Single Mom Seeks... by TERESA HILL Read Free Book Online Page A

sight of her walking away from him in those short shorts, with those long, tanned legs, her long, blond hair swinging as she walked, wishing he could start this whole conversation over again and not sound like an idiot, not act like one, not be one.
    She’d talked to him.
    She knew his name and where he lived.
    Jake suspected he’d be dreaming of her tonight, dreaming in more vivid detail than ever before.
     
    Okay, maybe that wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had, Nick told himself, safely back in his own house, out of sight of any prying eyes and not mere centimeters away from being plastered up against Lily.
    Luscious Lily.
    He made a face, trying to get that particular description out of his head.
    He did not need to be thinking of his neighbor as luscious.
    Particularly with a teenage boy in the house who had visions of entertaining his own ladies in his bedroom.
    So, no…nuzzling Lily’s neck was definitely not a good idea.
    It had just felt like one.
    A great one.
    Nick tried to breathe and turn his thoughts to something else, anything else but how long it had been since he’d been involved with a woman or had one in his bed and the utter unlikelihood that he’d ever talk Lily Tanner into joining him there.
    Audrey, of the skimpier and skimpier jogging outfits, he could have, if he wanted her. Which, unfortunately, he didn’t.
    Lily, he suspected, was firmly off-limits.
    He’d bet the woman had never had casual sex in her life. She was too sweet, too nice, too kindhearted. Softhearted, he was sure.
    Not at all his type.
    And yet…pretty was the word that came to mind, and it both seemed to fit and not do her justice at the same time. She had pretty blond hair and gorgeous skin, an easy smile and an openness and genuineness. She seemed real. That’s what it was. Not fussy. Not fake. Not pushy. Not playing any kind of games. Real and nice and surprisingly appealing.
    He opened up the refrigerator and poured a cold glass of water from the pitcher he kept there, wishing it was that easy to cool himself down.
    Damn, Lily.
    She’d felt so soft and fragile beneath his hands, smelled so good, trembled ever so slightly, blushed a bit, and all he’d been able to think about was devouring her right there in her kitchen.
    He took a long swallow of that cold water, but it didn’t seem to do anything to cool him down.
    One by one, he thought of all the women who’d shown up at his door with offerings of food, drink and, though unspoken, companionship. Surely he could think of one he’d like to kill some time with, one who wouldn’t object at all to killing time with him.
    And yet he found himself discarding one after another and staring out the window toward Lily’s house.
    He’d just have to stay away from her. That was all there was to it.
    He had Jake to take care of, parenting stuff to figure out, legal issues to sort through having to do with his sister and brother-in-law’s estate, determining the boys’ finances and whether there was enough money to see them all through college and if there was time, his own life to see to.
    More than enough to do to keep a grown man busy and his mind off one, quietly pretty, sweet-smelling woman.
    Yeah. He’d just have to stay away from her.
     
    Three days later, Lily was trying to explain to Jake the finer points of scraping old wallpaper off the kitchen wall, when he started asking her about Audrey Graham.
    What did she know about Mrs. Graham?
    Lily frowned.
    Was the woman still chasing after Nick? Even after the… incident?
    Lily was trying very hard not to call it what it was.
    Neck-nuzzling.
    Oh! She practically shivered, just thinking about it. How good it had been. How delicious it had felt.
    Better than sweet, warm, gooey fudge, as far as Lily was concerned.
    “You do know her, don’t you?” Jake said again, giving her a funny look.
    Like she’d gone off into la-la land.
    “Yes,” Lily all but groaned. “I know her. Is she…bothering your