Read Online A Mom for Callie by Laura Bradford - Free Book Online Page A

next to her computer.”
    â€œOf course I did.” Betsy matched Callie’s smile with one of her own. “The color reminds me to be happy.”
    â€œYou need a reminder?” Kyle asked.
    â€œSometimes, yeah.” And it was true. Though, for some reason, happiness was coming a little easier since arriving in Cedar Creek.
    For a long moment he simply studied her, the sudden silence between them anything but awkward. When he finally spoke, he addressed Callie with his words while maintaining his visual focus on Betsy.
    â€œI was thinking, Callie, about those hamburgers and hotdogs we bought the other day. The pretzels, too. What do you say we have a barbecue tonight and invite Tom and Ang to join us? Miss Anderson here, too…if she can put aside her writing for a few hours.”
    Callie’s squeal escaped the screen between them, her enthusiasm matched only by the sound of her feet as they jumped up and down. “Can you? Can you, Miss Anderson? My daddy makes the best hamburgers ever. ”
    A deep breath chased away the parade of fears that threatened to answer for her. Betsy winked at Callie before looking back at Kyle. “The best burgers ever? Wow…with an endorsement like that, how could I even think about declining?”

Chapter Six
    She knew she was staring but she couldn’t help herself. In or out of uniform, there was no denying the fact that Kyle Brennan was a good-looking man. Though, in all fairness, she wouldn’t mind seeing what he looked like with absolutely nothing on.
    Feeling her face warm at the thought, Betsy returned her attention to the version flipping burgers in front of her rather than the version in her fantasies. The man at the grill was an alluring mixture of confidence and approachability with a healthy dash of both playfulness and sincerity.
    â€œPretty easy on the eyes, isn’t he?”
    Startled, she looked up as Angela dropped down on the picnic bench beside her, her face flushed from an intense game of one-on-one volleyball with her husband. “What are you talking about?”
    Angela jerked her head in the direction of the grill. “The host.”
    â€œI’m not sure I know what you mean.” She knew the words were lame, the believability behind them laughable, but she gave it a shot anyway.
    â€œYou know exactly what I mean. You’ve been eyeingKyle for the past ten minutes. I know it. Tom knows it. And Kyle knows it.”
    She gripped the edge of the picnic table as her mouth grew dry. “You think he knows?”
    Rolling her eyes skyward, Angela reached for a chip from the brimming bowl in front of them. “You think most men naturally flex their muscles while lifting a beer bottle or handling a spatula?”
    She laughed in spite of her embarrassment. “You think that was for my benefit?”
    â€œJudging by the way he watched you from the corner of his eye every time he did it…I’d say, yeah.” Angela considered the half-eaten chip in her hand before popping it into her mouth. When she was done chewing, she continued. “And judging by the way you were watching every move he made, I’d say he was successful in his mission.”
    â€œHis mission?” Betsy rested her head on her fist and grinned at her new friend. “You think he has a mission?”
    â€œDo pigs fly?”
    She laughed. “Actually, no.”
    â€œOh, sorry. Bad analogy.” Angela looked around the Brennans’ backyard, her eyes stopping on the swing set where Callie was happily doing tricks on the monkey rings for Tom. “Is Callie Brennan cuteness personified?”
    Lifting her head from her hand, Betsy looked from Angela to Callie and back again. “You’re that sure he’s trying to impress me?”
    â€œAnd then some.” Retrieving another chip, Angela held it out to Betsy, who shook her head, prompting Angela to make a face before happily munching away.“This