Free Tempting Mr. Wrong (Wrong Man) by Kerri Carpenter Page A

that…”
    “Hey, it’s just me and you out here, and I’m not in the habit of judging.”
    After a quick glance around the empty backyard, she blew out a long breath. “Our relatives were great. They really were. And when Mom and Dad were around, they were amazing. But I guess with all of that upheaval and chaos…” She trailed off.
    “You had a hard time?” he guessed. Some people may have labeled his mother a tiger mom, but maybe she’d been onto something. With Carly’s erratic upbringing, that’s probably why she had been so close with her brother.
    “No, I was going to say we never learned to cook.” They both laughed. “Chris and I always joked that we’d have to marry chefs because neither of us had a clue how to make anything. I mean, I can do mac and cheese. From a box,” she said. “Chris could make scrambled eggs. That was about the extent of it.”
    “Mac and cheese, some nice fluffy eggs, what else do you need in life?” he asked and was happy when her lips twitched.
    “Well, Chris got lucky. He found a chef, a wonderful mother, and a beautiful partner all with Gretchen. They were best friends,” she finished quietly.
    Something about her words or maybe the emotion simmering right under the surface had a big ball forming in his throat. He didn’t know how to respond.
    “I haven’t been so lucky yet. With finding the chef part, I mean,” she added.
    She’d said it flippantly, but as soon as the words left her mouth, Carly cast her eyes downward and leaned her head against the chain of the swing.
    He didn’t know where the words even came from—maybe a hunch—but he said, “It must have been lonely growing up like that.”
    She shrugged. “At least I had Chris.”
    “And now you don’t.”
    Her breath hitched, but he noticed her eyes remained dry. She was a fighter, he would give her that. But maybe, while he was in town, he could help her feel a little less alone.
    “How about this?” he asked and noticed her meet his gaze, curiosity in her eyes. “Why don’t we make dinner together tomorrow?”
    “What’s that?”
    “Oh well, see, dinner is one of the three main meals we eat each and every day.”
    Reaching over, she batted him with her hand. “Surprisingly, I am familiar with the concept of dinner.”
    “What occurred inside that house earlier tonight would not be considered dinner by most human standards.”
    “Shut up.” But she was grinning as she said it.
    He nodded. “So tomorrow. Me, you, kitchen, five o’clock. Be there.”
    “Really?”
    “Don’t get too excited. I’m not much to behold in the kitchen, either, but I do have a couple recipes that I break out from time to time.”
    “You want to cook with me?”
    “Hey, I figure between the two of us we should be able to make something edible for the kid.”
    Carly swung her legs around so the swing turned and she was facing him. “That sounds like a good plan.”
    “Now just to let you know, the kitchen is that room with all the food-making equipment.”
    “Oh.” She played along. “You mean that place where all the takeout menus live?”
    “See, I knew you’d be a fast learner.”
    She laughed, and her whole face lit up. Her eyes were so mesmerizing. The sun had almost set, and even in the fading light, the emerald green color called to him. He found himself moving his swing closer to hers. But just then the sound of pots and pans banging in the kitchen had them both looking back toward the house.
    “I think Mya is taking matters into her own hands,” he said.
    “More likely she’s stacking pots and pans so she can get to those ice cream sandwiches we made a couple hours ago. Kid has a sweet tooth like I’ve never seen before. Even worse than mine.”
    Even though she laughed, sadness lingered. He could feel it hanging in the air the way the swings were hanging from the swing set.
    “Come here.” When she didn’t budge, he held out his hand. Her eyes flicked down to it and then quickly