Free Opposites Distract by Judi Lynn Page B

twenty-eight.” Tessa stared at her, eyes wide. “You need to think about that. You’re older than I am. If you don’t get to it pretty soon, time’s running out.”
    Harmony grimaced. “Thanks for making me feel ancient.” Brody laughed, and she glared at him. “Men don’t have to worry as much, but it’s different for women.”
    â€œSo you do want kids?” Brody said.
    â€œHell no, it’s just that I know I’m making a choice. My option’s running out.”
    Brody glanced at Ian, confused. Ian just shrugged and said, “Women.”
    â€œWhat have you got against kids?” Brody asked. “You like Aiden and Bailey.”
    â€œThey’re not mine. I read to them, then send them downstairs to their mom. Kids suck the life out of you. My friends were fun to hang out with until they had kids. Now they collapse around ten at night. They barely keep up with their rug rats.”
    â€œWhat are you saying? That I’m not going to be fun anymore?” Tessa pushed the food on her plate from one spot to another. No one was eating.
    Harmony sighed. “I’m just saying that kids change everything. I’ll still love hanging out with you, Tessie, but I’m not ready for that kind of a commitment.”
    Brody shook his head. “The parents I’ve talked to wouldn’t change anything. The kids are worth it.”
    Harmony pointed a finger at Mr. Know-It-All. “Then you’d better get busy. You’re forty. If you don’t find a girl and start popping out babies soon, you’ll be an old man in diapers before your last kid graduates from college.”
    Brody jerked back in his chair and stared at her, surprised. No, maybe shocked. He swallowed, hard. “You have a unique way of putting things, but you’re right. I don’t want to roll up in a wheelchair to watch my grandkids play Little League.”
    She hadn’t meant to rattle him, but she had an awful feeling she had. She tried to put it more mildly. “You’d better start looking.”
    â€œYou’re right, damn it. It’s time I get back in the game.” He raised a dark eyebrow. “You’d make someone a great wife. You don’t think so, but you’re generous with your time and emotions. You shouldn’t rule out being June Cleaver.”
    Tessa laughed and tried to cover it by pretending to cough.
    Harmony snorted. “Yeah, that’s me—all warm and fuzzy in an apron and pearls while I vacuum.” She looked down at her steak. She watched Brody saw through his. Somewhere between trying to thaw them in a rush and keep them warm in the oven, they’d turned to leather. Ian was fidgeting too much to eat, and Tessa looked done in. She sighed. “What if we call it an early night? You guys would probably like to talk.”
    Brody put down his fork and stood before Ian could answer. “You need some couple time. We’ll help you clean up, then take off.”
    Ian and Tessa didn’t argue, so they all pitched in, and in a short while, Brody and Harmony zipped to his SUV. The road had been sanded and salted sometime during their visit. It still wasn’t easy going. It took them a while to reach the lodge, but it wasn’t the white-knuckle drive it usually was. Harmony waited in the foyer for Brody, and when he came in, he asked, “Are you as hungry as I am?”
    She pressed a hand to her stomach. “I’m starving.”
    They headed to the kitchen and scrounged for food. Lots of eggs and some ham slices and lots of cheese, but they weren’t sure what Paula needed for breakfast and lunch tomorrow, so they ended up making a stack of peanut butter sandwiches and popcorn.
    Brody looked at her. “The next Harry Potter?”
    She poured herself a glass of wine, and he grabbed a beer. They carried all of their goodies to the library. They were snacking and watching the movie