Tempting by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page A

didn’t tell me you’d be here for dinner. Why not?”
    â€œDid you bring me anything?”
    â€œDid you see the Mariners game last night? They kicked butt.”
    Finally he pulled two young boys onto his lap and pointed at Dani. “We have company.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Katherine said. “Dani, these are my children. You’ve already met Alex, of course. Julie is away at college, so she won’t be joining us. Next is Bailey.”
    â€œHi.”
    Bailey was the older girl with Down’s. She had beautiful wavy red hair and a huge smile.
    â€œI like your hair,” Dani told her.
    â€œI like yours. I’d like it cut short, like you have it.” Bailey swayed slightly as she spoke, her voice was soft.
    Dani shook her head. “Trust me. Of the two of us, you have the great hair. Don’t change a thing.”
    Bailey blushed and dropped her chin to her chest.
    Katherine looked at Dani for a second, then continued with the introductions. There was Trisha, who was deaf, Quinn, who looked normal but didn’t speak, then Oliver, the other child with Down’s.
    â€œLast is Sasha,” Katherine said, lifting the little girl onto the sofa.
    Sasha sighed heavily. “I’m always last. I hate being last. I want to go first.”
    â€œYou’re the baby,” Bailey told her. “Everybody likes the baby.”
    â€œI want to be the oldest.”
    Dani crouched down in front of Sasha. “I’m the baby of my family. I have three big brothers. Sometimes it’s okay, but sometimes they don’t tell me anything. I hate that.”
    Sasha bobbed her head up and down. “Me, too.”
    Alex didn’t realize he was tense until he started to relax. Whatever Dani’s intentions, she was doing okay with the kids. Unlike his ex-wife, who had never known how to deal with them. At least she’d left. Having Fiona at the table would have added a whole new level of awkward.
    As he watched his siblings, he was reminded that the world wasn’t always kind. In some ways, Ian had it the easiest. Everyone knew there was a problem the second they saw him. He was either accepted or rejected in an instant. But for kids like Trisha or Sasha, who was HIV positive, things could be more tricky.
    He watched as Bailey studied Dani. His sister seemed enchanted by their guest. He shouldn’t be surprised. Bailey was nearly fifteen—she was growing up.
    Oliver pulled an action figure out of his pocket and showed it to Dani. She bent over the plastic toy and listened to his slow explanation of the figure’s powers. She glanced at Katherine, who signed with Trisha.
    What did she think of all this? Was it what she expected? She was either genuine or putting on a hell of a show. He couldn’t decide which.
    His father’s study door opened and Mark walked into the room. The other kids immediately rushed over to him and began battling for his attention. He gave Alex and Katherine an absent smile, then looked at Dani. For a moment, he seemed to forget who she was. Then he smiled.
    â€œYou’re here, Dani.”
    Katherine rose. “Why don’t we all go in to dinner? Alex, will you escort our guest?”
    â€œOf course.”
    He moved next to Dani and offered his arm.
    â€œThat formal?” she asked quietly. “Or is this your way of making sure I don’t go exploring?”
    She had plenty of spirit, he thought. She wasn’t afraid of him. As she stared up at him, he noticed her eyes were hazel, with long lashes. She smiled easily and she had the kind of mouth that made a man—
    He mentally came to a stop. What the hell was he thinking? That she was attractive? Sexy? That he liked her?
    Not possible, he told himself. She was the enemy, even if she didn’t mean to be. She was nothing but trouble and he wasn’t getting involved with her. He wasn’t getting involved with anyone. What was that old