Susanna took arge, messy bite of the honeydew, savoring the sweetness. The sound of her enjoying the fruit was enough to make Hull''s pulse quicken. He nced down at the bundle in his arms. "Still eating?" he asked, half in disbelief.


    Come to think of it, she''d been nibbling on one fruit after another all day long. "This melon''s amazing," Susanna said, stripping a slice of rind and tossing it away before digging into the flesh with another hungry bite. The way she savored it-mouth full, eyes bright—would make even the pickiest eater''s mouth water.


    Hull eyed her with concern. "You''ve eaten a lot of fruit today, haven''t you?" It was almost bedtime. Didn''t her stomach everin? Susanna nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah. Must be something about the soil here in Litamark. The fruit''s just so sweet and fresh."


    She remembered how, back in Portis City, fruit had never appealed to her. Even when her mom arranged for crates of the best stuff, air-mailed to their door, she could barely muster any interest-just didn''t care for the texture. But tonight, she couldn''t get enough.


    "Still, you shouldn''t overdo it, especially right before bed." Hull gently took the leftover half-melon from her hands. Immediately, Susanna gazed up, bright-eyed and pitiful, all silent pleading. That look always got to him—it made him want to tease her, test her, drive her toughter or maybe tears. He just couldn''t help himself.


    Giving in, Hull scooped her up and settled her around his waist, carrying her toward the bedroom with long, purposeful strides.


    "Hey, what are you doing?" Susanna protested, cheeks flushing.


    "Sleep" Hull replied, his tone gravelly and thick with wicked intent.


    Susanna tensed, a shiver running through her, and tried instinctively to wriggle free. Hull only tightened his hold, shouldered the door open, and carried her straight to bed.


    Meanwhile, across the sea in Ferrond Yvonne and Xander disembarked from their private jet Shawn trailed so far behind it was almostical anything to keep out of Yvonne''s striking distance. Every time she nced over her shoulder at him, his nerve failed and he''d retreat another pace.


    "Will you get over here already!" Xander barked, embarrassed to im such a coward as his own brother.


    "I''m good, thanks. Someone''sing to pick me up-go ahead without me," Shawn called back, t-out refusing to share a car.


    No one could me him, not after that infamous video of Yvonne thrashing Dan and Anders Lowry. Just watching it had turned his legs to jelly. Frankly, Lott and Ashley had already fled Ferrond to avoid any fallout; Shawn was the only idiot left standing, and even he kept his distance.


    Xander threw in the towel, rolling his eyes. “Fine, let''s go,” he said to Yvonne.


    The Quinn family''s car was waiting, parked right on the tarmac of their private airstrip-the only ne around belonged to them. Yvonne shot Shawn one final scalding re, one so fierce he nearly bolted back onto the ne for safety. He suddenly wasn''t sure Ferrond was big enough to hide him from her wrath. Tough break-she didn''t let grudges slip.


    With a sigh, Xander offered Yvonne his arm and escorted her into the car. The second the doors closed, she lit into him, her words flying. For the hundredth time, she scolded him for running off, calling him anutter idiot and a jerk for pulling something so thoughtless. The more she vented, the angrier she got, fists clenched as if she''d really like to hit him.


    Every time, Xander caught her hand and pleaded, "Babe, please, wait until after the baby''s born, okay?"


    At least now that Yvonne finally believed the child was his, she''d stopped threatening to end the pregnancy. But if looks could kill, Xander knew he''d already


    be dead.