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Deena couldn’t believe it. Alex was kissing her. His warm, tender lips teased hers with a sensual gentleness that made her want to melt against him. He tilted his head slightly, then brushed her lower lip with his tongue. Instantly she parted for him.
He claimed her — passionately. There was no mistaking his need, or his desire. He wanted her.
"You want me?" she asked when he drew back.
He gave her a smile that spoke of male confidence. "Yes, and I mean to have you."
She supposed she should have bristled at his assumption, but she’d waited too long to be anything but happy.
"Only not tonight," he said, rubbing her lower lip with his thumb. "We have other priorities."
He glanced toward the twins’ bedroom. "But soon."
He put his arm around her and led her downstairs. When they were settled on the sofa, he pulled her close. Her head was spinning. This was all happening too fast.
"I don’t understand," she said. "When did you figure out I was more than just office equipment."
He shrugged. "I think I’ve always known, but I never allowed myself to acknowledge the information. It would have interfered with business."
"And now?"
He grinned. "Business be damned."
His smile faded. "I’m not like you, Deena," he said as he took her hand in his. "I didn’t grow up surrounded by a loving family. I never knew my father. My mother…" He dropped her hand. "She preferred partying with her friends to taking care of a child."
Her heart tightened as she sensed his pain. "Oh, Alex."
He looked at her. "I was taken away by the State when I was eight. Maybe it was better. My foster parents believed in education and hard work. They taught me about goals. There wasn’t a lot of affection, but I didn’t care about that — or so I told myself. They had a small business, which I bought from them when I turned twenty."
She knew the rest of the story. "You grew it into Thornton Industries."
He nodded. "There wasn’t much time for anything but work. I was engaged once, but I found out she was only in it for the money."
She ached for him. "I’m sorry."
"I’m not. She reinforced my belief that women don’t care enough to stay."
Deena filled in the rest of the pieces: That he didn’t matter enough to make them want to stay.
"You matter to me," she said. "More than you can imagine."
"I know." He leaned close. "Did you really empty out your savings just to arrange for our day together?"
"I have about eight dollars left."
"You didn’t have to impress me. You could have simply told me the truth."
"When? Where? At the office between our international sales meeting and the regional summit? You would have thought I was crazy."
Alex considered her words, then nodded. "You’re right. I needed to get out of the office to really see you."
The phone rang. Deena jumped up. "That will be Aunt Amanda. John said he was going to phone her next."
"Amanda?" He considered the possibility, then dismissed it. Too coincidental.
But Deena knew him well. Perhaps too well. She grinned.
"Yes, that Amanda. Your former assistant. When she decided to retire, she suggested I apply for her job. She said we would be well matched. Funny, at the time I thought she was talking about a working relationship, but now I have a feeling she meant something else entirely."
He followed Deena to the phone and waited until she’d spoken with her aunt. Once they’d discussed Jenny and the new baby, he took the phone.
"It’s Alex," he said.
"Hello, dear. John told me you were with Deena."
He heard the humor and pleasure in her voice. "You planned this all along," he said. "You wanted me to fall for your niece."
"I had high hopes. I knew you were perfectly matched, but I also knew how focused you were on your work. I wasn’t sure Deena would be able to get through."
He glanced at the beautiful woman standing next to him. "I would have been a fool not to see her."
"It has taken you over nine months to notice, Alex. That doesn’t make you clever."
He laughed and returned the phone to Deena.
Later, when they had talked for hours and kissed and talked some more, Alex stared into her eyes. "Your aunt is right. I was a fool."
"Not anymore."
"I don’t want to lose you," he said.
"I don’t want to be lost." She kissed him. "I’m not leaving, Alex. I’m right where I belong."

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