Read Online Kids Is A 4-Letter Word by Stephanie Bond - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stephanie Bond
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to rechannel her rampant emotions, to quiet her pounding pulse. Placing her trembling fingers on his collar, Jo was struck with the intimacy of such a simple act. She might have been his wife, helping him to dress in the last hectic seconds before they both kissed and rushed off to day care, and then to work.
Except the mood now was anything but hectic. Timeseemed to slow, like cooling molasses, the intensity of the act stretching out each millisecond. As she tugged the ends of his collar together, her fingers brushed the warm, smooth skin of his neck. She was close enough to smell his woodsy aftershave and see a tiny patch of missed whiskers under his chin glistening red-gold in the light.
Jo carefully twisted the tiny button through the hole. She released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, and chastised herself. Right now her brain could use all the oxygen her quivering lungs could deliver.’ “There,” she squeaked, lightly patting the area beneath the button.
“Thanks.” His voice vibrated warm and low, but he didn’t move a muscle as he stared into her eyes, his lips parted ever so slightly.
Jo remained frozen, her hands glued to the front of his shirt. Suddenly, a faraway sound made its way into her brain. John must have heard it, too, because he turned his head the same time she did.
One hand hiding his mouth, Jamie shook with giggles. Claire stared, too, but Jo couldn’t read her expression. Billy stared because the other two were staring.
Awestruck, Jamie asked, “Are you going to kiss her, Daddy?”
4
J OHN TOOK a half step back to escape Jo’s nearness, instantly missing the weight and warmth of her hand on his chest. As if on cue, she too had retreated, leaving a safe cushion of five feet between them.
“Finish your breakfast, Jamie,” John admonished in exasperation.
Jamie frowned. “I’m Peter,” he grumbled, returning to the kitchen.
Looking back to Jo, John said, “I’m sorry about that.” Her flaming cheeks brought a smile to his face. Not that she could be as embarrassed as he at that moment. He laughed nervously and lifted his hands. “Kids say the darnedest things.”
Jo smiled, and looked around the room, finally settling her gaze on him again. “It’s okay,” she said, then turned to follow Jamie to the kitchen.
John slid his tie around his shirt collar and began to fashion a knot, then made the mistake of glancing up. At the sight of her receding backside, he yanked the tiny knot at his neck to a stranglehold, then fumbled several seconds for relief. I have to get out of this house. He stooped to pick up his briefcase. “Kids, remember,” he said, using his best fatherly voice, “be good for Miss Montgomery, okay?”
His answer was a chorus of okays, Billy’s coming a half beat behind Jamie’s loud one and Claire’s quiet one. He met Jo’s eyes, and recognized a flash of panic. Had he spooked her with his desire to kiss her? He’d warned Jamie the previous night not to scare her off, yet he himself seemed to lose his head around her.
She gave him a shaky smile and nodded encouragingly for him to go. With one last glance at his motley crew and their temporary keeper, he left the house and walked to his car. He’d forgotten to stow it in the garage the night before, because his mind had been consumed by thoughts of Jo Montgomery.
Feeling slightly dazed, John let the car warm up for a few minutes, then backed out of his driveway and headed toward the interstate. Twenty-four hours ago he would never have envisioned the scene he left this morning. Jo Montgomery was a dream come true. Stunningly beautiful, intelligent, stunningly beautiful, his kids liked her, stunningly beautiful, unmarried. And to think she’d be spending lots of time at his home over the next…well, he’d have to think of a way to drag out this decorating project.
For the first time in two years, a feeling akin to pure happiness crept into his heart. She had a boyfriend,
Except the mood now was anything but hectic. Timeseemed to slow, like cooling molasses, the intensity of the act stretching out each millisecond. As she tugged the ends of his collar together, her fingers brushed the warm, smooth skin of his neck. She was close enough to smell his woodsy aftershave and see a tiny patch of missed whiskers under his chin glistening red-gold in the light.
Jo carefully twisted the tiny button through the hole. She released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, and chastised herself. Right now her brain could use all the oxygen her quivering lungs could deliver.’ “There,” she squeaked, lightly patting the area beneath the button.
“Thanks.” His voice vibrated warm and low, but he didn’t move a muscle as he stared into her eyes, his lips parted ever so slightly.
Jo remained frozen, her hands glued to the front of his shirt. Suddenly, a faraway sound made its way into her brain. John must have heard it, too, because he turned his head the same time she did.
One hand hiding his mouth, Jamie shook with giggles. Claire stared, too, but Jo couldn’t read her expression. Billy stared because the other two were staring.
Awestruck, Jamie asked, “Are you going to kiss her, Daddy?”
4
J OHN TOOK a half step back to escape Jo’s nearness, instantly missing the weight and warmth of her hand on his chest. As if on cue, she too had retreated, leaving a safe cushion of five feet between them.
“Finish your breakfast, Jamie,” John admonished in exasperation.
Jamie frowned. “I’m Peter,” he grumbled, returning to the kitchen.
Looking back to Jo, John said, “I’m sorry about that.” Her flaming cheeks brought a smile to his face. Not that she could be as embarrassed as he at that moment. He laughed nervously and lifted his hands. “Kids say the darnedest things.”
Jo smiled, and looked around the room, finally settling her gaze on him again. “It’s okay,” she said, then turned to follow Jamie to the kitchen.
John slid his tie around his shirt collar and began to fashion a knot, then made the mistake of glancing up. At the sight of her receding backside, he yanked the tiny knot at his neck to a stranglehold, then fumbled several seconds for relief. I have to get out of this house. He stooped to pick up his briefcase. “Kids, remember,” he said, using his best fatherly voice, “be good for Miss Montgomery, okay?”
His answer was a chorus of okays, Billy’s coming a half beat behind Jamie’s loud one and Claire’s quiet one. He met Jo’s eyes, and recognized a flash of panic. Had he spooked her with his desire to kiss her? He’d warned Jamie the previous night not to scare her off, yet he himself seemed to lose his head around her.
She gave him a shaky smile and nodded encouragingly for him to go. With one last glance at his motley crew and their temporary keeper, he left the house and walked to his car. He’d forgotten to stow it in the garage the night before, because his mind had been consumed by thoughts of Jo Montgomery.
Feeling slightly dazed, John let the car warm up for a few minutes, then backed out of his driveway and headed toward the interstate. Twenty-four hours ago he would never have envisioned the scene he left this morning. Jo Montgomery was a dream come true. Stunningly beautiful, intelligent, stunningly beautiful, his kids liked her, stunningly beautiful, unmarried. And to think she’d be spending lots of time at his home over the next…well, he’d have to think of a way to drag out this decorating project.
For the first time in two years, a feeling akin to pure happiness crept into his heart. She had a boyfriend,
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