The minute her hand slides into mine my heart quickens, and noticing her stomach is swollen in pregnancy doesn’t dim my attraction to her.

She has a head of dark hair that cascades down her back in loose curls. The beautiful skin of her face is lightly tanned and bare of cosmetics. The green eyes that are caressing over my features remind me of the emerald jewel. She’s exquisite and so much younger than me that my heart aches. In a way it’s also a reminder that I’m being ridiculous.

Sirena still has her hand inside of mine when she clears her throat, a slight blush coats her cheeks, but she makes no move to remove that hand. “You had a meeting with McKenzies?” she enquirers.

I smile and reluctantly release her hand. “I did. Alexander McKenzie.”

“My cousin.” She smiles.

“You’re Michael and Charlotte’s sister, right?” I ask, but I already know the answer considering I’d overheard her conversation with her brother.

My heart has ached for years waiting for the same thing that Sirena had sobbed to her brother about. Someone to love me and to give me the family I crave. My bank balance has always gotten in the way of my want.

“That’s me.” Sirena smiles, but it slips and then disappears altogether when the elevator comes to a screeching stop. “Oh God! This isn’t good.”

“Don’t panic,” I glance at her and then to the panel at the side of the door, “please. I’ve got this.” I try to reassure her as I place my briefcase on the floor and grab the emergency phone. “They’ll have us out of here real soon,” I try to calm her, hoping that I’m right.

The minute someone answers I quickly explain our situation. “They’re working on it.” I look at Sirena and notice that she’s rubbing her back and trying to hold her panic inside. “Do you need to sit?”

She looks at me, her anxiety clear in her beautiful eyes.

“I think I better.” She glances at the floor and looks around so I follow her gaze and wonder what she’s looking for because the floor of the elevator isn’t all that bad. I guess we should be thankful for small mercies.

“Sirena, are you doing okay?” I ask and feel my heart constrict when I notice the tears on her face. “Tell me how to help you.”

She bites her lip and looks so forlorn and embarrassed that I’m tempted to take her into my arms and hold her close. My fists clench to keep them at my side as I await her response.

“I’m not sure how I’m going to get down there.” She caresses her belly, and I understand the problem at once.

“Let me help you.” I smile to put her at ease and wait for her to acknowledge my offer.

Sirena nods and a small smile appears on her face.

Stepping closer, I slip one arm behind her back and take hold of her arm with my other. “Go slow,” I advise.

In slow motion she leans into me and we gradually have her sitting comfortably on the floor. After removing my jacket and tie, I join her and instead of sitting opposite like I should have done, I sit beside her and smile.

“Talk to me, please,” Sirena begs. “I’m not usually claustrophobic but I feel as though I’m going to start panicking soon if I’m not distracted.”

“I’m not much of a talker, but for a beautiful lady, I will make the exception.” I smile, which deepens when I notice the blush she tries to hide by dipping her head.

“Okay then, well—”

She chuckles at my poor attempt to start the conversation. “I’ll go first.” She lets me off the hook. “I’ve been married for thirteen months to a man who doesn’t want our baby or me. I’ve known from the day we were married that I was making a big mistake but I went ahead with it anyway.” She sounds so sad, but I stay silent because I want to hear it all.

“I’m now five months pregnant and later today I will be leaving our apartment and him for good. The sad thing is that I’m not even sure he’ll notice that I’m not there.” She shrugs. “My parents have the perfect marriage and that’s all I’ve ever wanted. I want to love and be loved by that one special man, but so far my judgment sucks.” She goes silent and then turns to meet my gaze. “I’m scared, Garrett.”

“Why?” As I ask her that question I realize that I want to take away her fear, no matter the cost.

“I’m scared of this pregnancy even though I’m excited to have a baby. I’m scared of being alone and not having any support from the baby’s father, though I’m not sure I even want it. I’m afraid that another man won’t want me because I will come with the baggage of another man’s child. I’m scared of a lot of things that I never thought I would be.”

Her confession hits something inside of me and I want nothing more than to help her, to make her see that she’s beautiful and will find everything that she craves one day. Ridiculous as it seems I wish with all my heart that I were years younger and able to offer her everything. My life has always been centered on work, and real love has always been missing.

Reaching for her hand, I enclose it within both of mine, wanting to offer her comfort. “Your husband is an idiot to throw away a life with you.” I offer her a small smile.

“Thank you for saying that.”

“I mean every word, Sirena.” I flex my fingers around her hand and turn away before I say more than what we’ll both probably be comfortable with. “My turn.”

She chuckles and moves her hand to intertwine our fingers together. Her touch is so soft that my body floods with arousal, which I close my eyes to try and hide.

Clearing my throat, I admit, “I’m forty-nine, Sirena.” I glance at her and notice a frown cross her smooth brow. As I continue, I wonder whether my age bothers her as much as her young age bothers me, “I’ve never been married, although I’ve come close and had a lucky escape. I haven’t been in a relationship for too many years to count because I’m sick and tired of someone wanting to be with me because of my name as opposed to me as a person. It gets tiring, and although I’m lonely it’s for the best.”

“You said that they want to be with you for your name, why?”

My head rests against the elevator wall and when I turn to look at Sirena she meets my eyes. “I own a small chain of luxury hotels and villas,” I admit. “All everyone sees are dollars signs.” I chuckle bitterly.

“Instead of the man beneath,” Sirena adds. “That’s a shame.”

Silence follows and as I let it wash over me I realize that I’ve admitted more to Sirena in those few sentences than I have to anyone else. I also have a feeling that she has done the same when she talked about her bastard of a husband.

“What do you think is taking so long?” Sirena asks and starts to fidget.

“I don’t know. Are you okay?” My body turns toward her and I catch a wince of pain flicker in her eyes.

“For the past month I get back ache and it can get rather painful.” She lets go of my hand and slips it against her back.

I can’t bear to see her in pain so I quickly stand and hold my hands out to her. She glances back and forth between my hands and my face and then slips her hands into mine.

With a tug I have her on her feet and turn her to face the wall. “Take your jacket off and I’ll rub your back for you. I can’t just watch you suffer.”

She hesitates but then her jacket comes off and drops to the floor.

“You really don’t have to do this.” She bites her lip, which I see through the mirrored wall.

“I know I don’t,” I whisper as my gaze wanders over her slender back and curvy bottom that leads to legs that I’ll be dreaming about later.

I push back my arousal and slowly start to rub her lower back. I clamp my jaw shut tightly in determination to be nothing but respectful toward her. Her hands rest against the wall facing us and when she moans in pleasure it goes straight to my balls. It doesn’t help when I watch her reaction through the mirror and notice the tight buds of her nipples against her thin shirt. My eyes quickly lift to her face and that’s when I feel a blush start to rise up my neck at having been caught.

“Sirena,” I whisper.

“I know.” She dips her head so when I slowly start to massage up along her spine, I move her hair to the side and place a kiss to the nape of her neck.

She shivers and presses against my hands as I continue to massage her lower back. I move my lower body away so that she doesn’t discover exactly what her moans are doing to me.

“Oh, she kicked.” She smiles and presses a hand to her stomach.

I watch in amazement as her baby kicks and stretches in the safe confines of her mother’s belly.

Our eyes meet and she nervously chews on her swollen lip, which drives me crazy. I want it to be my mouth that chews and licks along her deliciously plump lips. It makes me sad to realize that it will never happen—can never happen.

“Do you . . . um, want to feel her kick?” she offers and my fingers twitch. “It’s okay.” She smiles. “I think we’ve gone past the awkward stranger stage.”

Sirena taking my silence as agreement, slips her hand over mine on her hip, and slowly slides it up to her belly and holds it close. My body heats at being so close to her and blood rushes south at the feel of her against my front . . . and then her baby pushes against my hand and her smile lights her face and does something to my heart.

“A miracle, Sirena,” I whisper into her ear as my other hand goes to her hip to keep her close. I nuzzle closer and inhale the subtle scent of her apple shampoo.

My eyes go to the mirror and the look of arousal on Sirena’s face as her eyes drift closed causes my hands to tremble, the want running through my body.

I know this is wrong but I want this one moment in time with this beautiful woman. I kiss the curve of her neck and move my hand from her hip to cover hers on the wall. Our fingers intertwine and the fingers of my other hand spread over her belly.

Sirena opens her eyes and locks on to mine, letting her head drop back against my shoulder. She turns her face up to meet mine . . . and the elevator makes a sudden and loud cranking noise before it starts to move downwards.

I curse softy under my breath and slowly step away from her, making sure that she doesn’t stumble. “Let me help you.” I grab her jacket from the floor and help her back into it before scooping up my own and grabbing my briefcase.

Knowing that I can’t leave her without someway of getting in touch, I ask, “Cell phone,” and hold my hand out for it.

Sirena looks almost relieved when she passes it over and watches me input the numbers. “My home number is in there along with my personal cell number. If you need anything . . . anything at all call me. Even if you only want someone to talk to.” I pass it back to her and the doors swish open.

“Sirena.” In a whirlwind of movement, her brother dashes inside and wraps her up in his arms. “Are you alright? The baby?”

Holding my gaze over her brother’s shoulder she smiles. “Thank you,” she mouths and pulls out of her brother’s arms.

I don’t hang around to listen to them because my need to be the one taking care of her is driving me crazy, and I know that I will never be able to do that. I also know that my sudden feelings toward her are ridiculous.

Making my way down the stairs to the parking garage, I quickly climb into my car and then curse a blue streak because I forgot to get her number. At the time I was more concerned about her being able to contact me.

I hit the steering wheel and curse again when my cell buzzes in my pocket. I want to ignore it but unfortunately with the completion of my new hotel nearing I can’t.

The damn thing won’t stop buzzing with messages now my cell reception has reconnected, but I find a grin splitting my face when I see an unknown number, with the words: Thank you. Sirena x

I now have her number, which I quickly save to my contacts. I do pause though when I slip my cell back into my pocket as my brain engages. All I see now is the twenty plus years between us, which is a lot more than a small problem.

With a mirthless laugh, I rest back against the seat of the car knowing that I’m being stupid. Sirena is a beautiful young woman and surely wouldn’t have even looked at me if we hadn’t of gotten stuck in the elevator together.

Who are you trying to convince?

She was interested.

I’m not going to dwell on it because the chances are that I won’t see her again, and I’ll just put this afternoon down to a brief encounter. It doesn’t change the fact that for the first time in a very long time, I felt happy.