"I didn't like the way that made me feel. Like maybe I needed a bath." He laughed a bit self-consciously, surprised at the way he was confiding his thoughts to her. "A couple times I wished I could turn the sick bastards in myself. Just walk up to the jury and tell them the truth."

"Wow." She leaned toward him, eyes sparkling. As she did, the front of her blouse parted slightly, revealing the curve of one breast. Desire kicked him square in the gut, and he dragged his gaze away, guilt rushing over him in a storm. She lowered her gaze, then looked up at him through dark lashes. "It's such an honor to be working for you."

He laughed. "That makes me sound like some ancient Supreme Court justice. Wrinkled and arthritic."

She joined his laughter. "You're not like that at all. You're the sexiest man-" She brought a hand to her mouth, embarrassed color flooding her face. "I can't believe I…that I said that. I am so sorry."

"Don't apologize, for Heaven's sake. I may be old, but I'm not dead. A compliment like that from a beautiful woman is damn nice." Better than nice, he admitted silently. Exciting. Exhilarating. It seemed ages since anyone had looked at him the way Julianna did. Even Kate. These days his wife looked at him as a father first, husband second. He wasn't sure if sexy would even make the top ten.

"Thank you," she murmured. "For the beautiful part."

"You're welcome." He grinned, realizing that he was flirting with her. And not in a small way. Even as he told himself to steer the conversation back to professional matters, he angled his body toward hers. "Tell me about yourself, Julianna. You've been working for me for two weeks and I know nothing more about you than I did the day we met."

She pushed her half-eaten sandwich away. "What do you want to know?"

Everything, he realized. The things she liked, the ones she didn't; what her childhood had been like, the qualities she looked for in a man.

He swallowed hard, uneasy. He hadn't had thoughts like these about a woman since he had said "I do." Sure, he had admired a woman's chest or ass, had wondered, briefly, what she would be like in bed. There wasn't a heterosexual man, married or not, who didn't do the same from time to time.

But this was different, he acknowledged. This was real interest-in Julianna, the person. This was an attraction that went deeper than a tickle of arousal over a short skirt or a glimpse of skin.

Interest in a person-who just happened to be a pretty secretary-wasn't a crime. It didn't mean he was a snake or a sneak. It didn't mean he was going to cheat.

He wasn't that kind of man anyway. He was the kind who loved his wife and believed in the sanctity of his marriage vows. The kind who had sown all his wild oats before taking the nuptial plunge.

And it was a good thing, too, he thought. Because if he hadn't, being around Julianna Starr day in and day out could prove to be dangerous.

"Come on, sweetheart," Kate murmured to Emma, who was swinging her arms and legs for all she was worth. "We want to be pretty for our company, don't we? And for Daddy?"

In response Emma kicked harder and squealed louder, laughing at her mother's attempts to dress her. Kate shook her head in amused exasperation. "I guess not, you little stinker."

Kate bent, pressed her lips to the child's bare belly and blew, giving her daughter a raspberry. Emma froze, then let out a gurgle of delight. Kate used the moment to slip the garment over Emma's head, then ease her arms in. Before she could protest, Kate snapped up the legs and crotch.

She grinned at her daughter. "Gotcha."

Aware of time passing, Kate checked her watch and saw that Richard and his new assistant would be arriving in minutes-and she wasn't even dressed yet. After lifting and locking the crib rail, she wound Emma's colorful mobile, which the child would watch for as long as Kate could keep it moving, and dashed to her bedroom to throw on something she wouldn't be embarrassed to be seen wearing.

Sure enough, as she fastened the last button at the neck of her soft, swingy dress, she heard Richard arrive home. "Be right out, hon," she called from the bedroom door. "There's a bottle of white in the fridge and a red in the rack. Pour me a red, will you?"

Kate went to the mirror to check her appearance one last time. She confessed to being a little nervous at the prospect of meeting Julianna. Richard had done nothing but sing the young woman's praises, and when he had mentioned needing to put in some late hours, she had suggested they come to the house. They could all have dinner together, then he and Julianna could get to work while she cleaned up and tended to Emma. After all, she had teased, she wanted to meet this prodigy. He had teased right back, accusing her of being jealous of all the time he was spending with another woman.

She had laughed and kissed him.

She wasn't laughing a few minutes later when Julianna turned, smiled and held out her hand. "You must be Kate," she said softly.

Kate shifted Emma in her arms and took the woman's hand. From Richard's description she had expected a young, eager and unsophisticated woman. She had expected her to be pretty.

But not beautiful. Not mysterious and sexy-looking. She hadn't expected her to be so poised and self-confident.

And she certainly hadn't expected the almost possessive way Julianna looked at her husband.

"And you're Julianna," she said. "It's good to finally meet you."

The young woman shifted her gaze to Emma. Her lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "And this little beauty is Richard's baby. Emma Grace."

Kate bristled. "Yes, this is Emma. Our daughter."

Julianna looked at Richard. "I'd love to hold her."

He smiled. "Go ahead."

"No." Kate drew back instinctively as the girl reached out. Embarrassed by the involuntary action, she cleared her throat. "Sorry, but sometimes Emma doesn't react well to strangers. She needs time to warm up."

"Since when?" Richard said with a laugh, on his way out back to light the grill. "Let Julianna hold her. I'm sure she'll be only too happy to give her back if she starts fussing."

He was right. She was behaving like an overprotective idiot.

Kate handed Emma over, a lump forming in her throat. As she watched the younger woman cuddle and coo to her daughter, Kate fought the urge to snatch her back.

What was it about this woman that affected her like fingernails dragging across a chalkboard? Kate wondered. Why had she taken such an immediate and overwhelming dislike to her?

She was acting petty and jealous, Kate decided. A form of dementia brought on by an adult spending all her time alone with an infant.

Be that as it may, when Emma began to squirm, Kate used the opportunity to take her back. "You know babies," she said lightly, forcing a smile, "no one will do quite like their mothers."

"Richard tells me she's adopted."

Kate turned and looked at the other woman. Again, she wore that small, knowing smile. Not a smile, Kate decided, gritting her teeth. A smirk. As if she knew a delicious secret and it made her feel really superior.

Kate wanted to snap that adopted or not, she was still Emma's mother. But she didn't, managing to hold her tongue by reminding herself that this girl was one of Richard's employees. "That's right," she said coolly. "If you'll excuse me, I'll get the appetizers."

Much to her chagrin, Julianna followed her into the kitchen. "You must feel really lucky. I hear it's hard to find babies to adopt."

Kate counted to ten. Normally she didn't let people's well-meaning but sometimes hurtful questions about Emma's adoption get to her. Kate accepted the fact that her daughter was adopted as simply a part of who Emma was, one of the many things that made her special and unique. When someone made a stupid or offensive comment it was because they didn't know any better, and Kate always used the opportunity to educate them.