Read Online Kids Is A 4-Letter Word by Stephanie Bond - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stephanie Bond
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wrist to check his watch and nodded in agreement. “You’re right, sweetheart. I’m almost through showing Jo around. Can you get my beeper from my desk drawer and put it by my briefcase?”
She nodded, casting one more wary glance toward Jo before leaving.
John cleared his throat. “Anyway, the mattress aside, I’m worried I made a mistake buying the bed.”
Puzzled, Jo asked, “Why?”
He folded his hands, a sheepish look on his face. “You don’t think it’s too…masculine? I mean, would a woman…uh…” He blushed furiously.
Understanding flooded through Jo. John Sterling intended to remarry someday and wanted the room to be a place where a woman could feel comfortable. “It’s a beautiful bed,” Jo hastened to assure him. “And I’m sure any woman would…uh…like it.” Now it was her turn to blush.
He grinned. “I guess I’ll have to take your word for that.”
“Daddy?” Claire’s voice echoed from downstairs.
“I’m coming,” John called back. He hurriedly showed Jo the sitting room, huge bathroom and walk-in closet connected to his room, all equally bare, then they descended the stairs together. Jo tingled from his nearness and from their earlier banter in his bedroom. This man aroused feelings in her she didn’t want to scrutinize.
The children stood by the door, queued for a goodbye kiss. Jo had the ridiculous urge to get in line. Instead, she averted her eyes during the noisy smooches. When she peeked, Claire was plucking the bits of tissue from her father’s face as he stood patiently, bent at the waist.
“Jo,” he asked, standing and turning toward her. “Are you sure you don’t mind keeping an eye on the kids? I can take them to work with me for a few hours—I’ve done it before.”
“No,” she said, smiling brightly. “I need to get started here, anyway. And I have to dash out to a client not too far from here, but it’s a day care, so the kids should be fine for a few minutes.” Could he see that her heart was still jumping from their encounter? Or was it racing due to her planned act of deception with the Pattersons?
He shook his head and pulled on his suit jacket. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay, then I’ll be back around twelve-thirty or so.” He stooped to pick up his briefcase.
Jo carried a catalog to the cluttered kitchen table, anxiousfor this unsettling man to leave. She spied his black and mustard-colored silk tie under a wad of napkins.
“John,” she said, reaching for the tie and holding it up.
He turned, eyebrows up.
“You forgot something.”
He tapped his forehead lightly with the heel of his hand. “Thanks. I was having so much trouble with my button, I put the thing out of my mind.”
Abandoning his briefcase, he walked toward her. He reached for the tie, then draped it over his shoulder. Jo watched while he struggled with the button at his shirt collar, stretching his neck like a rooster to gain a fraction of an inch more room to maneuver.
She smiled and crossed her arms, amused to watch an accomplished man reduced to such contortions.
He fumbled with the tiny button, the tip of his tongue protruding in his deep concentration. After several attempts, he conceded defeat. “Forget it,” he said, shrugging. “My fingers are too big for these ridiculous tiny buttons.”
“Let me,” she offered, stepping forward with her hands raised. She stopped a half step in front of him, her hands in midair, embarrassment flooding her when she felt his proximity. Her heart thudded in her chest, her throat tightening like a vise, forcing her to swallow hard and audibly. His green eyes held hers bondage, pulling her toward him. “Th-that is, if you want me to,” she stammered.
He hesitated until she began to lower her arms, then said, “I’d like that very much.”
Slowly, Jo lifted her hands to his neck. John raised his chin but Jo could feel his gaze riveted on her. She focused on the troublesome button, fighting
She nodded, casting one more wary glance toward Jo before leaving.
John cleared his throat. “Anyway, the mattress aside, I’m worried I made a mistake buying the bed.”
Puzzled, Jo asked, “Why?”
He folded his hands, a sheepish look on his face. “You don’t think it’s too…masculine? I mean, would a woman…uh…” He blushed furiously.
Understanding flooded through Jo. John Sterling intended to remarry someday and wanted the room to be a place where a woman could feel comfortable. “It’s a beautiful bed,” Jo hastened to assure him. “And I’m sure any woman would…uh…like it.” Now it was her turn to blush.
He grinned. “I guess I’ll have to take your word for that.”
“Daddy?” Claire’s voice echoed from downstairs.
“I’m coming,” John called back. He hurriedly showed Jo the sitting room, huge bathroom and walk-in closet connected to his room, all equally bare, then they descended the stairs together. Jo tingled from his nearness and from their earlier banter in his bedroom. This man aroused feelings in her she didn’t want to scrutinize.
The children stood by the door, queued for a goodbye kiss. Jo had the ridiculous urge to get in line. Instead, she averted her eyes during the noisy smooches. When she peeked, Claire was plucking the bits of tissue from her father’s face as he stood patiently, bent at the waist.
“Jo,” he asked, standing and turning toward her. “Are you sure you don’t mind keeping an eye on the kids? I can take them to work with me for a few hours—I’ve done it before.”
“No,” she said, smiling brightly. “I need to get started here, anyway. And I have to dash out to a client not too far from here, but it’s a day care, so the kids should be fine for a few minutes.” Could he see that her heart was still jumping from their encounter? Or was it racing due to her planned act of deception with the Pattersons?
He shook his head and pulled on his suit jacket. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay, then I’ll be back around twelve-thirty or so.” He stooped to pick up his briefcase.
Jo carried a catalog to the cluttered kitchen table, anxiousfor this unsettling man to leave. She spied his black and mustard-colored silk tie under a wad of napkins.
“John,” she said, reaching for the tie and holding it up.
He turned, eyebrows up.
“You forgot something.”
He tapped his forehead lightly with the heel of his hand. “Thanks. I was having so much trouble with my button, I put the thing out of my mind.”
Abandoning his briefcase, he walked toward her. He reached for the tie, then draped it over his shoulder. Jo watched while he struggled with the button at his shirt collar, stretching his neck like a rooster to gain a fraction of an inch more room to maneuver.
She smiled and crossed her arms, amused to watch an accomplished man reduced to such contortions.
He fumbled with the tiny button, the tip of his tongue protruding in his deep concentration. After several attempts, he conceded defeat. “Forget it,” he said, shrugging. “My fingers are too big for these ridiculous tiny buttons.”
“Let me,” she offered, stepping forward with her hands raised. She stopped a half step in front of him, her hands in midair, embarrassment flooding her when she felt his proximity. Her heart thudded in her chest, her throat tightening like a vise, forcing her to swallow hard and audibly. His green eyes held hers bondage, pulling her toward him. “Th-that is, if you want me to,” she stammered.
He hesitated until she began to lower her arms, then said, “I’d like that very much.”
Slowly, Jo lifted her hands to his neck. John raised his chin but Jo could feel his gaze riveted on her. She focused on the troublesome button, fighting
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