Now as she walked toward him, he swallowed hard. She looked incredible. Her hair was loose, falling past her chin in those waves he loved, and she was wearing a sundress. The coral one she’d had on in Punta Cana. He figured she was wearing the dress because it had no waist, but he could tell with one glance that her stomach had popped out even farther.

Her breasts were bigger, too, if that were possible.

Something happened inside of him. Everything shifted and cracked and splintered, and he took a deep breath.

“Mandy.”

She looked up at him, her hand still in the purse where she’d been digging for something.

Her mouth opened in surprise, and a smile flitted across her face. But then she glanced at the receptionist and tucked her hair behind her ear nervously. “Mr. Sharpton? Did you need me?”

That was a loaded question. “Yes. In my office. Now.”

He turned just in time to see the receptionist wincing. When she saw him looking at her, she dropped her gaze to the desk and grabbed a pad of paper. She coughed.

Rubbing the palm of his hand into the middle of his forehead, Damien sighed.

“Do I need anything from my desk?” Mandy started down the hall.

“No.” Even he could hear how harsh his voice sounded.

She glanced at him in surprise, but she didn’t look inclined to wince or cry or tremble.

When they got into the office, he closed the door, and she turned to look at him in question. “What did you need?”

He ignored the question. “You look good. Sexy. I have such great memories of pulling that dress down over your breasts.”

Her expression went from astonished to cautious. “What are you doing, Damien? I thought we weren’t going to continue in that…vein.”

“I tried, babe, I really did. But the last three weeks just haven’t been right. I miss you.”

And in case she didn’t get the message, he stepped up to her, completely invading all of her personal space, and pulled her into his arms.

“Damien…”

She dragged his name out so long, it practically took a minute to say it.

Brushing her hair off her cheek, he kissed her forehead. Her eyelid. Her temple, her jaw. “Why have you been avoiding me?”

“That’s what we agreed to do. That’s what we need to do.”

But even as she spoke, her arms were twining around his neck. “And you haven’t exactly been coming on to me. You’re more concerned about the baby than me.”