Read Online Accidentally Yours by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online Page A

around. Either you’re meeting someone or I’m boring you.” She laughed as ifthe idea of her boring anyone was impossible to imagine.
    “A friend.”
    “I see. A female friend?”
    “Just someone I know.”
    “Which means a woman. I didn’t know you were seeing someone.”
    “I’m not. It’s not like that.”
    He told himself he didn’t owe Carol an explanation, even as he wondered why he felt it necessary to make it clear he wasn’t dating Kerri. Maybe because she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested in him.
    If she’d wanted to make sure nothing ever happened between them, she’d done a hell of a job, he thought grimly. Not knowing if her response was genuine or her twisted way of paying him back for the money put him in an impossible situation. Damn her.
    He heard the sound of laughter and turned. The sun poked through the clouds just in time to light the entrance to the hotel and cast Kerri in a golden glow.
    Maybe it was a trick of the light, but she looked good. Pretty and dressed to fit in. Her hair was curly, which was different but still appealing. She glanced behind her and he saw her kid moving easily on his crutches.
    Nathan felt a subtle shift beneath his feet, as if there’d been an earthquake. He blinked and, instead of Cody, he saw his own son. Daniel on crutches,then Daniel in a wheelchair, because that was next. He blinked again and his son was gone, but the reality of what would happen to Cody remained.
    Nathan knew what it was like at the end. How the body weakened, how he would go from the chair to bed. How at the end, the drugs didn’t work and all the boy could do was scream from the pain.
    He wanted to walk away, to be anywhere but here. What the hell had he been thinking when he’d agreed to the deal?
    “You sent me an e-mail,” Kerri said by way of greeting.
    “Yes. I needed to tell you where we’d be meeting and what time.”
    “I know, but jeez. How did you get my e-mail address?”
    “I have a file on you.”
    “Sure, but my e-mail address? Isn’t that private?”
    “Not in my world.”
    She considered that for a second. “You could have just called.”
    “E-mail is more efficient.”
    “A phone call is more personal.”
    “We don’t need to be personal.”
    She smiled. “You say that now.”
    Was she bringing up the kiss? Annoyance flared, but he ignored it. Emotions weren’t productive.
    “So what’s the deal with this place?” Kerri asked. “Is there anything specific I should be doing?”
    “Walk around with me and pretend you’re enjoying yourself.”
    “Should I carry a sign telling the world I think you’re a god?”
    “You’re a lot less reverent now that you have your money.”
    “I know. Isn’t it fun?”
    “Don’t talk about the money,” he said, ignoring her question.
    “Promise.”
    “Just be friendly. Don’t give out personal information, don’t volunteer anything. If someone asks if we’re dating, say no, but don’t use a facial expression.”
    “What? How can I know what my face is doing?”
    “You know what I mean.”
    “You’re giving me way too much credit.” She waved Cody forward. “Cody, this is Mr. King. Nathan, my son.”
    Trapped, Nathan shook hands with the kid without really looking at him.
    “Nice to meet you,” Cody mumbled.
    “You’d rather be anywhere but here, right?” Nathan asked. He pointed to the far corner, where a multicolored balloon arch beckoned. “All the kid stuff is there, including the free arcade.”
    Cody grinned. “Sweet.”
    “I’ll take him,” Lance said. “Make sure he doesn’t get lost.”
    “Thanks,” Kerri told him. “I think I have to stay with Nathan and play grateful supplicant.”
    “And here I thought you were sincere,” Lance said.
    “I am.” Kerri’s eyes sparkled. “Have fun, Cody. Be good. Stay in the kids’ section until I come to get you.”
    “Oh, Mo-om.”
    She looked at Nathan. “That’s boy speak for ‘Why, yes, Mother. Of course I will. I