Free Charmed (Contemporary Romance) by Inés Saint Page A

twins again. Both Timmy and Michael were so completely absorbed in their game that they hadn’t noticed the swing set was completed. “I’ve never really thought about what I’m going to do when the twins go off to college. It seems far away.” Jamie thought out loud.
    “Your odd moratorium on dating will expire, remember?” Though his familiar nature was comforting, his brilliant eyes were sending her heart into a tailspin.
    “I’m not sure you’re one to talk about dating.” She got up and leaned against one of the poles.
    “And why’s that?” Nick walked up to stand in front of her.
    “Well, you said you’re not getting asked out much lately, and maybe it has nothing to do with you leaving for a year. Maybe you’re just losing your touch, Nick Grey.” She looked up at him, feigning solemnity. He laughed.
    For some reason, Celine Bliss, the woman she’d seen him with downtown came to mind, and she wondered what role she played in his life.
    Nick pulled down, hard, on one of the beams, to make sure it was sturdy. The man couldn’t seem to keep still. Jamie looked up and saw the muscles of his arms contract. What was it with her and arms? Her throat felt thick, and she was overwhelmed by the desire to know what those strong arms would feel like around her.
    It had nothing to do with his comforting nature. It was purely physical. It had been a long time since she’d had a nice, strong, masculine embrace. Her mouth became dry when she actually pictured him wrapping his arms around her.
    She pushed herself away from the swing set as if it were on fire. Why would she ever allow herself to picture that? She called over to the boys. “Who wants to try out the new swings?” The boys looked up in surprise. They instantly dropped what they were doing and ran like wild dogs toward the swings, nearly knocking Jamie down on their way.
    • • •
    Nick laughed at their excitement, and walked over to pick up his toolbox, figuring it was time to go.
    “Are you staying for lunch?” Jamie asked, shooting her kids a quick glance. A moment before, he could’ve sworn she’d wanted to get rid of him, though he couldn’t figure out why. He studied her, wondering if she was just being polite.
    He took in her sun-kissed cheeks, the strands of hair falling out of her ponytail, and the twin’s excitement in the background. “Sure, I’ll stay. Do you need help in the kitchen?” Without thinking, he reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. It had been bothering him for a while. His thumb swept her cheek, and with great effort, he lowered his hand. The pink of her cheeks instantly deepened a few shades. “Or maybe I should just stay out here and keep the peace,” he said, turning away, inadvertently flexing the hand that had touched her.
    Jamie went inside and Nick gave himself a much-needed mental slap. What was he doing touching the woman?
    “Nick?” Michael tugged at his shirt.
    “What’s up, buddy?”
    “Can I ask you a question?”
    “Sure, shoot.”
    Michael swayed from side to side. “Um, do you know why I get a tummy ache every time Paula Mitchell talks to me? Am I allergic to her?”
    Nick bit down on his lip, and tried hard not to smile. He squatted so he could be eye level with his young friend. “Do you think Paula Mitchell is pretty?”
    Michael blew out a long, drawn-out breath. “She’s beautiful.”
    “And does that make you nervous?”
    Michael nodded yes.
    “Well, that’s why your tummy hurts when she’s around. It’s because you’re nervous, not because you’re allergic to her.”
    “I don’t like it. Will it ever go away?”
    Nick thought about that before answering. “I think you’d better get used it.”
    Michael’s shoulders slumped, and Nick tickled him. Michael laughed and ran back to his new swings.
    After lunch, the boys wanted to show him each and every one of their toys, and they frequently fought over Nick’s attention. Jamie leaned over once,