The Pick Up Wife by W. Lynn Chantale Read Free Book Online Page A

leave now. A plumber is due at my house in thirty minutes.”
    Ignoring the disappointment on his face, she moved toward the door.
    “Let me help.”
    She spun on her heel only to find him mere inches from her. Somehow he’d moved without her 10
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    hearing…again. She lifted her gaze from his bare chest to his face. A frown adorned his delectable mouth.
    “How else am I supposed to get you to trust me if you won’t let me do anything?” His gaze roved over her face. “I understand I really hurt you, but I know you have feelings for me or you wouldn’t be here.”
    She lowered her head, hating he was right.
    But there was so much she had yet to tell him. If they were going to have any type of amicable relationship, she needed to tell him about the twins…before someone else did.
    “Fine.” She reached in her purse, pulled out pen and paper, and scribbled her address on the page. “Be there in an hour. I need you to meet 10
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    someone.” Before he could answer she slipped out the door.

    ****
    What had she done? She hadn’t even prepared the kids for Leo’s arrival. Symmone walked through the house wiping imaginary dust from shelves and tables. The plumber had long since left and the bathroom was functional. When she arrived home to tell Melvin what transpired, she found a note saying he’d taken the kids to breakfast and hinted at her getting some rest after her date.
    She sank onto the sofa. He didn’t know the half of it. She had no idea what time they would be back, and Leo was due any minute. What would he say when she told him? Her pulse pounded. What would he do? She sprang to her feet; she couldn’t 10
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    sit still any longer. Maybe some sunshine would calm her nerves.
    The sun bounced its blissful rays on the sidewalk and the few children brave enough to use their imaginations. Symmone sat on the front stoop watching a small group of girls take turns twirling the ends of a jump rope. A smile touched her lips.
    If Jewel was home, she would be out playing right along with them. At the hollow bounce of a ball, Symmone swung her glance in the other direction.
    Two boys tossed a ball back and forth. Other than that the street was quiet, but it was early yet. By midafternoon the pavement would be crowded with kids riding their bikes or drawing on the sidewalks with chalk.
    The purr of a big engine dragged her attention to the driveway, and her heart skipped a 10
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    beat. Leo waved from the front seat of his Mercedes SUV and she smiled in greeting. The kids still weren’t back. Silence filled the air and she stood, dusting off her butt. She smoothed a trembling hand along the front of her khaki shorts before tucking a stray hair behind her ear.
    He pushed open the truck door and stepped out with a smile. For a second her heart pounded harder. She jammed her hands in her pockets to keep him from seeing how much they were shaking.
    “You really need to get more than three hours of sleep.” The concern in his voice took some of the sting from his words.
    She inclined her head. “I’ll have plenty of time to rest later.” She allowed her gaze to drift over him. He seemed to still prefer jeans and polo shirts. It was nice to see that hadn’t changed.
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    “I brought you something.” He handed her a single red rose.
    She went all gooey inside and couldn’t stop a wide grin from creasing her lips. “Thank you.”
    He glanced around. “Cute little place.”
    She shrugged. “Yeah. Did you, um, want to come in or we can sit out here for a bit?”
    He studied her a moment. “Did things go okay with the plumber?”
    She nodded and mounted the steps. Maybe it would be better to wait for Melvin and the kids inside. “Yes.” She held the door open for him and the screen banged close behind him.
    “Are we still on for dinner tonight?”
    “Yeah. Why do you ask?”
    He shrugged, just a casual ripple of his broad shoulders. “After this morning and right now you 11
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    seem a little preoccupied. I