Luck of the Draw (A Betting on Romance Novel Book 1) by Cheri Allan Read Free Book Online Page A

as well. She felt like the dorky kid at the school dance who’d just sloshed punch down her sleeve. Who knows what sort of things she’d be tempted to blurt out to the hunky guy standing way too near?
    Besides, he was out of her league, totally gorgeous and so not what she needed to focus on right now.
    Kate blotted up the spill on the floor and carried the salad and silverware to the table. She carefully set one knife, one fork and a folded napkin at each place setting. “Do we need spoons?”
    “Spoons? It’s pizza. I usually eat it right out of the box.”
    “What? Oh.” Heat warmed her cheeks. “I guess I’m not feeling prepared to entertain yet.”
    “You’re in luck. Pizza is the perfect dinner for the unprepared. It even comes on a convenient, disposable serving platter.” He slid two slices of everything pizza onto a plate.
    Kate cut a small slice of plain pizza for Liam. “Sorry. It’s just that Randy —my husband—always insisted things be... just so.”
    “Even for pizza?”
    “You have no idea.”
    Jim walked past her toward one of the mismatched barstools but then stopped. “Oh, almost forgot. Found this at the pizza place. Thought it might help you orient yourself in town.” He pulled a rumpled map out of his back pocket and smoothed it on his thigh before handing it over. “It doesn’t show everything, but it’s got most of the local highlights including the new ice cream place. You should check it out. You won’t regret it.”
    “Thank you. That was very thoughtful.”
    “And there goes my reputation.” He grinned, a flash of dimples causing Kate’s breath to catch.
    She took the map. It was still warm from being in his pocket. A part of her wondered if it was wrong to notice that, to admire his dimples, to keep thinking about the phrase ‘hooking up’ or to feel strangely hopeful when he was near.
    He’s not interested, she reminded herself. He’s just being friendly.
    She set the map aside, put a slice of pizza onto a plate, and sat down. She busied herself picking carrots out of her salad for Liam who was idly rocking in the ugly gold rocker, his pizza sliding back and forth alarmingly.
    “Oh, by the way, I should warn you the shower knob leaks a little.” Jim took a bite of pizza. Kate watched his throat as he swallowed. She tried to think practical, hope-squelching thoughts. “I’ve got a new knob and head on order, but it’s okay to use in the meantime. Should be able to switch them out in a couple days.” He served up some salad. “So how long are you here for? Grams didn’t say.”
    “Me? A couple months.”
    He gave a low whistle. “That’s quite a vacation. What do you do you can take that much time off?”
    “I’m a Headmaster’s assistant at a small, private school.”
    “Must be nice to have your summers free. When do you start again? September?”
    “End of August, actually. If I go back, I’d need to help prepare for the new term.”
    His eyes widened ever so slightly. “If?”
    “It may not be practical to go back.”
    She concentrated on wiping a smear of pizza sauce off Liam’s cheek then leapt to her feet. “Sorry. I forgot the salad dressing. Do you like Ranch or Italian?”
    “Italian would be great.”
    “I’ll be right back.” Kate scurried to the kitchen, ineffectually tucking her hair behind her ear again—she so needed to get it cut!—before finding the dressing and setting it in front of Jim. She frowned at her son.  “Liam, how many pieces does that make?”
    “Two,” Jim offered.
    “Eat some carrots, young man.”
    “’kay.”
    “Speaking of eating,” Jim said as he dug into his salad, “if you don’t sit down, we’ll be half-done before you even touch your food.”
    She perched on the edge of her barstool and stared at the slice of pizza on her plate.  “It’s all right. My appetite has been kind of sketchy lately.”
    “Stress?”
    “You could say that.”
    “A nice cold beer usually cures that for me.”