Frowning, he stepped out into the hall and found Anabel peeking into Nicole's room. He noted with some disappointment that she'd pulled her tee and panties back on. But with a toddler in the house, he supposed some sacrifices were necessary.

He didn't own any pajamas, but he went back and got his boxers, then joined her. "She's still asleep?"

"Snoring like a bear cub." Anabel turned to him with a smile. Her gaze skipped over him head to toe and back again. "I just wanted to make sure. "

Like any good mother would. Gil took her arm and guided her back to his room. This time he left his door open but turned the lights out. Without a word, he urged her into his bed, then climbed in beside her and pulled the sheet over them.

She immediately curled into his side. That felt right. More than right. He closed his eyes and said, "Sleep. "

She was silent a moment before asking, "Here?"

It was fast, but Gil didn't care. "Yeah, here. "

Anabel said nothing more. She just snuggled against him and quickly drifted into deep slumber. And like his daughter, she snored.

Sometime late in the night, Gil woke to the feel of damp breath in his face. He opened his eyes, then started with surprise. Nicole was on the bed beside him, leaning on his chest, her nose almost touching his.

"I'm wet," she explained in a loud stage whisper.

"Oh." Gil's brain scrambled at such a predicament. He was in his underwear. Did two-year-olds notice or care about such things?

"I can't find Mommy. "

She sounded ready to cry. Gil quickly got over his squeamishness. This was his daughter, for crying out loud, and Anabel was exhausted. "She's right next to me," Gil told her.

"Why?"

Why? "Shea got cold. "

"Oh. "

"Do you want me to change you? That way we can let your mommy sleep. "

No answer.

Gil carefully caught Nicki and lifted her away so he could get out of the bed. Her gown was soaked, but he still cradled her close to his chest. "Let's be real quiet and sneaky, okay? Won't your mommy be surprised?"

Nicki had no comment on that, but she rubbed her little hand on his chest. "You're whiskery. "

"Not too much. "

"I'm not whiskery. "

"No, and neither is your mommy. "

"Only daddies?"

"That's right." He slipped out of the room and quietly pulled the door shut behind him. "Do you know where your nightgowns are?"

She tugged experimentally on his chest hair. "No. "

Wincing, Gil untangled her fingers and set her down in her room. Together, they rummaged around until she approved a soft shirt to sleep in. The pull-up diaper was thankfully easy. He wasn't altogether sure he could have managed the other kind, not without any practice to his credit.

After he'd changed her wet sheets and was ready to tuck her in, Nicole stuck out her bottom lip. She looked half asleep on her feet, but still she said, "I want a story. "

So he'd get to hear the ending of the book after all? Gil could handle that. He settled in the chair with Nicole in his lap, and had barely finished one page before he heard her breathing even out in sleep. Feeling very paternal and proud, he slipped Nicole into her bed, stood there a moment to make sure she wouldn't awaken, and then headed back to his own room.

Anabel had slept through it all, proving just how little rest she'd gotten lately.

He, on the other hand, was now wide awake and very aware that he had a warm, sensual woman curled up in his bed. Not just any woman, but Anabel. He'd always been drawn to her, no matter how he fought it. But now he liked and respected her, too. She'd done so much. Without complaint, she'd taken on responsibilities that weren't hers, and managed them admirably.

She was not only s.e.xy, but strong. She wasn't just outrageous, she was also bighearted. She wasa beyond appealing. Physically and emotionally. And now she was here, in his bed.

Moonlight flooding through the windows formed a halo around her face. He could see her soft hair tangled on the pillow. She had one hand tucked beneath her cheek and one slender leg bent at the knee, drawn up in what Gil saw as an invitation. Of course, in his frame of mind, even her deep, even snores seemed inviting. He was in a very bad way.

What the h.e.l.l, he decided, and again locked his door.

Moving silently so that he didn't disturb her yet, Gil pulled the blankets off the bed. Anabel shifted, but didn't awaken. She had beautiful legs, slim and sleek, but it was her f.a.n.n.y that caught and held his attention now.

Gil pushed his boxers off. Given it hadn't been that long since he'd come twice, he stared at his b.o.n.e.r with some chagrin, then donned a condom before getting into bed behind Anabel. He leaned close and smelled her hair, a familiar smell now, arousing and comforting at the same time. Gently, he brushed his nose against her, over her ear, her temple, down to her nape. He wallowed in the pleasure of having her near. She slept on.

Using only one finger, Gil traced her graceful spine down to the small of her back, continuing to her bot-torn, and on still until he found the incredible warmth between her legs. He lightly stroked, using only the tip of that one finger, and felt her soften, swell.

She made a sound in her sleep, one that sounded of growing urgency and awareness.

Gil continued to tease, to arouse her. He wanted to take her from behind. It was nice that way, giving him easy access to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and s.e.x. He could push deep while fingering her, teasing her nipples.

Biting off a groan at those erotic images, he slid one arm under her so he could keep her close, in just the right position, at the same time kneading a soft breast. "I want you, Anabel. "

She fluttered awake. "Gil?"

Roughly, he stripped her panties down far enough that he could get inside her. He positioned himself, held her still, and with one firm thrust, he was there.

"Gil. "

His heart pounded with the excitement, the power of it. "Push back against me, Anabel. "

And with a welcoming moan, she did.

Oh yeah, his life was different now. As far as Gil was concerned, it was infinitely better.

Anabel felt a hand on her breast and groaned. Did the man never rest? Okay, so she knew he was s.e.xually uninhibited, but no one had said anything about insatiable. "Go away. "

A husky, male laugh sounded in her ear; solid morning wood nudged her hip. Against her ear, he whispered, "How late does Nicki sleep?"

Oh, good grief. She was actually sore. Deliriously sore, but still, she needed a little time to recoup. He'd really taken the whole trial-run thing to heart. "Uma what time is it?"

"No, you answer first. "

Knowing he was on to her, Anabel grinned. "Gee, I expect her any minute. "

"Liar." Gil turned her to her back and rose over her, smiling with sensual intent.

And Nicki shoved the door open. Vaguely, Anabel remembered Gil unlocking the door after making love to her again. "Time to get up!" Like a small whirlwind, she burst into the room and scrambled up onto the bed, bursting with morning cheer.

In a flash, Gil jerked back to his own side of the bed and pulled the covers all the way to his chin. "Nicolea "

"Daddy!" Nicki landed between them, liked how the mattress bounced, and began to jump.

Laughing, Anabel pushed herself to a sitting position and caught Nicki. She dragged her over her lap and gave her a resounding smooch on the cheek. "Did you sleep well, rat?"

"Daddy changed me. "

"He did?" Anabel noticed then that Nicki's nightgown was gone, replaced by a tee. She glanced at Gil.

He, too, had sat up, and now he had one of the plump bed pillows over his lap. "It was a small matter of a wet nightgown. Nothing too difficult. "

"He read to me. "

"Twice in one night?" It sounded like they'd been up having a good time without her. "Aren't you the lucky little girl. "

Nodding, Nicole confided in a loud whisper, "Daddy's whiskery all over. "

Gil sputtered. "She commented on my chest. She also pointed out that you aren't whiskery. "

"I see." But she didn't, not really. It made her feel odd to know that Gil had managed a midnight crisis without her. Why hadn't she awakened? Why hadn't he awakened her?

But she knew why. Gil was a very capable man. She'd been fooling herself to think he needed her. For anything.

And she trusted him. It was why she'd come to him in the first place. Not only was it the right thing to do, but in her heart she'd known that he'd be a terrific father. He wouldn't completely remove her from Nicole's life, but would he let her stay in his?

As if he'd read her mind, Gil put a hand on her shoulder. "We decided to let you sleep. You were pretty wiped out. "

Anabel nodded. After all her worries, she'd finally felt safe enough to sleep soundly. She didn't doubt that if Nicki had wanted her, she'd have come awake in a rush. But Gil had handled things, proving he was not only a sensitive, astounding, tireless lover, he was also considerate beyond belief.

She felt lost, unsure what to do next.

Very gently, Gil smoothed her hair. "If you'll throw blinders on the little monkey there, I think I'll escape into the bathroom to shave and dress. Then we can start on breakfast. "

"Stay put," Anabel told him. "We'll head out and give you your privacy. "

She rose from the bed, but rather than follow, Nicki threw herself against Gil and said, "I want pancakes." She ensured obedience by giving him a sweet kiss on the cheek and a tight hug. Only after finishing that did she allow Anabel to lead her from the room. Gil, the sop, looked ready to rush off in search of his griddle.

She had just finished helping Nicki dress when a knock sounded on Gil's front door. He hadn't come out of his bedroom yet, so with Nicki racing beside her, Anabel went to the living room. Before she could reach the door, a key rasped in the lock and it opened.

In stepped two big men. One looked to be in his late thirties. He had hair as black as Gil's, but the bluest, most piercing eyes she'd ever seen. He seemed startled to see her, then in one quick sweep, he took in all the changes to Gil's home. One glossy black eyebrow shot up.

Another man, this one a younger version of Gil, pushed his way in past the first with a grin. "Hey. You must be the mystery lady, huh?"

Painfully aware of her mussed hair, slept-in clothes, and lack of makeup, Anabel cleared her throat. "I'm Anabel Truman. I take it you're Gil's brothers?"

The friendly one nodded. "That's right. I'm Pete and the thundercloud is Sam. He's thundering, by the way, because he wanted to bring Gil's car back here without me, only I was too curious to wait. Sam hates it when things don't go his way. "

Sam rolled his eyes. "Is Gil around?"

"In the bathroom. I'll just go get hima "

Nicki, who didn't like to be ignored, stepped forward and mimicked Sam's pose by crossing her arms over her chest and bracing her feet apart.

Both men stared down at her.

Clearing her throat, Anabel said, "Nicki, these are your uncles, Pete and Sam. They're your daddy's brothers. "

"Daddy's brothers," Sam repeated, somewhat pole-axed.

Pete nudged him with an elbow. "Uncle Sam. Now ain't that a kicker?"

Anabel urged Nicki forward. "You want to say hi to them, rat?"

Nicki scrunched up her face, thinking about it for some seconds before saying," 'kay." She marched forwarda"and sat on Sam's foot. "You do the horsie. "

"Do thea"?" Sam looked at Anabel for help.

Pete started snickering uncontrollably while Anabel rushed to explain. "She rides on my foot sometimes. It's a game we play. "

Sam said, "Oh," while standing there with that one leg stuck out comically, as if he feared he might hurt her if he moved.

Gil chose that moment to appear. He was freshly shaved, smelled wonderful, and wore only jeans. He scooped Nicki up with a grin. "You're terrorizing my brother, sweetheart. Look at him. "

"I want pancakes. "

"All right." Gil tucked her up against his hairy chest and turned to Anabel. "Why don't you go doa whatever you have to do and I'll take the brood into the kitchen. "

That sounded like a fine idea to Anabel. Not only was she hung over from too much s.e.x the night before, but now she had two family members to face. "Do you think you could produce some coffee?" Caffeine would hopefully kick-start her thinking processes.

"It'll be ready when you are. "

As Anabel made her escape, she heard Nicki ask, "Are you as whiskery as Daddy?" She didn't know which brother Nicki addressed, and she didn't wait around to hear the answer.

What would Gil's brothers think of her? She was an interloper, a deceiver, and now a seducer. She knew she loved Gil, that she'd been in love with him almost from the day she'd met him. But they didn't know that.

In record time, Anabel washed her face, brushed her teeth, applied her makeup, and chose clean jeans and her most conservative tee to wear. Barefoot, she hurried back to the kitchen. She'd barely been gone ten minutes.

Sam and Pete were sitting at the table and Gil was at the stove. Nicki, bless her heart, was perched on Gil's foot, getting hauled around as he prepared her pan-cakes. No one noticed Anabel looming in the hall outside the room.

"So she showed up, asked you to marry her, and now you're sleeping witha""

Gil cut Sam off with a pointed look at Nicki. "That's about it. "