Free Seduced by Moonlight by Janice Sims Page A

way.”
    Cherisse had to admit that sounded just like her mother, always willing to give somebody a second chance.
    â€œWhen is he supposed to move to Denver?” she asked cautiously.
    â€œNext week,” said Danielle. She visibly winced in anticipation of her mother’s reaction.
    Cherisse surprised her and laughed. “I’d just as well give in since it’s obvious I’ve been outvoted, two against one. All right, your Dad can stay with us no longer than two months. Eight weeks ought to be long enough for anybody to find a place to live.”
    Danielle screeched with delight and, like her mother earlier, immediately lowered her voice. They’d already gotten some odd looks from their fellow diners.
    Â 
    Harry strode into Millie’s Place two minutes after one o’clock. He wore a dark gray suit with a white shirt, a striped maroon tie and black wingtips. Gold cuff links twinkled at his wrists, but aside from his watch that was the only jewelry he wore.
    Going over to the hostess, a petite brunette with brown eyes and ample hips, he said, “Hello, Alice, I’m looking for Cherisse and Danielle Washington. Rochelle told me she escorted them here.”
    Alice blushed. She tried her best to control the girlish reaction she got to Harry’s nearness but in three years of working there she had never been able to do so. “They’re the two attractive ladies over there,” she said with a nod of her head.
    Harry smiled at her. “Thanks.”
    As soon as he turned his back, Alice fanned her face. “Lord, that man is fine,” she said under her breath.
    Harry took his time walking across the restaurant. For one moment, his legs had gone weak under him when he saw Cherisse Washington. It was Cheri. He was sure of it. That glorious, thick, wavy black hair was a dead giveaway, to say nothing of her beautiful clear skin and warm brown eyes. He was standing less than twelve feet away from her and her daughter. Cherisse wore a classic navy blue dress whose hem fell a few inches above her shapely knees. She wore a pair of navy sling-backs with it. And as he recalled, her legs were gorgeous. A woman with legs like that—long, with slender ankles, lovely calves and exquisite knees—should never wear slacks.
    She was smiling at her daughter, a cute kid in jeans, a red sweater and white athletic shoes. The kid resembled her mom a great deal except her skin tone was a few shades darker.
    The daughter looked up and saw his approach. She said something to her mother and Cherisse Washington glanced up and the expression on her lovely face was priceless. He had no doubt she recognized him from last Saturday night. Now here they were a week later.
    Harry silently thanked God for his good fortune. He felt like grinning but pushed away the impulse. He didn’t want Cherisse to get the idea that he was especially glad to see her. He smiled his “pleased to meet you” business smile as he got closer—all lips, no teeth. “Hello, Mrs. Washington, Danielle,” he greeted them.
    Both mother and daughter went to get up but he gestured for them to remain seated. “Please don’t get up. I’ll join you.” And he sat down between them. He offered Cherisse his hand. As they shook, he said, “Do you remember me from Saturday night? We chatted a while on the balcony.”
    Cherisse blushed. Her hand trembled a little in his grasp. She withdrew it and said with a smile, “Yes, I do. And I’m really embarrassed, now, that I didn’t recognize you.”
    â€œDon’t be,” he said. “It’s kind of nice not being recognized.” He turned to Danielle, who was riveted by their conversation. They shook hands also. “Good to meet you, Danielle.”
    â€œThanks, likewise,” she told him with a huge grin. “You look even better in person than you do in photos.”
    â€œDanielle!” exclaimed her