Free Bad Taste in Men (Clover Park, Book 3) Contemporary Romance (The Clover Park Series) by Kylie Gilmore Page B

like it.”
    “It’s just business,” Rachel said through her teeth. “Nothing else.”
    Sarah shook her head. “The stubborner they are, the harder they fall.”
    “I’m not stubborn,” Rachel said. “We’re friends.”
    “Friends with benefits maybe?” her mom asked hopefully.
    Rachel’s eyes widened. “Mom! Do you know what that is?”
    “Yeah, a good time,” her mom said.
    They cracked up.
    “I wouldn’t mind another grandchild,” her mom said. “Hint, hint.”
    “Four’s not enough?” Rachel asked.
    Sarah planted her hands on her hips. “Yeah, you’ve already got four fabulous grandkids.”
    “I don’t have a redhead,” her mom said with a pointed look at Rachel.
    Maybe Janelle will have a redheaded child.
    Rachel sliced a big chunk of pie for herself.
    “Do you think Shane would be willing to raise the children Jewish?” her mom asked.
    Rachel’s head snapped up. “I don’t know, Mom. We never talked about what religion we’d raise our children on account of we’re not a couple .”
    Her mother tsked. “I guess it doesn’t matter. The mother carries the religion.”
    Her mother had been raised Catholic and was now more into being Jewish than her father, who was born to it. She really got into all the rituals and holidays that went along with it. Rachel could take or leave all that. She didn’t know about Shane…why was she even thinking about all this? They were friends, period, end stop, forever and ever.
    “You won’t get a redhead out of me,” Sarah said, setting pie slices on the plates. “Mark’s whole family are brunettes.”
    “Our family is too,” her mom said.
    They both turned to Rachel. Rachel held up a hand in the universal sign for stop. She worked for calm, irritated beyond reason, knowing Shane was with Janelle right this very minute. “This whole conversation is a moot point.”
    She grabbed the dessert plates and made a break for it.
    “You know Mr. Darcy was fiction, right?” Sarah called.
    Rachel stiffened. How dare Sarah mention her favorite book like it was a joke! She bit her tongue on the snappy comeback she wanted to say: Not everyone has to settle like you and Mom. She knew her family thought she was lost in some fantasy world half the time, but that wasn’t what books were to her. Yes, they were an escape, but when she came back, life was richer, more meaningful. No one ever got that about her. Even Liz called her egg because she thought she was too much in her head. Shane was the only one that never teased her about her obsession with books. He was so nonjudgmental. It was one of the things she loved most about him.
    Loved as in friendship type of love. Why was she thinking about Shane again? She blamed her mom and sister with all their teasing. They couldn’t understand being just friends with a guy. Shane was not her Mr. Darcy. That much she knew for sure. He was her rock—a steady, calm presence in her life. And when her Mr. Darcy did sweep into her life, she knew she could count on Shane to help her make good choices and not give her heart too soon. He would keep her grounded and safe like a best friend should.
     

Chapter Seven
    Rachel tried to read while she waited at Book It on Saturday night for Shane, but it was hard. She kept checking the street for the sight of him, pizza in hand, as promised for their planned business meeting. According to Janelle, things had gone well last night and drinks had turned into dinner. Janelle didn’t share any more details, and Rachel hadn’t asked.
    Rachel played with the end of her braid. This is good. Things are right where they should be between you and Shane—two good, no best , friends starting a business together.
    She was happy for her friend. And Shane too. Of course she was happy for him; it was her idea to get them together. A flash of red hair caught her eye, and because he was interested in Janelle now, she let herself look, really look.
    And what she saw was the sexiest best friend