Free Falling for Mr. Wrong by Inara Scott Page A

when he hurt his neck.
    He ignored Julia’s taunt. “A gold medal?” he said to Kelsey. “How, um…how did you get that?”
    “I competed during high school,” she said, gaze landing somewhere beyond his left shoulder.
    He didn’t know what to say in response. “Oh. Of course.”
    “See, Daddy? See?” Julia shot him a quick, triumphant look before homing back in like a laser on Kelsey. “So this morning you can braid my hair, and then maybe we can go to the park and practice.”
    Kelsey carefully peeled the girl off her torso and set her back on the floor. “It’s up to your dad, Julia.”
    He scowled, feeling like an idiot. “Fine. Just be careful, okay? No flips or anything.”
    Julia clapped her hands. “Yay! Let’s go right now!”
    “Hang on,” Kelsey said. “Let’s see what your brothers want to do this morning. I brought my bike. I thought maybe we could all bike to the park together.” She glanced over at Ross and then added, with a deliberate note of deference, “If that’s okay with you, of course. I promise we will wear helmets and not go too fast.”
    Julia’s eyebrows knitted together. “You want all of us to go for a bike ride? Even the boys?”
    Kelsey laughed. “Of course, silly. We won’t go too fast. I’ll make sure they wait for you.”
    Julia shook her head. “Not me.” She reached up with both hands to grab at Kelsey’s face. She crouched down so the little girl could whisper in her ear.
    Surprise turned her pink mouth into a perfect O . “Luke? Really?” She glanced at Ross, seeking confirmation.
    He paused. As Julia had apparently informed her, Luke wasn’t good on his bike, and group outings had always been something of a disaster. Luke had always been slightly unsteady, and while he’d learned to ride he’d never become confident in his skill. As with other physical pursuits, part of the problem was the comparison with Matt, who’d never met a physical activity he couldn’t dominate. When he was feeling insecure, Luke could make a bike trip completely miserable. Right now, given his already-grumpy attitude, an afternoon on bikes could be nothing less than a nightmare.
    “Well,” he hemmed. “He’s not really great —”
    “I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Kelsey interrupted. He caught a hint of exasperation in her eyes. Clearly, she thought this was another example of him being overly cautious.
    She had no idea.
    “I’ll check the brakes before we leave,” she offered. “Because of the hill.”
    She shook her head back slightly to clear her hair from her eyes, and the silky waves swung lightly to either side of her face. He had a flash of memory and found himself yearning to tuck one of those long strands behind her ear, just as he had the first night they’d met. He fought not to recall the feeling of that hair as he tangled it his palms while she cried out beneath him.
    Damn it.
    He was her boss . Maybe he could order her to wear her hair in a bun?
    “Da- dee !” Julia whined. “I want to go for a bike ride.”
    An inner battle waged. He clearly should tell Kelsey all about Luke, and warn her not to go on what would almost certainly be an ill-fated expedition. But then she glanced at him with that barely concealed look of irritation and in some horrible, evil little part of his brain—perhaps the same part of his brain that couldn’t stop thinking lustful thoughts—he found himself not wanting to tell her the truth. It was petty and ridiculous, but for some reason that morning he resented her, with her casual beauty and effortless sensuality. Her lack of three kids. Her utter and complete freedom to do whatever she wanted.
    Luke would be safe on the bike. The park was just a few blocks away. The worst that would happen would be a miserable couple of hours with a trio of squabbling kids.
    Besides, he could honestly use an empty house for a few hours while he worked on the proposal for Herriot.
    He hesitated for only a second before he smiled at