Hello, Mrs.