"What the h.e.l.l's this nonsense Katie's been-" Jack strode into the kitchen, the little girl who had run for him clinging to his hand, only to stop dead at the sight of Clara.

"See? I told you, Uncle Jack," Katie said importantly.

"She's brought you roses, Jack," one of his sisters pointed out with suppressed hilarity.

Wordlessly Clara held them out. Going red to his ears, Jack took them. His eyes locked with hers. His face worked. Then he let loose with a tremendous sneeze.

"You're allergic to roses, too?" Clara asked, light dawning in a tremendous flash. No wonder his sisters had reacted with such hilarity.

"I hate roses," Jack said, scowling and thrusting the gorgeous ma.s.s of two dozen, bloodred long stemmed roses at his sister.

"And cats and cheese and-"

"Sally, would you shut up, please?" Jack's tone was more vicious than polite. Sally laughed, but obligingly shut up.

"Jack, there's a card with these roses." Clara's eyes widened with horror as Janey dug it out. She hadn't bothered to put it in an envelope. On the flower-edged front, it said simply- "To Mr. Irresistible," Janey read aloud. The room erupted in a chorus of giggles. Jack stared at Clara, his eyes turning suddenly emerald. Clara stared miserably at the floor. Never in her life had she suffered such an agony of embarra.s.sment.

"Ladies, could we have some privacy, please?" Jack fixed his sisters with monitory eyes.

"Aren't you even going to introduce us before you sweep her off her feet, Jack?"

"This is Clara Winston. Clara, as you have no doubt guessed, this gaggle of giggle boxes is my sisters. And they are going to bed."

The room emptied in a hurry. Giggles floated back to them from the hall. Jack turned and carefully closed the kitchen door. Then he looked at Clara, his arms crossed over his chest, his head c.o.c.ked to one side. Those eyes still blazed a vivid green.

"Did you mean it?"

"What?"

"That Mr. Irresistible stuff."

"Yes."

"Do I take it you're proposing?"

Clara felt her heart speed up. "Do I take it you're accepting?"

"If you're proposing, then I'm accepting." He grinned suddenly, holding out his arms. "Come here, baby."

Clara went to him. His arms closed around her. His mouth came down on hers. Clara kissed him back with giddy abandonment. She felt like she'd finally come home.

"You really are my Mr. Irresistible, you know," she murmured when at last he lifted his mouth from hers. Opening her eyes, she smiled languidly into eyes of emerald green.

"Baby, what I am," he said, punctuating his words with kisses, "is irresistibly yours."

And then he kissed her again. As Clara wrapped her arms around his neck, she thought she heard a chorus of giggles from just beyond the kitchen door.

Also by Karen Robards.

Amanda Rose.

Dark Torment.

Loving Julia.

To Love a Man.

Wild Orchids.