Expecting the Boss's Baby by Leanne Banks Read Free Book Online Page B

she pushed open the door and walked down the hall to the kitchen. The complete absence of Michael’s personal expression throughout the house surprised her.
    “Good morning,” he said from behind her, making her jump. She whipped around to find him looking down at her. His gaze swept over her. “I like my shirt on you.”
    She tugged at the collar and crossed her arms over her chest, then dropped them to her sides. Sherubbed her thighs together, all too aware of her bareness beneath his shirt. There was something just a little different about the way he was looking at her. His gaze held a tinge of possessiveness edged with tenderness. Kate blinked and the expression was gone.
    “Thank you for coming for me last night and for giving up your bed. I was just looking around your apartment. Why aren’t you at work?” she blurted out, unable to stifle her curiosity.
    He waved his hand toward another room which held a desk, a raft of papers and a laptop. “I’m working from the laptop this morning. How are you?” he asked, and his gaze turned assessing.
    “Fine. I’m great compared to last night. I’m sorry I was a little weepy.” She smiled. “My stiff upper lip is back this morning.”
    “It’s okay. I didn’t break out in hives from your tears.”
    “True,” she said, remembering how he had held her. She glanced at his hands and saw scratch marks. Wincing, she reached for one. “Parkay?”
    He nodded. “She was under your bed and didn’t want to come out.”
    “Ingrate,” she said.
    “Tuna helped, but I almost had to bring home a lot of her friends.”
    “Oh I bet you were popular with all the kitties.” She released his hand and sighed. “How long have you been here? Did you move in recently?”
    “Three years ago,” he said with a shrug. “I’ve been busy.”
    “But there are no pictures, no plants. Do you have a CD player?”
    “I think my alarm clock has a radio, but I kill plants.”
    She bit back a moan. “Michael, there’s nothing of you here.”
    “Almost all of me has been at the office.” He glanced at his watch. “Which is where I’m going now that I know you’re okay.” He backed away to turn off his computer and load it in his attaché. “Call me if you need anything.”
    Wondering if she’d made him uncomfortable with her questions, she joined him at the door. “Michael,” she said, drawing his attention back to her.
    He looked down at her, and she acted on an impulse. Standing on her toes, she kissed him lightly. “Thank you.”
    He slid his arm around her waist and gave her a deeper, hungry kiss. “Tonight.”
    He left and she leaned against the door, touching her lips as they buzzed. Her entire body buzzed. She covered her eyes and shook her head. “Get a grip.”
    She looked up, her gaze taking in her barren surroundings, and decided to make a few changes. By the time Michael arrived home tonight, his apartment would at least be more comfortable. Itwas the least she could do. The man had rescued her cat and been there when she called him.
     
    Michael arrived home late that night to the sound of Santana gently playing on a boom box and the kitchen table set with new china and flatware. A pitcher in the center of the table held a small bunch of spring flowers. Candles had been lit and snuffed out, and he inhaled the mouthwatering scent of something Italian. He glanced in the refrigerator and spotted lasagne.
    Michael blinked. His refrigerator usually only held stuff like beer and soda, occasionally juice and a few leftovers that resembled chemistry experiments gone bad. Lasagne.
    Closing the door, he tugged at his tie and walked through the apartment in search of Kate. He found her asleep in his bed with a book folded over her stomach. Parkay lay at her feet.
    She had waited for him, he realized. It was an odd feeling. He couldn’t remember anyone waiting for him. A whispery sweet feeling snuck under his skin. Damn strange thing. He liked it and felt uncomfortable