She had not bothered to secure her thick dark brown hair into the usual ponytail, and it was tumbling around her face and down her shoulders, giving her a sexy and utterly desirable look that never ceases to amaze and stir him. “You are mine.”

“And you belong to me, completely.” Brushing his hands aside, she climbed on top of him. “I hope you are recovered enough.”

“What do you have in mind?” But he already knew, and when she sank on top of him, he felt his entire body shifting into action. “My love.” He whispered against her mouth.

“My life.” She whispered back before he claimed her lips.

*****

“We have a slight situation.” She watched him over the rim of her wineglass as he removed the tie and jacket. He had called to let her know that he would not make dinner.

The chef had been so horrified at the possibility of veering from the menu that she had given in and told him to make something for her. The man had been so effusive in his thanks that it had taken supreme will not to burst out laughing.

“What kind of situation?” He had been meeting with several board members and then a business dinner that had dragged on forever. All he had wanted was to come home to be with his family.

His daughter was sitting in bed reading a book and barely acknowledged when he kissed her on the forehead. His son had been in the middle of some game with friends and just gave him a distracted look.

She waited until he had stripped off his undershirt and sat on the leather sofa to remove his shoes.

“Why don’t we go and sit on the balcony?” She suggested. “It’s a lovely night, and I can see how tense you are. Brandy?”

“Am I going to need it?”

She smiled at him sweetly. “Can’t a woman cater to her hardworking man?”

“Jacinth- “

“Let’s go out on the balcony.” Before he could say anything, she was already moving toward the recessed cabinet and pouring him a drink. “I will be outside.”

Shaking his head, he watched as she walked toward the glass door and could not help admiring the seductive sway of her hips in the raspberry-colored silk robe she was wearing. He was also sure that she was completely naked under the flimsy material. The woman was going to be the death of him.

“Here you are, darling.” She handed him the glass and settled back in the chaise; her face lifted to the slight breeze. “The summer break is almost here.”

“Hmm.” Instead of taking another chair, he snuggled beside her and pulled her into his arms. “Stop trying to distract me. What is it?”

“I love you.” Putting her hands around his neck, she put down her glass.

“Jacinth- “

“Madison got a black mark in school for talking.”

He jerked in response, almost emptying his glass. “She did what?”

“Now darling, before you overreact- “

“Oh, it’s a little too late for that.” His tawny eyes glittered, and his attempt to pluck her off him failed when she tightened her hands around his neck. “What are you doing?”

“I am trying to make sure you are calm before you blaze into her room like a typhoon.”

His eyes flashed. “She will be grounded for two months, and she will not be going to Paris with her grandparents.”

“You are being irrational.”

“We are supposed to be a team.” He gritted.

“And we are and always will be. She is acting out, darling. You stopped her from spending the spring with her friends- “

“And she is paying me back by talking in school? What’s next? A boyfriend?” His brows descended into a frown. “And why the hell are you being so cavalier about it?”

“Because I spoke to her- “

“Oh, you spoke to her!” He lifted a hand. “I suppose now we can turn in. Problem solved.”

“I told her we would send her to boarding school if there were any more misbehaving. A Catholic one.” Slipping one hand around his neck, she picked up her glass and watched him over the rim.

“And?”

“She cried and said she loved me, and it would never happen again.”

“Do you believe her?” He demanded.

“Of course I do.” She told him mildly. “In about ten seconds, she will walk out here and apologize to you.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Want to put a wager on it?”

“I refuse-“ They both looked up to see their daughter standing inside the doorway. Madison was already showing signs of the exquisite beauty she would be. Her thick, natural golden-brown curls were tumbling around her face and past her shoulders, and her body was already starting to show signs of the woman she would be.

Her eyes went to her dad as she came forward. “I do not mean to interrupt.”

“You aren’t.” Her mother assured her. “Want to speak to your Dad alone?”

“She stays.” Her husband’s arm tightened around her waist. “What is it?”

“Mom told you.”

“We have no secrets.”