Page 127 of Down and Dirty

“You think I want a ménage à trois?” He grinned. “I’m not married, Britta.”

“Oh.” She turned slowly to look at him. “And the woman you were drooling all over?”

“Sammy’s teacher. And I was not drooling.”

“Mayhap you will have more children with your new love.”

“Aaarrgh! I am not married, engaged, or involved with Francine in any way. And the last thing in the world I need is another child in my messed-up life. Sammy is enough, thank you very much.”

Britta flinched.

An odd reaction, he thought.

“Is Sammy here?” She checked out the well-lit cabin.

He shook his head. “It’s our lucky day… rather night. He’s sleeping overnight at a friend’s. We have the place to ourselves.”

“I will not be having sex with you.”

Ha, ha, ha. “Whatever you say. Come on. It’s cold out here.”

She followed him meekly into the cabin, or as meekly as was possible for Britta. While she walked around, examining the place, he added more logs to the fireplace. “Take off your cloak, Britta.” She was sitting on the sofa now, still enfolded in the voluminous, fur-lined garment. He was pretty sure it was sable. PETA would hate it. God, that thing must be worth a mint, even if it does smell like wet dog.

“I do not want to remove my cloak.”

“Wanna tell me what’s bugging you?”

“You are.”

Okaaaay. He went to sit down beside her, and she shooed him aside.

“Did you wish-pray me here again?”

“Probably.”

“Why?”

“Briiiitta! I’ve told you I missed you like crazy. Sammy has missed you like crazy, too. What more do you want?”

She shrugged. “I thought I wanted you. I called your keep, and the number was disconnected. Everyone else has an unlisted number… Hilda, Madrene, Cage. I was going to find a way to go back to Coronado next sennight.”

“But…?”

“But I saw you with that woman, and I realized how tenuous this bond is betwixt us, and I cannot take the chance… What are you doing?” That last came out on a squeak.

“Taking my clothes off.”

“Well, do not.”

He continued to remove his clothes and was down to his long john bottoms.

She watched him closely, her eyes glazing over. He hot damn knew what that meant, but he needed to play his cards close to his chest. This was Britta, not his average targ — uh, prospective partner.

“I am not taking my clothes off.”

“Not even your cloak?”

She shook her head. “Especially not my cloak.”