“You're avoiding the question."
“
And doing a fine job if it, too. Okay." She nod
ded. "I'll be serious. Yes, avoiding boys disguised
as men is one of the reasons I haven't been very
excited about dating. I have three kids and no time to raise a fourth. You seem decent and normal, but
this is a part-time fling, not something serious. With
my past, I think I have the right to be wary."
He understood her point, but didn't like the idea
of her spending the rest of her life alone. He was
about to say so when he realized he didn't especially
like the idea of her with someone else, either.
That made him slam on the mental brakes. No
way was he thinking about anything serious with Stephanie. She was strictly temporary.
“At some point you have to be willing to take a chance," he said.
“
Why? What are the odds that I'll end up with
someone exactly like Marty? I seem to be destined
to head in that direction. He was the first guy I really fell for. I don't want to risk it again."
“
So take it slow this time. Really get to know the
guy.”
“
The way I got to know you? Despite my claim
of being responsible, I seem to be a bit impulsive in
the relationship department." She laughed. "Trust
me. This is much better. I'm having a great time with you and right now that's enough. I have no
interest in getting married again."
They had that in common, he thought. Even
though she was saying all the right things, he
couldn't help worrying about her. "What about
money?" Her eyes widened. "Gee, Nash, the sex was really great, but I never planned to pay you for it.”
“That's not what I meant." She shimmied close. "But now that we're on the
subject, I think I'm good enough that you should
pay me."
He laughed and hauled her onto his lap. "Do
you?"
“Uh-huh." She straddled him, her heat pressing against his
suddenly hard arousal. She rocked back and forth,
teasing them both.
“
That feels nice," she said. "And big. Is all that
for little of me?" Her voice was a soft purr.
"Think you can handle it?"
“
There's nothing I want to do more than handle
all of you. Let's go inside and get naked."
Her words set him on fire. While he wanted to
take her at her word, he couldn't help holding back
long enough to kiss her. Her mouth parted instantly
and he plunged inside her. She stroked against him, then clamped her lips around his tongue and sucked
until he thought he might lose it right there. So much for having control.
He shifted her off his lap and scrambled to his
feet. When he'd pulled her into a standing position, he wrapped his arms around her and lifted until her
feet were dangling. She wrapped her legs around his
hips and hung on. He started toward the front door.
“
I want to tell you that I can walk," she mur
mured between kisses, "but this is so much more
exciting."
“
For me, too." He cupped her rear, holding her
firmly against his erection. "Besides, doesn't every woman want to be swept away?"
“Honey, you're doing that in spades."
Under any other circumstances, Stephanie would
have assumed that breaking into song while dusting
the main parlor was reason to think about seeing a
mental health professional. It was the middle of the
afternoon and she wasn't even listening to the radio.
But she decided to cut herself some slack. After all,
she hadn't slept the previous night. Instead of wast
ing seven or eight hours with her eyes closed, she'd
spent them in Nash's arms where she discovered that
women did indeed hit their sexual peak in their
thirties. While she was more than a little tired, she
figured she could catch up on her rest when Nash
was gone. Far better to take advantage of his prox
imity, interest and skill while he was in town.
She stretched up to dust the top of a lamp and the
muscles in her back pulled slightly. She smiled as
she remembered the shower they'd taken that morn
ing. How she'd gripped the shower door frame to
keep from falling as he'd knelt between her legs.
The hot water had poured over both of them as he'd
used his tongue to make her scream and shudder and
go all weak at the knees...literally.
Still humming a somewhat embarrassing medley
of tunes from cartoons, she finished in the parlor and
walked toward the kitchen. She had to figure out
what they were having for dinner. Then maybe
they'd all head over to the video store and rent a
couple of movies. School was out tomorrow and
none of the boys had any homework. They could – The sound of voices interrupted her thoughts. She
paused to figure out where they were coming from.
She recognized Nash's low rumble and the twins,
but where on earth could they be? She tilted her
head. The utility room?
Following the sound, she walked through to the
rear of the house. Sure enough, Nash crouched in
front of Adam and Jason in the laundry. Between
them sat an overflowing laundry basket.
Stephanie knew exactly what was going on. She'd
told the twins to take the laundry upstairs and fold
it. For the most part they were willing to do their chores, but laundry was the one thing all three of
the boys hated more than just about anything.
No one noticed her standing in the doorway. As she watched, Nash touched each boy on the shoul
der.
“
You have a responsibility to your family," he
said. "Your mom works hard to provide for you. In
return, you go to school and help out when asked.
Do you understand?" Both boys nodded.
Nash smiled. "Good. If you work together as a
team, the job will go that much quicker. Agreed?" Two more nods, followed by Jason saying, "But Adam's gotta fold the laundry. I did it last time."
Adam turned on his twin. "You did not. I did it.
It's your turn. You're always trying to get me to do
your chores and I'm not gonna do this one."
“
So this is an ongoing dispute," Nash said
calmly. "How do you keep track of whose turn it
is?"
Jason drew his eyebrows together. "It's his turn.”
“
Is not."
“
So there's nothing in writing," Nash said.
Both boys shook their head. Their mouths were
set in straight, stubborn lines and they had their arms folded over their chests.
“
Why don't we talk about negotiating a system
that would be fair to both of you," Nash said rea
sonably.
Stephanie held in a laugh. It all sounded really
good, but these were eight-year-olds. If Nash didn't
come to his senses, he was going to be talking for
the next three days and would probably end up fold
ing the laundry himself out of self defense.
She stepped into the room and pointed at the laun
dry basket.
“
Take that upstairs," she said firmly. "Now. You
each fold half the clothes in that basket. If there is an uneven number of clothes, leave the last one on
your bed. If you don't start upstairs right this instant, there will be no dessert for either of you."
Jason opened his mouth to protest. She stopped
him with a shake of her head.
“
Not one word," she said. "One word means
you're in bed ten minutes early. Two words means
twenty minutes early. If you understand and agree,
then nod slowly." Both boys looked at her, then at each other. They sighed heavily and nodded.
“
Good." She stepped back to give them room to
carry out the basket. "Come let me know when
you're done."
They each grabbed a handle and carried the bas
ket into the hallway. Nash watched them go.
"I'm a professional," he said.
“
You work with criminals. These are young boys.
I'm going to guess that criminals are a lot more
rational."
“You think?"
She smiled. "I would put money on it. But thanks
for helping. I really liked what you said about them
having responsibilities. I'm not sure it sunk in, but
maybe next time."
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"You're saying I stink at parenting."
“I'm saying you're a sweetie to try."
He tugged on a strand of her hair, then released
her. "Give me your car keys."
“They're upstairs on the table by the door to our apartment. Why? Is your rental acting up?"
“
No. I want to put gas in your car. Mind if I go
get the keys?"
She nodded because it was suddenly too difficult
to speak. Okay, in the scheme of things, Nash put
ting gas in her car was no big deal. But the unex
pected thoughtfulness made her throat get all tight
and her eyes burn. As he walked to the stairs, she
found herself wishing just for a second—that he
wasn't leaving in a week or so. That his stay in
Glenwood might be a little more permanent.
“
Crazy dreams," she whispered. "You know bet
ter."
The phone rang, offering a welcome interruption.
She headed for the kitchen and grabbed the receiver. "Serenity House. This is Stephanie."
“
Hi, Stephanie. It's Rebecca Lucas. We met at
that pizza dinner a couple of nights ago. I don't know if you remember me. There were so many
people there."
Stephanie pictured a tall, slender woman with
long, dark curly hair. "Yes, of course I remember.
How are you?"
“
Good. The reason I'm calling is Jill just called
me. Craig—he's the oldest Haynes' brother—got the evening off.
His
kids are out of school today.
They're in a different school district. Anyway, we're
celebrating with an impromptu barbecue here to
night. I think all of Nash's brothers will be coming
and I wanted to invite him." She laughed. "Actually
I want to invite you and your boys, as well, if that's
all right."
Stephanie knew Nash didn't have any plans and
she was pretty sure he wouldn't mind the invitation.
She hesitated before accepting for all of them. Was
that too presumptuous? Then she remembered his
request that she help him out with his family.
“
I'm sure it is, but let me double-check with him.
Hold on just a sec."
She put the phone on the counter and moved to
ward the stairs. She met Nash as he was coming
down and explained about Rebecca's phone call.
“
You want to go?" he asked.
“
Yes, but they're your family. Do
you
want to
go?"
“As long as you're coming, sure."
“Good. I know the boys will enjoy the evening."
She took a step back, but couldn't seem to look
away from Nash's dark gaze. Just being close to him
was enough to get her heart all fluttery and her toes curling. Attraction crackled between them and she swayed slightly.
“
Yeah," he said. "Me, too. Now go back to your
phone call. Going out will make the evening go faster. When we get home, it will be time for the boys
to go to bed."
Her stomach clenched. "Then us, too," she whis
pered.