Tempting by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page B

saying? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. He wasn’t about to be fooled again.
    Â 
    A FTER DINNER , Mark led Dani into his study. She went willingly. While she’d enjoyed the meal and the lively conversation, it had been impossible for her to keep the children straight. She’d also been aware of Alex’s unfriendly attention and Katherine’s subtle study. She was emotionally exhausted by the energy of the family and doing her best not to screw up.
    â€œWhat did you think?” Mark asked, after he settled into a black leather chair she suspected was his favorite, and she’d picked a place on the sofa opposite.
    â€œYou have a wonderful family.”
    â€œThey’re loud,” he said cheerfully. “Katherine is brilliant with them. Adopting was her idea, you know. I wouldn’t have thought of it. At first I wasn’t sure. I didn’t think I could love someone else’s child as much as I could love my own. But I was wrong. They’re all special to me.”
    â€œI could tell.” He’d interacted with all the children. They obviously adored him.
    â€œKatherine insists on being involved in every aspect of their lives. We have Yvette, who helps out, but that’s only so Katherine can pursue her charity work. If she didn’t have that, she would be handling everything on her own. I travel a lot, back and forth to D.C. She’s practically a single parent, but she never complains. It’s just who she is.”
    As Dani had been impressed by Katherine, she agreed with the praise. But despite the words, she couldn’t figure out what Mark really thought about anything.
    She was being crazy, she told herself. Obviously Mark adored his wife and family. Who wouldn’t? Yet she had no sense of emotion coming from him.
    She reminded herself she didn’t know the man. That until that morning, they’d never met. Maybe she could give him a break.
    â€œI, ah, took the DNA test,” she said. “The results should only take a couple of days.”
    â€œGood. I already know the outcome, but being sure is a good idea.”
    She nodded, feeling awkward. How could he be sure? And if he was, shouldn’t the moment be more…something? She told herself not every situation could be scripted, like a TV sitcom, yet something felt missing.
    â€œI want us to get to know each other,” Mark said. “Why don’t you come by the office for lunch? It will be more quiet than here.”
    â€œI’d like that,” Dani said.
    He probably felt as weird about all this as she did. Lunch was a great idea. After a few low-key meetings, she was sure they would start to connect. All this strangeness would fade and they would understand each other. They would be family.
    Â 
    A LEX PICKED UP his car keys. Dani had left a few minutes ago, so he could go home now. He’d been unwilling to leave before her, as if without him watching over her something bad would happen.
    â€œYou’re frowning,” Ian said as he rolled up. “You were frowning all during dinner.”
    â€œI’m cautious.”
    â€œI like her. She thinks I’m funny.”
    â€œShe was being polite.”
    Ian grinned. Most people wouldn’t know what the twisted expression meant, but Alex saw the humor Ian’s uncooperative muscles tried to hide.
    â€œYou don’t want anyone to know, but I think you like her, too,” Ian said.
    â€œI don’t have any feelings about her.” Which was almost true.
    â€œShe’s pretty.”
    Alex shook his head. “You’re seventeen. You think every female is pretty.”
    â€œThey’re my hormones and I can use them if I want to.” His grin faded. “Seriously. You should lay off her. She was cool.”
    Dani had reacted well to Ian, Alex thought. He would guess her past was the reason.
    An afternoon on the Internet had turned up a lot of information on