He had scoffed when she said he was trying as a father, but only a good man would have put everything aside to do what was right. And he had been that sort of man from the day he arrived and saved her from looking like a fool during the cooking show.

Again and again, he saved her. Now she would do whatever it took to save him in return.

She would kiss him, she would cherish his amazing strength. He had said they would make love. She realized he was correct. And she also realized that it didn't make her like her mother.

But before they could share that ultimate bond, she had to find a way to break through the barriers he had erected around himself. She had to make him feel.

She realized in that second that Jesse was all about making other people feel. Making other people smile and laugh. But he didn't allow the same for himself. He didn't allow himself to let go. Didn't allow himself to give his heart.

He had been through a string of lovers without ever giving more than pleasure.

Her eyes implored him when she started tugging at his jeans.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Kate. You're playing with fire."

She only tugged harder until he had little choice but to step free of the denim or push her away. She saw

the war that raged-the vulnerability that flashed in his eyes. But he did step free, the simple action not so simple, one brick in his wall chipped away.

He stood before her like a man sculpted from granite, hard and solid, no doubts left that he wanted her.

She didn't care that she was naked, damp from the bath. She felt alive as she never had before.

"Kiss me," she whispered.

She didn't wait. She reached up. A breath shuddering through him, he leaned down, giving in, and

brushed his lips over hers, once, twice, before he pulled her to him.

Both of them naked, their kiss turned hard and rough, hot and wet. She couldn't get close enough.

When she grew impatient, he didn't laugh or grin. He groaned like a man lost before they fell onto the bed and he captured her hands above her head.

"I want you, Kate," he murmured, sucking one nipple deep in his mouth. "I want to make love to you."

"And we will, just as you said," she promised, her body arching to him for more.

He nipped and kissed and laved her nipples with his tongue. Her body yearned again. But this time it

wasn't about her.

"But not yet," she added.

She felt the entire length of his body tense with confusion. She rolled off the bed. He followed, but

didn't get farther than the edge of the mattress before she stopped him with her hand against his chest.

"What are you doing, Kate?" There was a tremor in his voice.

"I'm going to make you feel," she whispered.

Wariness flared in him, proving to her that she was right. This strong man didn't allow himself to feel.

But she wasn't about to give up.

She pressed her hand to his chest, leaning into him. He sat, his gaze still formidable. But heat mixed with danger when she kneeled before him.

"Kate," he said, his tone warning.

"What, Jesse?"

"You seem obsessed with proving that you've grown up. Let me assure you that there's nothing left to

prove."

He sounded so stern, so forbidding, and she bit her lower lip with a sudden spurt of nerves. But something more powerful than that urged her on, pushing at her fears.

Hoping he couldn't tell how she trembled, she boldly ran her palms up his naked thighs. His body shuddered, his erection straining, his pulse visible in his neck as he tried to keep control of himself. Without a word, willing him with her eyes, she tugged at his knees. But he didn't budge, his breath growing ragged.

"Spread your legs." Just as he had said to her.

When he didn't move, his every muscle taut, she whispered, "I want this."

Jesse felt his body's need, along with the need not to give up control. He had never felt so on fire for a

woman in his life. But he didn't want to taint the one person he knew who was nothing but pure goodness.

Making love to her was one thing. Letting her go down on him was another.

Taking from Kate seemed impossible. But when she leaned forward and began kissing a path up his thigh, he didn't know how to maintain his defenses.

After long ticking seconds, he spread his legs with a desperate groan. She moved between his thighs and looked at him one last time, her gaze filled with an emotion so genuine that he felt tears burn in his eyes as she finally, inevitably lowered her head, gently taking his hardness in her mouth.

Instantly, sensation like he had never experienced before exploded through his body. She moved on him, her hot, wet, slick mouth gliding over him with an innocent desire that made his blood pound relentlessly.

Jesse wasn't sure how long he could take the sweetness of her. She took him back in time to innocence and purity. Even as her lips circled him, her inexpert motions bespoke that innocence, sending a shiver of unadulterated need coursing through him.

His head fell back, and though he told himself to move her away, his hands only guided her, taught her

what his body wanted, what it started to demand.

Sensation built, control became harder to maintain. He arched over her back, running his palms down her spine to her hips.

A deep moan rumbled in his chest. Kate heard it, he could tell, because she grew even more bold.

She reached low, cupping his balls, taking his length deeper in her mouth, hot and wild, wet and sweet.

He knew that if he didn't do something, he was going to come. And he didn't want that. Not now. So he

tried to pull her away.

But when he pulled her up, her eyes glittered.

"I want this, Jesse," she said, hardly seeming like Kate at all.

Their eyes locked.

"Let me in," she added, her voice nearly cracking with emotion. "Let me inside those walls you keep

around yourself."

She broke his grip, circled his cock with her palm, then slowly, divinely, lowered her head once again.

With that there was no turning back. His body overrode better sense. Conceding a bacchanalian defeat, he felt his legs spread wider. His hand fisted in her hair as his body shivered-making him lose control.

And he did. Lose the reins of that tightly held control. His body peaked as she took him deep one last time, and it happened. He shuddered with his release at the exact moment he ripped her away. He pulled her up to him, clutching her to his chest, his seed spilling over her body, his dick pulsing, throbbing, until he felt like he couldn't breathe.

It was then that he felt the wonder in her as she clung to him, and he felt as well his throat tighten and his eyes burn. When his heart finally settled back, he tipped up her chin. She was smiling. She was happy. Then she moved away and kissed him on the forehead, planting her hands on his thighs, bringing them face-to-face.

"I love you, Jesse Chapman. I've loved you my whole life. But this is a different love. A mature love that has nothing to do with bandaged knees and rescuing. And I'm not going to let you lock me out anymore."

Then she pulled on her clothes and left him sitting there wanting to reach out, but refusing to do so. His age-old need to maintain distance was still there, but it fought with the very real need and desire to pull Kate close. More than that, could he afford her love? He didn't know. He only knew for certain that he didn't deserve it.

To: Julia Boudreaux Chloe Sinclair From: Katherine Bloom Subject: Beautiful Sunday Good morning, my lovely friends! I hope everyone is having a very nice weekend!

xo, Kate To: Katherine Bloom Chloe Sinclair From: Julia Boudreaux Subject:!!!!

Why are you using so many exclamation marks? Don't you realize how obnoxiously cheerful they are? And this from a woman who mere days ago was lamenting her situation regarding some sort of sexual act or non-act. Hmmm, sounds suspicious to me.

J To: Julia Boudreaux Katherine Bloom From: Chloe Sinclair Subject: Very suspicious And did you notice we even got an xo, too?

Chloe Chloe Sinclair Station Manager Award-winning KTEXTV To: Chloe Sinclair Katherine Bloom From: Julia Boudreaux Subject: Allergies I would guess she'd had sex if, one, it hadn't already been a farfetched guess the first time I made it, because two, Kate and sex have become allergic to each other. At the rate she is going, she will forget how to do it. In fact, isn't there some new trend out there regarding revirgination? Kate certainly would apply.

xo, j To: Julia Boudreaux Chloe Sinclair From: Katherine Bloom Subject: Wonderful news Hold onto your hats, ladies. I think things between Jesse and me are going to work out. Things are changing between us... and of course there is the whole issue of how well he is dealing with being a father.

K.

To: Chloe Sinclair From: Julia Boudreaux Subject: Oh dear Kate believing things can work out with Jesse can't be good.

xo, j To: Julia Boudreaux From: Chloe Sinclair Subject: You're surprised?

Excuse me, but HELLO!! I hold you responsible for this, Jules. If it hadn't been for you forcing Jesse to stay in the guest cottage, none of this ever would have happened. She's never fallen out of love with him, and you know it. Regardless, don't rain on her parade. I haven't heard her this happy in weeks. Give it some time and hopefully it will work itself out. If not, we'll figure out a way to make things better.

Chloe To: Katherine Bloom Chloe Sinclair From: Julia Boudreaux Subject: My fault I kick myself. As Chloe said to me, this is all my fault. I never should have told Jesse he could stay with you. But you know we love you, sugar, and you know we are only thinking of what is best for you. So when I say be careful, you know it's only with the best intentions. He is Jesse Chapman, after all-the man as famous for leaving women as he is for his good looks and golf swing. I don't want to see you get hurt, which is exactly what I'm afraid is going to happen here. Because Jesse will leave.

Your friend, jules To: Julia Boudreaux From: Chloe Sinclair Subject: Excuse me?

And that's not raining on her parade how?????

Chloe

SEVENTEEN.