His gaze dipped down to her mouth, then further still, slowly running over her body in a way that might have, if she’d been a weaker woman, left her legs wobbly.

She locked her knees just in case.

“I’ve never seen you in anything other than a power suit,” he said huskily. “I like the change.”

She resisted, barely, the urge to tug at her snug shirt.

He reached for her hand. “You know, I’m beginning to think I’m getting the hang of reading your eyes. They’re so expressive they give you away, especially right now.”

Could he see then, how uncomfortable she was? How self-conscious?

“You look beautiful, Amber,” he said, his gaze directly on hers.

Yes, apparently he could.

“I mean it,” he said silkily, and for once, she believed him.

THE MCCALL house was packed with smiling, laughing, talking people, not to mention barking dogs and a blaring stereo. Halfway up the walk, Amber faltered. If this had been a business gathering, she would have known exactly what to do and how to act.

But this wasn’t a work function. This wasn’t a required cocktail party or fund-raiser. It was supposed to be fun.

She didn’t do fun very well.

She’d counted on using Taylor as a shield, but Dax had the baby secure in his arms, and she looked so content Amber had little choice but to leave her there.

Through the opened gate to the backyard the party looked to be in full swing. Couples danced, kids played, people talked. Everywhere.

Amber just stared at what seemed like a sea of hundreds, all happy and comfortable and having a good time. “Are all these people your family?”

“And friends.”

“It’s…” Loud, came to mind, but that seemed rude. Yet she was incapable of coming up with a proper white lie since her stomach was suddenly in her throat. “Different.”

“I should tell you now, my family is bossy, nosy and opinionated.”

Gee, there was a surprise. “I’m sure I can handle it.” But she wasn’t sure at all. She had no experience with large families, no experience with families period.

Dax looked at the hand she’d unconsciously placed on her jittery stomach, and placed his own over hers. “They’re going to love you, Amber. They’re just going to be loud and nosy about it.”

The very idea of perfect strangers falling in love with her was as ridiculous as…well, as being at this party.

“They will.” He smiled, that special one he seemed to hold in reserve just for her. “Ready?”

“Yes. No. Yes. God. I don’t know.” It was the twenty-first century, but having a child out of wedlock didn’t feel like something to be particularly proud of, no matter what the circumstances.

Would they resent her?

Think that she’d trapped Dax on purpose?

Why had she agreed to this?

“I have no idea what’s running through that head of yours,” Dax said with a low laugh. “But I promise it isn’t going to be half as bad as whatever you’re thinking.”

“Okay.” She straightened her shoulders resolutely. “Let’s do it.”

Laughing again, Dax shook his head. “It’s not a firing squad, either. It’s going to be fun.” A sigh escaped him when none of the tension left her. “Come on, I can see you’re not going to relax until we get it over with.”

With Taylor snug and happy in one arm, and his other hand firmly holding hers, he drew them into the fray.

They were immediately surrounded.

“Dax! Let me have that baby!” The woman Amber recognized as Suzette pushed her way to the front and took Taylor into her arms. “Oh, she’s beautiful!” She turned a smile on Amber. “Nice to see you again, we’re so glad you could come. Dax has told us all about you.”

Amber shot a look at Dax, wondering what exactly he’d told them about her.

He just lifted a brow and smiled, leaving her clueless, which she was quite certain he knew she hated.

“Taylor is such a good baby.” Suzette sighed dreamily. “I can’t wait to see mine.” She patted her huge belly. “If he or she ever decides to come on out! I’m two weeks overdue now.” She kissed Taylor’s little nose.

Another woman pressed close, looking so much like Suzette that Amber blinked.

“Hey there, Dax.” The woman kissed him, then leaned over Suzette and kissed Taylor, too. “Hey, sweetie.”

Taylor drooled her pleasure and let out her characteristic squeal, which meant, “I like this! Gimme more!”

Everyone laughed.

“Give her to me, Suzette,” the new woman said. “She likes me best anyway.”

“This is Shelley,” Dax informed Amber. “My oldest and most bossy sister.”

“Honestly, Dax, you know perfectly well I’m the bossy one.” Another blond, beautiful woman pushed her way through the crowd.

“Amy.” Dax grinned and endured her bear hug and loud smacking kiss right on the mouth. “And you’re right, it’s a tie. Amber, this is Amy. The baby of the clan.”

“I’m not the baby, you are!” But she smiled widely at Taylor, snatched Taylor from Shelley’s arms and reached out an arm to give Amber a brief hug. “Wonderful to meet you, welcome to the family.”

Hopelessly awkward and yet unbearably touched at the same time, Amber’s heart tied itself into knots. The strange tightness in her chest, the one she associated with Dax, was back. Actually, it hadn’t left since she’d first seen him again.

Hormones, she told herself. That’s all it was.

“Let me in, let me in!” The woman that pushed her way though this time had definitely been blond before the gray had taken over. She came only to Dax’s chest, was twice as wide, and had a face filled with joy and excitement.

She went straight for Taylor. “Let me have that precious little bundle of love! Hand her over to grandma right this instant!”

“That ‘precious little bundle’ smells to high heaven,” Dax warned as Taylor was passed yet again. “She needs to be changed.”

“What, like I’ve never changed a diaper? Yours included.”

“Just giving you fair warning, Mom.”

“Hey there, precious,” she cooed to Taylor, who all but soaked up the attention.

Then Dax’s mother turned with an expectant smile to Amber.

“Amber, this is my mother,” Dax said. “Emily McCall. And watch out, she’s-”

“Happy to meet you,” Emily interrupted smoothly. “My goodness, you’re lovely! I hope you like meat, you’re so thin for just having had a baby! Are you eating enough? Thomas!” she yelled, without waiting for an answer. She gestured wildly to the tall, darkly handsome man working the barbecue. “Thomas, get over here and meet the mother of your newest granddaughter. And bring a fully loaded plate!”

“Oh no, I couldn’t-” Amber protested, only to be hushed by Emily.

Thomas arrived, carting food and a pleasant smile. “Hello.”

Amber held out her hand. Thomas took it, and then gently drew her in for a warm hug. “Welcome,” he said, in the same silky rough voice as his son.

He’d hugged her, was all Amber could think. As if she belonged to the family. The casual, easy, genuine affection startled her. She wanted to somehow savor it, and at the same time, wanted to run for the hills. Hard and fast. “Uh…I’ve got to-”

“Eat,” Emily said smoothly, ignoring the panic that surely they all could see. “She’s got to eat. And drink, too.” She openly eyed Amber’s breasts. “You are breast-feeding that baby I hope.”

Heat raced over Amber’s cheeks, but before she could reply, Dax broke in. “Mom. You promised.”

“So I meddle,” she said, tossing her hands up. “I can’t help it, it’s my job.” Then she smiled so warmly, so openly that Amber never saw it coming. “You need some meat on those bones, girl. Never mind Thomas and Dax, I can’t trust them to feed you right. Come with me.”

At this, both Thomas and Dax grinned, and Amber couldn’t help but imagine her own father, and what his reaction to this little, bossy, demanding, nosy, wonderful woman would be.

One thing she’d always secretly admired about her father was his strength. But at that moment, he would have looked at both Dax and Thomas, at the way they allowed Emily to run their lives, and he’d have instantly labeled them as weak, spineless and insignificant.

And yet nothing could have been further from the truth.

Dax and Thomas were confident, strong-willed men. And she knew exactly how stubborn Dax could be. She suspected his father was the same.

Neither man was weak, not by any means. She was beginning to think maybe it took more fortitude than weakness to allow all members of a family to be equal.

Emily smiled innocently as she continued to railroad Amber with all the subtly of a bull in a china shop. “Are you drinking a full glass of water every hour?”

“Oh. Well, I-”

“Maybe you’re working too hard. Are you managing to get enough sleep? A baby can be so hard on a mother.”

“I told you she was nosy and bossy,” Dax said over his mother’s head.

“Hush you! I told you to scat.” Emily kissed Taylor and passed her back to Dax. “So scat!” Then she took Amber’s hand. “You come with me now, honey.”

Short of being rude, Amber couldn’t resist. She shot a helpless glance over her shoulder at Dax, who just grinned.

No help there.

Then he was swallowed up by the crowd and Amber was left with the petite powerhouse that was Dax’s mother.

9

AMBER WAS QUIET on the drive home, thinking about the glimpse she’d had into Dax’s world.

She’d seen him playful and teasing with his nieces and nephews. Tolerant and protective of his sisters. Loving and warm with his parents.

Then, without warning, he’d cornered her in the foyer against a wall and had kissed her senseless. By the time he’d lifted his head, smiled wickedly and backed away, she’d nearly melted to the floor.