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“Mmm,” she murmured, stretching her arms high over her head.
Falling asleep in this big chair had become something of a habit. It was surprisingly comfortable; she awoke feeling rested and—
“Ethan?”
The crib was empty.
Rachel shot to her feet.
Had he awakened and started to cry and she’d slept through it?
She told herself to calm down.
Ethan was fine. He was somewhere in the apartment and he was fine. But when she found the person who’d taken him instead of waking her—
Barefoot, she made her way down the silent corridor, down the stairs, through the dark rooms …
And ended her search by following the pale flow of light into the big living room, where she found her little boy and her captor.
They were fast asleep.
Rachel’s throat constricted.
The room reflected the life and wealth of its owner. White walls. White furniture highlighted by touches of deepest black. It was a sophisticated setting for a sophisticated man …
A man who lay sprawled on one of the long white sofas, shoes, suit coat and tie tossed aside, with Ethan lying spread-eagled against his chest—Ethan so small and sweet in the powerful arms of the powerful man who, except for that first night, behaved as if he didn’t exist.
The baby sighed into the tiny damp spot his sore gums had left on what was surely a hand-made white shirt.
Karim drew him closer and, in his sleep, stroked a big hand down Ethan’s back.
The baby snuggled in.
Something hot and dangerous flooded Rachel’s heart.
No. No, she was not going to let this scene affect her. She knew better, knew what men were, knew what this man was …
Knew that he could be hard as well as tender, not just when he held a baby but when he held her.
She must have made a sound, perhaps a sigh like the baby’s, because Karim’s dark, thick lashes fluttered, then rose.
His eyes, still blurry with sleep, met hers.
“Ethan was crying.” His voice was late-night hoarse. “You were sleeping. I didn’t want him to wake you.” He paused. Why was she looking at him as if she’d never seen him before? Karim cleared his throat. “So I brought him down here with me.”
He fell silent. His heart was racing.
How could she be so beautiful? Such an insignificant word to describe her but it was the only one he had.
