Free Weekend Wife by Carolyn Zane Page A

wrestling match.
    “Hi,” he breathed, feeling suddenly shy in the presence of this incredibly classy woman. “You look...you’re...” Ty hadn’t felt this awkward around a female since high school. “Beautiful.”
    “Thank you,” she murmured as her eyes darted away from his, embarrassed by his close scrutiny.
    “Didn’t I tell you?” Max sashayed up to greet Ty and bask in the glory of his success. “Is she stunning or what?” Then he pointed at Carmen. “Come on, honey. Show Daddy your bow.”
    Giggling, Carmen spun around to show off her freshly trimmed and washed, midnight black French braid, tied with a large, red velvet bow.
    She didn’t look like the same kid at all, Ty marveled, shaking his head and smiling at her tiny, joy-filled face.
    Then Max grabbed Ty by the arm and spun him to face Helga. “And, will you just look at Mama here?” He waved an airy hand in the older woman’s direction.
    Ty didn’t think his poor heart could take any more shock as he gaped at what must have at one time been “the plastic lady.”
    Her salt-and-pepper hair curled in an attractive halo around her lightly made-up face, giving a softness to the features that had lived far too many hard years. Helga now looked every inch the standard-issue mother-in-law.
    “Helga, you look fabulous,” he said sincerely, causing her to blush a furious shade of red.
    “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she muttered. “Save it.”
    Without raising an eyebrow, Ty signed the credit-card receipt and thanked Max profusely for a job well done. As he held the door open for his new-and-improved family, Helga paused and called out to one of Max’s wizards.
    “‘Bye, Ralph, honey. You crack me up.”
    Barely acknowledging her departure, Ralph blew a stream of cigarette smoke at the ceiling and lazily winked in her direction.
    * * *
    “Uh, do you have to wear that? ” Ty tugged at his collar. Why couldn’t the old broad ever do anything normally? He glanced over at Emily for assistance.
    Emily could only shrug helplessly.
    “I don’t see why not,” Helga groused. “This outfit you just bought me cost a bloody fortune. This will keep it like new,” she said, fluffing the large plastic shampoo cape Ralph had given her as a souvenir of her trip to Maxime’s.
    “Yes, that’s true.” Ty spoke as politely as he could through his clenched teeth. “But this is a nice restaurant. Not a beauty salon.”
    “What’s the difference?”
    Ty threw up his hands in exasperation. Let her wear the damn thing. What did he care? He was far too exhausted after a day of chasing three fickle females around a shopping mall with his credit cards to argue. The only bright spot in his entire day had been watching Emily try on swimsuits.
    His entire body tingled just thinking about it. She was about the sexiest thing he’d ever laid eyes on. If she’d asked, he would gladly have bought her every suit in the store, just to see her try them on. But she’d seemed content with two simple suits that had fit her enticing figure like a glove.
    Suddenly realizing where he was, he shook his head slightly to clear the provocative image and darted a glance at Emily. She looked amazingly natural playing the part of the society wife, sitting there, helping Carmen off with her new summer coat.
    Sophisticated, poised, and completely in control of the situation. More than he could say for himself, he mused, looking out the restaurant’s huge plate-glass window at the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.
    He’d have to watch the direction of his thoughts, he chided himself. Otherwise he’d end up the same kind of lust-crazed employer that Roxanne had turned out to be. Nah. He could never be that bad. His eyes slid over to Emily as she smiled her amazing smile at the child. Then again...
    Ty was definitely letting the new-and-improved appearance of these three cloud his vision. They were not poised, sophisticated or in control, he thought, wincing as Helga began picking at