Read Online Charmed (Contemporary Romance) by Inés Saint - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Inés Saint
Tags: Fiction, Death, Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Twins, Bachelor, school, Success, Community, infidelity, cheating, Starting Over, funeral, Forever Love, Single Woman, headmaster, world travel, raising children, Previously Published, Widowed Mother, Five-Year-Olds, Goldsmith, Designer Charms, Painful Secret, Late Husband, Private Elementary, Doctorate, School Board, Semester, Heart Trust, Nurture Attraction
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you really helped others from school like this?”
“Sure. And a few moms have babysat for me. Accepting help is no big deal, Jamie.”
“Then I think I’ll let you help with the swing set tomorrow … if you really want to, that is. I’ve got so much work next week and having it up will help keep them busy so I can catch up.”
And the strangest feeling, something like joy, shot through him.
“Besides, it’ll drive Justin crazy to know you helped me put the set together. Sisterly love aside, he can be a bit of a smart-ass sometimes.”
He turned to share his most evil smile, but was instead caught by the look on her face. A breeze blew her hair away from her face and he studied her for a moment, noticing a change. She seemed less guarded, but more vulnerable.
Something in his chest ached at this little glimpse.
• • •
The next day, Jamie tried to resist the temptation to put a little effort into her appearance and made sure she looked the way she did on any given Saturday morning. She pulled on an old pair of khaki shorts and a simple white V-neck.
The idea of having the swing set up filled her with enthusiasm. It would keep the boys entertained and she could catch up with work. But she was no longer sure how she felt about spending the morning with Nick, though it seemed harmless.
As soon as she’d stopped being so uptight around him, she’d enjoyed his easygoing ways. She was lighthearted by nature, but the last few years had changed her.
Being with both Nick and her brother, and sharing in their ribbing, had opened her up to him a bit. It was a battle between wanting to have a little fun and not wanting to enjoy it too much. The fact that Nick was leaving for a year tipped the battle in fun’s favor.
The doorbell rang and Jamie’s stomach dropped like a rock the moment she opened the door. Nick walked in, looking incredibly sexy in a faded T-shirt and jeans.
“Good morning,” she said, a little too cheerfully, wondering if she could keep the physical effect he had on her under wraps.
“I like your bright red door. It really stands out.”
“Well, our townhouse in Lexington had a bright red door, and I thought I’d make it a tradition.”
The twins burst out of the hallway, ecstatic to see him and eager to let him know how they were going to “help” him. The guy didn’t know what he was in for. She doubted he’d make it to lunch, even though she’d promised the kids she’d ask him to stay.
“Are you guys ready to get to work?” Nick asked them. Their enthusiasm level was at about rock-concert high, and Nick got down to business quickly, sorting through everything on the ground.
Jamie turned her head up to the sky, grateful for the mild, sunny weather. Nick began to assign tasks and seemed to really enjoy Michael and Timmy’s curiosity and willingness to learn. He patiently let them take turns at the things they could do while he and Jamie worked the more strenuous tasks.
Just when it was beginning to feel a little too much like a made-for-TV movie, Timmy became bored with the project and started doing something way more fun. He began to pick fights with Michael. A nice, long dose of reality ensued. The twins fought, Jamie was firm, they found alternate forms of entertainment, Jamie continued to work — until the twins got in each other’s way, and the cycle began all over again.
Between trying to keep peace between her boys and occasionally brushing against Nick as she helped him, Jamie was feeling a completely different set of emotions every five minutes.
At one point, she looked over at Nick and tried to guess what he was thinking, wondering if he was regretting the project, when she caught him lifting his shirt up to wipe his forehead.
The man had abs … an honest-to-goodness six-pack. She forced herself to look at the sky instead — to ask God what she had done to deserve feeling so out of control over the sight of a male body.
She’d accepted a sinfully
“Sure. And a few moms have babysat for me. Accepting help is no big deal, Jamie.”
“Then I think I’ll let you help with the swing set tomorrow … if you really want to, that is. I’ve got so much work next week and having it up will help keep them busy so I can catch up.”
And the strangest feeling, something like joy, shot through him.
“Besides, it’ll drive Justin crazy to know you helped me put the set together. Sisterly love aside, he can be a bit of a smart-ass sometimes.”
He turned to share his most evil smile, but was instead caught by the look on her face. A breeze blew her hair away from her face and he studied her for a moment, noticing a change. She seemed less guarded, but more vulnerable.
Something in his chest ached at this little glimpse.
• • •
The next day, Jamie tried to resist the temptation to put a little effort into her appearance and made sure she looked the way she did on any given Saturday morning. She pulled on an old pair of khaki shorts and a simple white V-neck.
The idea of having the swing set up filled her with enthusiasm. It would keep the boys entertained and she could catch up with work. But she was no longer sure how she felt about spending the morning with Nick, though it seemed harmless.
As soon as she’d stopped being so uptight around him, she’d enjoyed his easygoing ways. She was lighthearted by nature, but the last few years had changed her.
Being with both Nick and her brother, and sharing in their ribbing, had opened her up to him a bit. It was a battle between wanting to have a little fun and not wanting to enjoy it too much. The fact that Nick was leaving for a year tipped the battle in fun’s favor.
The doorbell rang and Jamie’s stomach dropped like a rock the moment she opened the door. Nick walked in, looking incredibly sexy in a faded T-shirt and jeans.
“Good morning,” she said, a little too cheerfully, wondering if she could keep the physical effect he had on her under wraps.
“I like your bright red door. It really stands out.”
“Well, our townhouse in Lexington had a bright red door, and I thought I’d make it a tradition.”
The twins burst out of the hallway, ecstatic to see him and eager to let him know how they were going to “help” him. The guy didn’t know what he was in for. She doubted he’d make it to lunch, even though she’d promised the kids she’d ask him to stay.
“Are you guys ready to get to work?” Nick asked them. Their enthusiasm level was at about rock-concert high, and Nick got down to business quickly, sorting through everything on the ground.
Jamie turned her head up to the sky, grateful for the mild, sunny weather. Nick began to assign tasks and seemed to really enjoy Michael and Timmy’s curiosity and willingness to learn. He patiently let them take turns at the things they could do while he and Jamie worked the more strenuous tasks.
Just when it was beginning to feel a little too much like a made-for-TV movie, Timmy became bored with the project and started doing something way more fun. He began to pick fights with Michael. A nice, long dose of reality ensued. The twins fought, Jamie was firm, they found alternate forms of entertainment, Jamie continued to work — until the twins got in each other’s way, and the cycle began all over again.
Between trying to keep peace between her boys and occasionally brushing against Nick as she helped him, Jamie was feeling a completely different set of emotions every five minutes.
At one point, she looked over at Nick and tried to guess what he was thinking, wondering if he was regretting the project, when she caught him lifting his shirt up to wipe his forehead.
The man had abs … an honest-to-goodness six-pack. She forced herself to look at the sky instead — to ask God what she had done to deserve feeling so out of control over the sight of a male body.
She’d accepted a sinfully
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