life as you get to dictate, young man. And should I decide to go out with someone, you're going to have to accept the idea. Agreed?'
“Yeah. No problem.'
“Good.' She kissed his forehead, then released him. After he scrambled under the covers, she tucked them in around him, said good-night and walked out into the hallway. After closing the door, she moved down the stairs.
She wondered when Brett had started to consider Nash a threat. Was there something in his behavior, or was her son able to subconsciously pick up on her strong attraction? Not that it mattered. She'd been very comfortable agreeing to no dates with Nash. Somehow she couldn't see him offering to take her to dinner and a movie. He wasn't a 'dinner and a movie' kind of guy. Nash was more late-night walks along the river and hot, passionate kisses up against the crumbling stone wall of the ancient castle.
Stephanie smiled. At least he was in
She reached the main floor and turned toward the kitchen, then stopped when a slight movement caught her attention. As she spun around, she saw Nash pacing restlessly across the living-room rug. He glanced up and saw her, came to a stop and shrugged.
“I'm a little wound from the dinner,' he said. 'I'm not ready to go up to bed. Am I bothering you?' Not in the way he meant. 'Of course not. I have to make cookies for the twins to take to school tomorrow. There are few things less interesting than watching someone bake. You want to come into the kitchen and be bored for a while? It will probably help you sleep.'
“Sure.' As soon as he agreed, she wanted to stop and bang her head against a nearby wall. Watching her might be boring for him, but having him near was wildly exciting for her. She really didn't need to spend more time with him. Hanging around with Nash only seemed to encourage her overactive imagination. Before their dinner tonight she'd thought he was sexy and roguishly charming. After their dinner, she was starting to like him.
She'd enjoyed watching him interact with his family. He'd been caring and understanding with the dozens of kids running around, attentive and interested in his brothers. She'd been stunned to find out what he did for a living. So much for her theory that he was a professor or sold shoes. Instead he inhabited a dark and dangerous world, which only made him more physically appealing.
Stephanie told herself that she had to stop imagining Nash as the bare-chested caveman whisking her off into the wilderness. The poor guy had signed on to be her guest, not the star of her erotic fantasies. If he knew what she was thinking, he would be forced to run screaming into the night.
She collected ingredients for chocolate chip cookies and set them on the counter. Nash took a seat at the kitchen table, then half rose.
“Can I help?' She shook her head. 'I've done this so many times, I don't have to look at a recipe. But if you behave, I'll let you have a sample fresh from the oven.'
“Deal.' She grabbed a couple of eggs and put them next to the canister of flour. 'So what did you think of tonight?' she asked.
“It went well. I'm not sure I can keep everyone straight.'
“I wouldn't want to try,' she admitted. 'The name tags were a great idea.' She measured brown sugar. 'Where in Chicago do you live?'
“I have a condo by the lake. I can walk to a lot of great restaurants. There's a good jogging trail nearby.'
“I've never been, but I can't imagine you do much jogging in the winter.'
“True. Then I hit the gym.' And he had the body to prove it. Although she doubted Nash worked out to be buff. No doubt it was required for his job. She tried not to sigh at the image of him in a ratty T-shirt and shorts, lifting heavy weights. Instead she channeled her energy into vigorously whipping her eggs.
“I grew up with one brother and my mom,' he said quietly. 'I've never had any experience with a large family.'
“The Hayneses will take some getting used to,' she said. 'But they'll be worth the effort.' He nodded. 'What about you? Are you one of seven?'
“Not exactly.' She opened the bottle of vanilla and picked up her measuring spoons. 'I was an only child. My parents were artists. Very focused on their work and each other.' She gave him a slight smile. 'They didn't believe in paying attention to the outside world. Things like electric bills and empty kitchen cupboards didn't faze them. I grew up pretty quickly. Someone had to be the responsible one and it turned out to be me.' His dark gaze settled on her face. 'Was that tough?'
“Sometimes.' When she wanted to be a kid, like her friends. 'But I learned a lot, too. I was really prepared for the real world when I left for college.'
“Did you want a big family?'
“Sure. While I was growing up, I thought it would be terrific. I had it all planned, from my husband to our five kids to our assortment of dogs, cats and small rodents.' She'd thought the same when she'd married Marty. But by the time she'd figured out she'd madea horrible mistake and discovered she was pregnant in the same week, her plans had changed. She'd resigned herself to having one child. The twins had been an accident. A blessing, but an unplanned one.
If only, she thought. If only Marty had been more willing to be a grown-up instead of an overgrown child. If only she'd seen the truth earlier. Except then she wouldn't have her boys, and she loved them more than anything.
“Stephanie?'
“Huh?' She glanced up and saw him watching her.
“Are you all right? You got pretty quiet.”
“Sorry. Just thinking.' He rose and crossed to the island. 'About your late husband?'
“Yes, but not in the way you think.' She didn't want Nash to worry that he'd made her miss Marty.
“Was it being out with me? The whole 'meet the family' circus?'
“No. That was great. I really enjoyed tonight.' She tried to smile, but he was standing only a couple of feet of counter space away and his intense, dark stare took her breath away. She cleared her throat. 'I don't get out that much.'
“With three boys and your own business, you probably don't have time to date much.'
“Date?' She laughed. 'Like that ever happens.' ''Why doesn't it?'
“Good question.' She dumped the dry ingredients into the batter and began to stir. As the mixture thickened, she had to really push to get the wooden spoon through.
“I'll do that,' he said, stepping around the island and moving next to her.
Before she realized what was happening, he'd taken the spoon from her and was making quick work of the mixing. She blinked in surprise.
“Why do you do that?' she asked. 'Why are you always so happy to help?'
“Why not?' She didn't have an answer she was willing to share. Telling him she'd long ago learned not to depend on anyone made her sound pathetic.
“Do these go in next?' he asked, nodding toward the open bag of chocolate chips.
“Yes.' She dumped the chips into the batter. 'So why don't you date?' She stared at the swirling mixture, rather than risk looking at him. Dangerous, dangerous question. 'I just…there aren't many men interested and I don't seem to meet any.'
“Interested men?'
“Any men.'
“So it's not that
“I-' The questions were going from bad to worse. Interested? Was she? Not in love. She'd learned that lesson in spades. But in a good man? Someone who would be fun and funny and caring? Someone who would hold her and ease the trembling ache deep inside?
“I could be interested,' she admitted softly. 'Good.' He dropped the wooden spoon into the bowl and turned toward her. Before she realized what was happening, before she could catch her breath or even consider if this was as crazy as it seemed, he'dpulled her into his arms. Just like that. She was pressed up against his hard, masculine body and then his face was getting closer and she knew he was going to kiss her.
Stephanie's last rational thought was that it had been twelve years since a man other than Marty had kissed her and that there was a more than even chance she'd completely forgotten what to do.
