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Category: Erotica/Multicultural-Interracial Erotica
Description: Major Rafe Steele lived and breathed the military life. His entire career had been spent in the marines, and he was comfortable in his bachelor life. No wife, no children, and nothing to hold him back from taking the next tough mission. He could ride his motorcycle in the mountains or have a party or three if he had a mind to. He was a lone wolf, and he liked it that way--until one night he came home and there was a package he didn't expect, in the form of a baby car seat holding a little girl and a note. This is Bonnie. She's your daughter. What the hell did he know about being a dad? But when he looked into the baby's eyes, he knew it was the truth, and there was no way he was giving her up. Rafe needed help and decided to enlist his neighbor across the street. Ivy St. Clair was a nurse, and even though he knew she thought he was some kind of playboy, who better to help him learn the ropes of raising a baby? He didn't expect to be attracted to the shy woman with the brown eyes who had no problem saying what she meant. He certainly didn't think he would fall for her and dream about her kisses and her taste. Rafe found his life taking a whole new road where fatherhood and the thought of a commitment took center stage. But would his lone wolf ways come back to haunt him? Especially when the threat of losing his daughter and Ivy became a real possibility.
eBook Publisher: Sugar and Spice Press, 2012
eBookwise Release Date: June 2012

12 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [178 KB]
Words: 42429
Reading time: 121-169 min.

A knock on her door made them both look up. Ivy crossed the room to open it. Again with the people at my door! Rafe didn't move, but since her living room, eating area and kitchen was one big open area only separated by a marble kitchen island, he could see the front door clearly. Ivy had to resist the urge to roll her eyes as she opened the door and found Donna and her double Ds on the other side, wearing a polka dot bikini no less. The redhead's bikini top barely covered her breasts and she had on an extremely short pair of cutoffs.

"Well, if it isn't Donna double..." Ivy stopped herself before the entire nickname came out. She looked back and saw Rafe trying hard not to laugh. "It's for you, Rafe."

He stood with Bonnie in his arms and went to the door while Ivy stepped back, but not before she caught the pouty face on Donna.

"You left your own party, naughty boy," Donna said. "I was waiting for you to come back and then I decided to take the bull by the horns and come get you myself."

"I came to check on the baby," Rafe said. "I was meaning to ask where your boys were."

"With their father until Wednesday, so I'm all yours. Come back to your house and play with me, Rafe."

Ivy rolled her eyes at Donna's breathy voice.

"Not right now. I'm feeding Bonnie her dinner," Rafe said.

"Let her do that. She's a nurse and obviously kind of ... a bore. You don't need to spend your time over here when there's a party at your place," Donna said on a loud whisper. Ivy had no doubt she meant for her to hear it.

"Excuse me. I'm a what?" Ivy felt her anger rise. "You dare come to my door with those plastic things barely concealed and say what? Say it again to my face."

Ivy was quiet and usually kept to herself, but she would be damned if she would back down and let this woman insult her.

"Ivy," Rafe's voice warned softly. "The baby."

Donna put an innocent expression on her face, but Ivy could see the malice behind it. "Seriously, it seems they are letting anyone get a house in this fine neighborhood anymore."

"Honey, you're not in a mansion in Hollywood, you live in Maryland," Ivy snapped. If this chick wanted fire, well, she was going to get it. "Most people in this neighborhood work for a living. We don't have the luxury of living off our older ex husband's alimony."

Rafe chose that time to interrupt. "Donna, head back to the party. I'll be there soon."

"Okay, darling. Make sure your baby is okay with this one. She doesn't seem to be right in the head," Donna said sweetly.

"I'll show you who's right in the head," Ivy snapped and went to step around Rafe.

Donna seemed to decide that she'd pushed her luck and turned and went down the steps in a hurry. Rafe closed the door before he turned to Ivy.

"What the heck was that?" he asked.

"She was baiting me and I took the bait," Ivy said. "I didn't see you saying anything in my defense when she was openly insulting me."

"Well, hell, you didn't give me a chance," Rafe replied. "Sometimes you have to rise above people like that and let them not see that they make you angry."

"This coming from a man who probably never had to deal with a damn thing in his life," Ivy snapped. "Let me guess. You were a jock in high school and girls like that were just dangling off your arms?"

"I was never mean or cruel to anyone. I was raised better than that," Rafe said. "I'm sure you were too."

Ivy looked at him in amazement. "So I was supposed to let her just come to my door and insult me? You don't know how I was raised, Rafe, don't presume to know me."

"I hear you," Rafe said quietly.

"I'll finish feeding Bonnie. You go back to your friends. They are obviously missing you," Ivy said angrily.

"Ivy..."

She took the baby from him gently. "I promised to watch her so you could play host and I don't break my promises."

"This isn't over," he said quietly.

"No, it is. I see what side of the fence you're on and it isn't mine." Ivy's voice held no emotion. "You're the type that likes to hang out with girls like me for the favors, the babysitting, and for the down time. But when you're having parties or going to dinner on the town, you want girls like Donna on your arm. I refuse to be a second class anything. Go to your party. Pick Bonnie up when it's done."

She took Bonnie to the table and sat with her in her lap, essentially blocking him out. She felt his gaze on her for what seemed like the longest of moments before he opened the door and stepped outside without a word. She sighed and rested her head against Bonnie's for a minute. In response, she got five wet, drool-covered fingers in her face.

"Eww," Ivy laughed. "Well, let's get you fed."

She had felt herself opening up to Rafe, but she promised to never make that mistake again. It was much later when he came for Bonnie, who, by that time, was asleep on the same blanket as before. Ivy opened the door when he knocked and the baby bag was already packed and waiting for him.

She handed it to him. "She had a bottle at nine. If you want to take her in the blanket that's fine because you didn't bring one. Just put it on my steps when I'm at work. I'll grab it when I come home."

Rafe didn't say a word. Instead, he pulled her against him and before she could say a thing, his lips were devouring hers. Ivy struggled for a minute and then warmth flooded her body. Lord, the man had amazing lips and it was just as she imagined it would be. He teased her mouth open with his tongue and when she gave him entry, he delved deeper into her mouth and moaned, pulling her harder against him so she would feel his throbbing manhood. She wanted more, but then reason flooded into her subconscious and pushed away the pleasure of his mouth on hers. Ivy wrenched her mouth away from him and stepped back, eyeing him angrily.

"Why did you do that?" she asked. "What, Donna didn't put out after all? I'm sure there were a few others there who were willing to give you a piece of ass before they left."

"Is it so hard to believe that I wanted to kiss you?" Rafe asked. He walked over to where Bonnie was sleeping and scooped her up in his arms. On his way back to the door his hand snaked out and went behind Ivy's neck. He dragged her to him and he kissed her hard, long and deep.

"I'm not what you think, Ivy. Eventually you'll see that," Rafe said, stepping back again.

She wanted him to leave. She didn't like the feelings coursing through her--feelings he had elicited with just one kiss. Ivy watched as he walked down the street until he opened the door to his house. He looked back and met her gaze for a minute and she forgot how to breathe until he went inside and closed the door. She would blame his kissing her on the fact that he probably had alcohol when he went back to the party or maybe he was just trying to prove a point. He wanted her for just a friend, nothing more. It would do her well to remember that and not expect anything. Ivy refused to be heartbroken again.