Free Sawyer, Rita - Her Mr. Wrong [What Are Friends For 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Rita Sawyer Page B

reached the steps.
    “Uncle Slade’s here,” Conner shouted, jumping up and down in the doorway.
    “Thank God!” he heard Jenny say as he opened the door and ushered Amy inside.
    Jenny was rushing around, wearing just a robe. Matthew sat on the floor smacking his blocks together while Conner tried to show him how to build a tower. Jenny spotted Amy standing by the door. In a move that surprised them all, she grabbed Amy’s arm and dragged her up the stairs. Slade looked at the boys, not expecting an answer, but he wouldn’t have rejected one, either. Conner shrugged his shoulders, while Matthew chose to throw a block in his direction.
    “That means he wants you to play,” Conner explained.
    “Whoo-hoo.” Slade scooped up the block and joined them on the floor.
    It took Slade and Conner a good ten minutes and countless attempts, but they managed to build a wall around Matthew. There was no way Slade could hear what was going on upstairs above his high-pitched laughter. Hell, he almost missed the doorbell. Slade got to his feet and went to the door, with Conner hot on his heels.
    “Elias!” Conner shouted as Slade opened the door.
    “Dude, you grew again.” Elias held up his hand, and Conner slapped it. “I thought your mother told you to stop.”
    “She did, but I can’t stop.” He shrugged as if it didn’t really matter.
    “Well, pretty soon you’ll be able to get stuff off the top shelf instead of me.”
    “Really?” Conner’s smile would have stretched from ear to ear if it were possible
    “And just how often are you fetching stuff for my sister?” Slade’s tone had Elias’s gaze snapping to his.
    “Once or twice a month.” Elias walked over and scooped up Matthew, who was waving his arms madly in the air.
    Though the boys seemed really happy to see him, Slade wondered why he was there. “So what brings you by?”
    “Jenny and I are going out to dinner and a movie.” Elias tilted his head a little. “I thought you knew.”
    “You?” Slade couldn’t believe this. Elias—one of his best friends—was the one who asked his sister out. “I knew she had a date, but she wouldn’t tell me with who.”
    “You’re not mad, are you? I did ask your permission.”
    “I think I would remember something that important.”
    “You were a bit distracted at the time.”
    “Jenny’s the woman who had you tied in knots?” Why hadn’t Slade put it all together? He wasn’t against the match, just surprised.
    The sound of Jenny’s and Amy’s giggles as they came down the steps had them all turning. Jenny came around the corner first. She had on a little, black dress with hot-pink lace at the top of her breasts and at the hem. The ribbon at her waist and in hair matched it perfectly.
    “Wow.” Elias was echoed by both boys.
    Jenny blushed, which only made her look more stunning. Amy moved to Slade’s side. Her earlier frown was replaced with a huge smile. They were going to have a talk about what happened upstairs, and he figured he was going to owe her a thank-you or two.
    The phone rang, and Jenny lunged for it. “Hello.”
    Slade watched as her smile fell, and she said, “Oh, no, I completely understand. I hope you feel better.”
    She hung up the phone and stood with her back to them for a few moments. Slade moved to go to her, but Amy grabbed his arm and held him in place. He glanced at her, and she shook her head.
    “That was Martha from two doors down. She was supposed to babysit tonight, but she’s feeling a bit under the weather.” She turned to Elias. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to reschedule.”
    “Nonsense,” Amy interrupted, before Elias could response. “Slade and I can stay here and watch the boys.”
    Jenny shook her head and glanced at the floor. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
    “You didn’t. I’m insisting. Don’t forget, as a guest in your home you want me to be welcome, so you should let me do as I ask.” Her smile told Slade she was going to