Free One in a Million by Susan Mallery

long-term planning."
    “I'm a detail person. I try to be responsible. My husband used to tell me I was anal. I guess that comes from being an only child." She knelt on the floor and started sanding the baseboards.
    “Not necessarily. I was the responsible one in our family," he said. "As my brother and I are fraternal twins, I can't claim to be the oldest. It's just the way things worked out. I did the right thing and Kevin was a professional screw-up. He used to get grounded about three times a week." Now Nash could smile at the memory, but when it was happening, he used to worry a lot about his brother and how much his mom had to deal with.
    “Did he turn out all right?" Stephanie asked.
    “ Yeah. When we were still in high school, Kevin stole a car. He and his buddies were just joyriding, but the owner pressed charges. It was the last straw for my mom. Kevin was packed off to military school. Apparently the experience scared some sense into him. From there he went to college. After that he became a cop. He joined the U.S. Marshals a few years ago. That's where he is now."
    “Talk about a turnaround," she said.
    “ He's done well." He was pleased by his brother's success, if a little surprised by his sudden engagement.
    Nash moved to the dining-room side of the door frame and continued sanding. "Kevin and I had lunch with two of my half brothers today. Travis and Kyle Haynes.”
    “How did that go?"
    “ Okay. They filled us in on all the brothers and their families. I don't think we're going to be able to keep everyone straight. They're all married and have kids." Stephanie rubbed the sandpaper along the base board, while Nash tried to keep his attention on his work and off her fanny. With her kneeling like that, her butt stuck up in the air. He was charmed.
    “ I can't imagine what it would be like to discover a ready-made family," she said and glanced up at him. "What? Am I doing this all wrong?"
    “No. You're fine."
    “You're looking at me." He couldn't argue with that. "Want me to work with my eyes closed?" She rubbed her cheek with her free hand. "Do I look awful?"
    “ That's not possible." Her eyes widened and color crept up her face. She ducked her head and began sanding with short, in tense strokes. "Great compliment," she murmured. "I wouldn't mind that one stitched on a pillow for my really bad days." The tension had returned, and with it a longing to do more than just make love. He wanted to touch her and hold her. He wanted to connect.
    Where the hell had that thought come from? Nash frowned and returned his attention to his work. No connecting, remember? No relationships. No messy emotions. No disasters.
    She cleared her throat. "About your family. There are four brothers and a half sister. At least that's what I've heard. Wait, if she's a half sister, is she still related to you?" He appreciated the change in subject. "Appar ently. She and the brothers share the same father, as do Kevin and I."
    “ I'd heard that Earl Haynes was something of a ladies' man. How did he meet your mother?" Nash sanded harder. "She was seventeen and working in a concession stand at the convention cen ter in Dallas . Earl Haynes was in town for a few days. They met, he was charming. Next thing she knew, she was pregnant and he was gone." He glanced at Stephanie. She sat back on her heels.
    “That's horrible," she said.
    “ Agreed. She'd been raised in a strict home. She didn't know much about men or the world. She tried to get in touch with Earl, but couldn't find him. Her parents made things pretty ugly for her. She gave birth to twins and when she turned eighteen a couple of months later, they threw her out." Stephanie sucked in a breath. "Just like that?"
    “ Yeah. By then Earl was back in town for his yearly convention. She went looking for him and found him in the arms of another woman. He told my mom that he didn't care about her, and never had. As for his kids, they were her problem." He'd been an infant at the