Free The Mighty Quinns: Jack by Kate Hoffmann Page B

gently pulled her down on top of him.
    “Do you think it’s strange that I worry so much about him?” Mia asked, snuggling against Jack’s body.
    “No, I’m the last one to say that.” He paused. “My mother told me that it’s time I started thinking more about myself and less about taking care of the family. I’m starting to think that she’s right.”
    “You lost your father when you were so young,” Mia said. “I can see how that might have changed the way you look at things.”
    “I just never thought of putting myself first. It was never about what I wanted. It was always about what was best for my mom and younger sisters.” He shook his head. “But they’ve been all right for a long time. And I’ve been using them as an excuse.”
    “An excuse for what?”
    “For not making any real commitments in my life. For not taking any risks.” Jack pulled her closer. “I need to let go of that responsibility,” he said. “Whatever happens with my mother, it’s her life. I have my own life to live.”
    Jack pulled her closer and kissed her gently, his tongue tracing along the line between her lips. She opened for him and the kiss deepened, his mouth possessing hers with such desire that Mia felt her doubts melt away.
    When he finally drew back, Mia sighed softly. “I understand how you feel,” she murmured. “But I’m just not there yet. It’s too soon. And it has nothing to do with your mother. She’s lovely. It has to do with me and my own...insecurities.”
    “I understand,” he said. “We can agree to disagree.”
    “You’re not angry?”
    Jack shook his head. “No. Now, can we stop talking about our parents’ love lives and start talking about ours?”
    “We don’t have a love life,” Mia said.
    “I’m thinking we might want to work on that. Since I’m staying until the end of the week, we’re going to have to find something to occupy our time.”
    Mia pushed up on her elbow and stared down at him. She reached out and slid the sunglasses up so she could see his eyes. The teasing glint was obvious and a smile curled the corners of her mouth. “Do you really think that would be a good idea?”
    “I think it would be an excellent idea,” Jack said. “I’d like to discuss this ‘friends with benefits’ suggestion of yours.”
    “I may have been mistaken about that,” Mia said.
    “Maybe you weren’t.”
    She drew a deep breath. “There have to be some rules,” she said. “First, and most important, we can’t fall in love.”
    “And why is that?” Jack asked.
    “Because, I’m just not ready to deal with the inevitable breakup. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to survive that right now.”
    “Not everyone breaks up,” he said.
    “Yes, they do,” Mia countered. “Unless you fall in love forever, you break up. And I know I’m not ready to fall in love forever, so that only leaves breaking up.” She stared down into his eyes. “We can only do this if you promise you won’t have any expectations. At the end of the week, we’ll just say goodbye and get on with our lives.”
    “And if I’m in town and I want to take you to a ball game?” Jack asked.
    “We’ll figure that one out when it happens,” she said. Then she drew a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. “My life really is a mess,” she murmured.
    “Mine, too,” Jack said. “I thought I’d have everything sorted out by the time I was thirty.”
    “When do you turn thirty?”
    “I did. Last August.”
    She paused. “My family is giving me a pass for now. I’ve been the caretaker for the past six years so I haven’t really had the time,” she said.
    “So that explains it,” he said.
    “Explains what?”
    “Why someone as beautiful as you isn’t already married. Or at least in a relationship.”
    “Dating can be exhausting. That’s why our arrangement is so much better. All the good stuff without the bad.”
    Jack laughed out loud, then reached out and grabbed her hand, lacing his