Chapter 31Maya.Warm lips kissed a line from her shoulder down her arm. Maya stirred and opened her eyes to see Alex’s dark head move sensuously down her body.“That’s a very nice way to wake up,” she murmured.His head came up, and she met the liquid gold of his eyes. “How are you feeling?”She rolled onto her back and lifted her hand to thread it through his short hair.“Much better. I’m full and had a nap. What more could a pregnant woman want?”“Our child did not sleep much,” Alex said as he slid his hand over her rippling abdomen.She smiled. “No, he has been very active lately. The obstetrician said they do the most moving in the second trimester.”He stared intently at her rounded belly, fascination lighting his eyes. “They don’t move in the last trimester?”“Yes, just not as much. There isn’t as much room. In the last month, they do very little as their environment gets even more cramped.”“I would think it would be easier for you to rest then.”She yawned then covered her mo

Chapter 33Maya.Their days slowly began to settle into a routine much as their nights did. Once he was assured of her health, Alex made love to Maya every night, possessing her with passion that left her breathless. But in the mornings, he was always gone before she woke up.She had made it a habit to seek him out,bothered by the fact that he left their bed so early. More often than not, she would find him in the library, either on the phone, on his computer or poring over contracts and faxes. He would look up whenshe entered, and for a brief moment, she would see fire flare in his eyes before his expression became more controlled, and after murmuring a polite good morning, he would return to his work. And she was summarily dismissed.So she spent most mornings alone or in the company of Patrice and Dr. Karounis who seemed quite content to spend their time together. At lunch, Alex would make his appearance as if he hadn’t just spent hourssequestered in work. To his credit, he devot

Chapter 35AlexAlex rose at dawn the next morning. He hadn’t slept since Maya hadnawakened with her nightmare. After he’d soothed her, and she had fallen into a more peaceful rest, he had lain awake, staring at the ceiling as he realized theimpossibility of their situation.Careful not to wake Maya, he showered and dressed. After checking to make sure she hadn’t been disturbed, he went quietly down the stairs. He bypassed his office, though it was his custom to begin the day with business matters.This morning something drove him to the beach where Maya so often visited. The air was chilly blowing off the water, but he took no notice as hestood watching the waves break and slide into shore.Maya’s past, their past, threatened her in sleep. Her memories waged war at her most unguarded moments, and what would he do when it all came back?The terrible conflict that ate at him was wearing him down. He should be angry, and at times he was. But it was also easy to forget. Here on the isl

Chapter 37Maya.Not wanting to be entirely predictable, Maya forewent the garden the next dayband opted instead for the heated pool. She had been eyeing it with longing since they had arrived, and thanks to boutiques only too willing to deliver to the island, she had a simply decadent swimsuit she was dying to try out.As she pulled the skimpy suit on, she realized that in essence she was trying to seduce Alex . Not that she hadn’t already, but she was attempting to make him fall in love with her.She frowned back at herself in the mirror. Wasn’t this backward? He was thebone with the memory. Shouldn’t he be trying to make her fall in love with him?She knew she loved him but hadn’t said the words. Something had held her back, and now she pondered what it was that made her unwilling to take thatnjump.There was a hesitation about him that niggled at her, as though he wanted to keep a certain amount of distance between them. She didn’t want that. She wanted him to love her as she love

Chapter 39Alex.Alex hung up the phone with a grimace and leaned back in his leather chair. He put his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling.He had to return to New York. Piers had called him with the news just moments ago, and Alex greeted the fact with a discomfort that was aliento him. Worse, he’d had to inform Piers and Theron that another of their designs had been stolen. They were understandably furious. With Maya. How would they react when they learned he had every intention of marrying her as soon aspossible?He was torn between wanting Maya to go with him and wanting to keep her sheltered here on the island. Away from any chance she might remember. Away from the judgment and animosity of his brothers.The beginnings of a headache plagued him as he considered the selfishness of that particular thought. He knew, though, that when she remembered, and the doctors had assured him she would, things would irrevocably change between them.He should still be furious w