Free One in a Million by Susan Mallery Page B

it. "You said the boys know a lot of the Haynes kids. They'd have a good time. You could check out the girls and see if the legend is true." Stephanie dropped her piece of sandpaper and wiped her hands on her jeans, all the while consid ering the invitation. She didn't object to spending some quality time with the featured player in her erotic fantasies, even if she wasn't sure why Nash would want her and the boys along.
    “Won't it just be family?" she asked.
    “Too much family. You could protect me." He spoke lightly, but she thought she saw some thing dark and lonely in his eyes.
    Get a grip, she told herself. She had to stop read ing things into Nash's expression that just weren't there. The man wasn't lonely. He was fine. Most people were fine. The thought of her protecting him was laughable.
    “I'll let you have the biggest piece of pizza," he promised.
    She had to admit that she was curious about the Haynes family. And a pizza dinner out would thrill the boys. Then there was the issue of being in the same room as Nash—a way she was starting to en joy spending her time.
    She looked at his dark eyes and the way his mouth curved in a half smile. Maybe if she said yes he would accidentally brush his hand against hers. Maybe they would sit close enough together that she could imagine what it would be like to be in bed and all tangled up with him. Not that she needed much help in that department. He was already the star of her intricately detailed daydreams.
    What did she have to lose?
    “ We'd love to join you," she said. "What time do you want us to be ready?" This was not a date, Stephanie told herself that evening as she pulled off her red sweater and grabbed one in teal. It was an evening out at a pizza parlor, so there was no reason for her to sweat what she was wearing. Really.
    She pulled on the teal sweater and studied her reflection. The color made her eyes look bluer, but the thicker cable knit made her look as though she didn't have breasts. Complicating the decision of what to wear was the thundering herd of elephants in her stomach and the faint tremor in her fingers.
    The latter had caused her to nearly put her e y e out while applying mascara.
    A knock on the door was followed by Brett call ing, "Mom?" She gave her reflection one last glance and figured this was as good as it was going to get. She fingered her short hair, briefly wished (for the thousandth time in her life) to be tall, then told her oldest to come in.
    He pushed open the door and stepped into her room.
    “ What's up?" she asked as she crossed to the dresser and studied her small earring collection. There were simple gold hoops, a pair of dangling enameled flowers in light pinks and reds and several inexpensive pairs she'd bought on sale. She picked up the gold hoops.
    “Why are we going out?" Brett asked.
    She glanced up into the mirror and studied her son's reflection. He stood beside her four-poster bed, both arms wrapped around a post, as he swung back and forth. His shoulders were slumped and his ex pression was solemn.
    “ Whoa—you're upset because we're going out for pizza?" she said as she fastened the first earring. "Are you feeling okay?" He gave her a half-hearted smile. "The pizza part is fine."
    “ What about hanging out with your friends and playing video games? Is that what has you bummed?" The smile broadened. "No."
    “ Hmm, I don't think it's because we're letting your brothers come along. I know we talked about locking them in the closet when you and I want to leave, but I think it would hurt their feelings. The minivan doesn't have a trunk, so we can't leave them there."
    “ Mo-om, I don't want to lock Jason or Adam in a closet."
    “ Good to know." She finished with the second earring and turned to face him. "That only leaves Nash as the problem." Brett dropped his gaze and stared at her bed spread. While she would admit that the floral print was very pretty, she didn't think it deserved to be studied with that