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  Coming to a decision, Rita called out, “Casey,” and a cute redhead behind the counter looked up. “I’m taking a break. Back in fifteen.”

  “Right, boss,” the woman said and went right back to ringing up the latest customer.

  “Might take more than fifteen,” he warned her even as she started past him toward the door.

  “No, it won’t,” she said over her shoulder.

  Whatever her original response to seeing him had been, she was cool and calm now, having no doubt figured out that he deliberately hadn’t contacted her when he got home. They’d talk about that, too. But not here.

  He caught up with Rita in two steps, took hold of her upper arm and steered her past the crowd and out the door. Once they were clear of the shop, though, Rita pulled free of his grip. “I can walk on my own, Jack.”

  Without another word, she proved it, heading down the block toward the Seal Beach pier. The treelined street offered patches of shade and she moved from sunlight to shadow, her strides short, but sure.

  He watched her for a couple of minutes, just to enjoy the view. She’d always had a world class butt and damned if it wasn’t good to see it again. He’d forgotten how little she was. Not delicate, he told himself. Not by a long shot. The woman was fierce, which he liked. But right now, it was his own temper he had to deal with. Why was she here? Why was she pregnant? And why the hell hadn’t he known about it?

  His long legs covered the distance between them quickly, then he matched his stride to hers until they were stopped at a red light at Ocean Avenue. Across the street lay the beach, the ocean and the pier.

  While they waited for the light to change, he looked down at her, and inevitably, his gaze was drawn to the mound of her belly. His own insides jumped then fisted. Shoving one hand through his hair, he told himself he should have written to her as he’d said he would. Should have contacted her when he came home for good. But he’d been in a place where he hadn’t wanted to see anyone. Talk to anyone. Hell, even his family hadn’t been able to reach him.

  “How long have you been home?” she asked, her voice nearly lost beneath the hum of traffic.

  “Four months.”

  She looked up at him and he read anger and sorrow, mingled into a dark mess that dimmed the golden light in those dark brown eyes. “Good to know.”

  Before he could speak again the light changed and she stepped off the curb. Once again he took her arm and when she would have shaken him off, he firmly held on.

  Once they crossed the street, she pulled away and he let her go, following after her as she stalked toward a small green park at the edge of a parking lot.

  The wind whipped her ponytail and tugged at the edges of his suit jacket. She turned to look up at him and when she spoke, he heard both pain and temper in her voice.

  “I thought you were dead.”

  “Rita—”

  “No.” She shook her head and held up one hand to keep him silent. “You let me think it,” she accused. “You told me you’d write to me. You didn’t. You’ve been home four months and never looked for me.”

  Jack blew out a breath. “No, I didn’t.”

  She rocked back on her heels as if he’d struck her. “Wow. You’re not even sorry, are you?”

  His gaze fixed on hers. “No, I’m not. There are reasons for what I did.”

  She folded her arms across her chest, unconsciously drawing his attention to her belly again. “Can’t wait to hear them.”

  Find out what happens when Rita finds out why Jack has stayed away so long.

  LITTLE SECRETS: HIS UNEXPECTED HEIR

  by USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen Child

  Available now from Maureen Child and Harlequin Desire.

  Copyright © 2017 by Maureen Child

  ISBN-13: 9781460399965

  Locked in Temptation

  Copyright © 2017 by Brenda Streater Jackson

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