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.processtext.com/abclit.htmlSighing, she closed her eyes and leaned forward until her forehead rested against the cool pane of glass.She was rationalizing, looking for an excuse to do what she wanted.She could analyze and pick at theproblem all night, but the truth was, deep in her heart, where it counted, she had already made up hermind&* * *She was going to turn him down.Matt could feel it.What else could her silence mean? It was aftereleven, and not a peep out of her.His stomach clenched.He went to the window and stared out.He had just showered and was nakedbeneath his robe.Behind him, warm, moist air, laden with the scents of soap and toothpaste andmasculine toiletries drifted from the open door of the bathroom.Except for the light spilling through thesame door, his room was in darkness, allowing him to see through the gloom beyond the window.Mattstared past the dark shapes of wicker furniture to thestubbled field beyond the side yard, where the whitechalk lines of the softball diamond, almost luminescent in the moonlight, glowed.He'd handled this all wrong.Of course she was going to turn him down.What did he expect after thatmiserable little speech he'd given her? "Come be my lover, but don't expect permanence," he mimicked.Oh, yeah, that was going to sweep her right off her feet, all right.What woman could resist such a sweetdeal? You're a real silver-tongued devil, Dolan.Matt groaned.But what else could he do? He couldn't mislead her.He wouldn't do that to any woman.Especially not Maude Ann.He loved her, dammit!Oh, yeah, he'd definitely made a tactical mistake in the way he'd handled things.Unfair or not, afterlaying everything on the line, he should have stuck to her like glue, used the feelings they had for eachother to his advantage.He should have wooed her with gentle persuasion, held and kissed her until shecouldn't even think of saying no.Instead, like a noble idiot, he'd left her alone to think things over and come to a decision.Maude Annwas warm and loving and generous to a fault, and he didn't doubt that she loved him.However, she wasalso an eminently sensible, pragmatic woman.She had to be to run Henley Haven.She loved every childin her care as though he or she was her own, yet when the courts decided one should go elsewhere, sheaccepted the order without a lot of fuss.A woman who could do that just might decide the risks of beinghurt were too great to take a chance on him.So he had a sinking feeling what her decision would be.The thought brought a gush of panic to his chest.Anger followed close behind.His mouth folded into agrim line."We'll just see about that," he muttered.Yanking the belt of his robe tighter, he turned on hisheel and stomped toward the door.If she thought he was giving up without a fight, she could think again.With a face like a thundercloud, he snatched open his bedroom door and came face-to-face withMaude Ann.She stood just on the other side of the doorway, her hand raised to knock."Oh!""Maude Ann."Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlThey spoke at the same time, then fell silent, staring at each other.Matt's chest was suddenly so tight he had difficulty breathing.From the pulse throbbing at the base ofMaude Ann's throat, he knew her emotions were running riot, too.Time seemed to stand still, and for a moment, he couldn't think, couldn't move.Then his gaze loweredfrom those wide, whiskey-colored eyes to trail down her body, and his heart gave a thump.She hadcome to him barefoot, wearing a gossamer-thin black negligee over a sexy black nightgown.His gaze jumped back to her face, and what he saw there made him catch his breath.The glow of loveshining from those expressive eyes told him all he needed to know.Twin bursts of joy and relief explodedinside him, one filling his chest to bursting, the other making his knees weak."Maude Ann," he said again, but this time his voice came out low and dark, rough with emotion.Her soft smile pierced his heart, and he felt his insides tremble.Words were not needed and none werespoken.Never taking his gaze from hers, he reached for her, and she walked into his arms.Maude Ann's arms went around his Waist, and as he pulled her close, she sighed and laid her cheekagainst his chest.For a time they simply stood there without speaking, holding each other, luxuriating inthe moment, savoring the taut, trembling pleasure of anticipation, the sense of homecoming.Then Mattgrasped her arms and held her slightly away from him.He searched her face, looked into her eyes, hisown serious and intent."Are you sure, Maude Ann?"She smiled and cupped his face with her palm."I'm sure.I love you, Matt."He sucked in his breath.His heart seemed to swell in his chest, and his throat was suddenly so tight hecouldn't swallow.Pulling her farther into the room, he shut the door.They stood mere inches apart,gazing at each other.In the semidarkness she looked almost ethereal, as though she was no more than amisty dream his thoughts had somehow conjured up.But this was no dream.This was real.This wasMaude Ann, a strong, passionate woman of substance and heart and earthy sensuality.The very air around them seemed to pulse with awareness.The sweet scent of floral bath talc andperfume drifted from her to tantalize him [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]