The Temporary Mrs. King by Maureen Child Page A

and reluctantly pulled away from her. He straightened up and then reached behind her to zip up her dress. When he was finished, he caged her between his arms as he leaned on the balcony trying to catch his breath and convince his dick that it wasn’t about to explode in frustration.
    â€œSean?”
    He looked into her eyes, and they were glazed, confused and so damned sexy he wanted to throw away his own stupid sense of honor and do what they both wanted to do. But he wouldn’t.
    Not yet, anyway. Not until she’d released him from the damn vow.
    Her hands dropped to his shoulders and held on as if she were unsure of her balance and standing alone. He understood that completely. His own legs were a little shaky, which was lowering to admit. Hell, he’d never been so…rattled by a woman.
    â€œSean, that was—”
    â€œMelinda,” he said, resting his forehead against hers, “a couple more minutes of this and…”
    â€œOh. Oh .” She pulled in a long, shuddering breath and nodded slowly. “I can’t believe we just—”
    â€œYeah well,” he whispered with a rueful smile, “it’s been a long day.”
    She laughed a little brokenly and the sound wrenched at something inside him. “I shouldn’t have—I can’t believe I let you—wanted you to—”
    Sean eased back and cupped her face in his palms. “Melinda, it’s no big deal.” Liar , his brain shouted, but he ignored it. “We’re married, right? We kissed. We—” He let her go, and shoved both hands through his hair. “Just, don’t beat yourself up over it, okay?”
    â€œSean, there’s something you should know.”
    He waited and a moment later, she spoke again.
    â€œI was engaged once. My fiancé, Steven Hardesty, died in a car accident here on the island more than a year ago.”
    Her gaze was filled with regret, old pain and the shadows of guilt. Only a few seconds ago, desire had been churning through his veins like lava. In one flashing instant, it was gone. In the very next heartbeat, it was replaced by anger.
    â€œSteven?”
    She nodded miserably, letting her gaze slide away from his. “He died and I—”
    â€œWhat?” Sean demanded, turning her face back to his. “Needed to find someone to scratch your itch?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWhy else am I here?”
    â€œOh please,” she said, misery in her eyes sliding away to show him that she too had a temper. “You know exactly why you’re here. We have a deal.”
    â€œYeah?” He just looked at her. “Deal or not, you didn’t seem to be giving much thought to good ol’ Steven a minute ago.”
    â€œYou—” Her jaw snapped shut on whatever else she might have said. She settled for giving him a glare that should have set fire to his hair.
    â€œYou said you weren’t interested in romance. Why?” Sean demanded, keeping his voice low, ever mindful of the room full of wedding guests right behind them. “After Steven died you went into proverbial hiding? Tucked your heart into a box and buried it with him, is that it?”
    â€œYou don’t understand,” she countered and a flash of anger that matched his glittered briefly in her eyes.
    â€œOh, I understand more than you think,” Sean told her. He fought the churning sense of outrage and anger, but damned if he could conquer it completely. He snorted in disbelief at this whole situation. Melinda had researched him. Seems he should have done some of that himself. “So it wasn’t all a business deal at all. I’m a damn substitute for the late, great Steven.”
    â€œDon’t talk about him like that.”
    â€œWhy not?” Sean argued. “I’m his stand-in. Who better?”
    She whipped her hair out of her face and glared up at him. “You’re not a replacement for Steven. I told