Free 33 The Return of Bowie Bravo by Christine Rimmer Page B

he really did seem to be there to help. And maybe, as Angie had more or less told her to her face, she needed to lighten up a little with him.
    Yeah, there was the problem that she was still attracted to him when she knew she shouldn’t be. But, come on, what kind of problem was that if he didn’t feel the same way? Because he didn’t. She knew that. If he did, he would have given her some kind of sign by now.
    Wouldn’t he?
    Oh, for crying out loud, what did it matter if he did or didn’t still have any interest in her as a woman? She’d just had a baby. Sex ought to be the last thing on her mind.
    What she ought to be concerned about was helping her son and his father find some kind of peace with each other. And she knew she wasn’t doing that. On the contrary, it was more than possible that her hostility toward Bowie was giving Johnny the excuse he needed not to let Bowie get too close.
    It was even possible that Johnny was taking his cues from her when it came to Bowie. With the kind of signals she was sending, Johnny could very well be thinking that he would not only be disloyal to Matteo’s memory if he got to know his biological father, but disloyal to her, to Glory, as well.
    Maybe she needed to…lead the way a little for him. She needed to put aside her own issues with Bowie, to make it clear to Johnny that she thought Bowie was okay, so that Johnny could give himself permission to do the same.
    That night at dinner, it was just the three of them. Glory made a point to be nicer to Bowie. She even made herself smile at him. Twice.
    The first time she smiled, Bowie was passing her the butter. He blinked and almost dropped the butter dish. She stifled a nervous laugh and caught the dish just in time.
    “Thank you,” she said as pleasantly as she could manage.
    “Uh, you’re welcome,” he answered in a stunned sort of tone.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Johnny watching them. Good.
    The second time she smiled at Bowie was when he got right up and started clearing off the table when the meal was done. And she went beyond just the smile that time. She even said, “Bowie, I do appreciate your helping out the way you do.”
    Bowie slid her a look. “Happy to,” he answered gruffly.
    Johnny said, “Can I go watch the Disney Channel for an hour?”
    “Help Bowie clear the table,” she instructed.
    He was a good kid, always had been. He got up and went to work. The clearing-off was done in record time.
    “Disney?” Johnny tried again.
    “Homework?” she quizzed.
    “Done, Mom. You know that.”
    “One hour,” she finally agreed.
    He shot out of that kitchen faster than a cat with its tail on fire. She heard the TV start up in the other room.
    Bowie was standing at the counter, watching her. She considered giving him a third smile. But Johnny wasn’t there to see it and why go overboard? She got up and went to the sink and started loading the dishwasher. “I heard what you said in the diner today—about only being here to help.”
    He leaned back against the counter a few feet away and folded his arms over that broad chest of his. “I was just thinking that probably you had.”
    She made herself throw in a little more praise. “And you have been helpful. You really have.” After all, it was only the truth.
    “You’re welcome. Not that it makes any difference to him.” Bowie tipped his head in the direction of the family room.
    She loaded in the last plate and pulled the top rack out to put in the glassware. “Give him time.”
    “It’s been a week.”
    “A week is nothing. Think how long you’ve been gone.” As soon as the words were out, she realized they sounded disapproving.
    He braced his hands on the counter behind him, and glanced off toward the far wall. “I do think about it, Glory. All the time.”
    She tried again. “I didn’t mean to be critical. It just…came out that way.”
    He sent her a look from those summer-blue eyes. “Have you noticed that most of