Read Online Storybook Dad (Harlequin American Romance) by Laura Bradford - Free Book Online Page B

she went jogging down a busy street. She just was. But what took his own
first swerve all the way into a tree with no hope of recovering was the fact
that her beauty was only part of the story. She was also smart and engaging,
with a completely unpretentious and slightly self-deprecating manner where her
looks and her body were concerned.
    Her physical prowess, however, was a different matter. That,
she took pride in. Not a boastful kind, but rather a self-satisfied one. As if
she’d worked hard to learn certain skills and didn’t feel the need to hide her
ability in those areas from anyone.
    “It’s your toss, Mark.”
    In fact, she was so skilled at so many things, he found himself
wanting to start stretching his own limits a little. See what he could do,
too…
    “Earth to Mark… Come in, Mark.”
    The repeated sound of his name brought him back to the moment.
“I’m sorry?”
    Emily pointed to the horseshoe in his hand. “It’s your
toss.”
    “Oh, yeah.” He pulled his arm back and then swung it forward,
his horseshoe sailing through the air and landing a full twelve inches from its
target. “Wow. That was lame.” Her laugh tingled down his spine and brought an
answering smile to his own face. “You think that’s funny, eh?”
    She held up her hands and gave them a little shake. “I
shouldn’t be laughing. Don’t mind me.”
    “Like it’s easy to ignore the woman who’s beating your pants
off at horseshoes.” Before she could respond, he moved on, tackling a subject
he’d been wondering about since they’d arrived. “So tell me…why aren’t you
married or coupled off, like most of your friend’s guests seem to be?”
    Emily launched her last horseshoe at the target, the sound of
metal on metal bringing another smile to the lips he couldn’t seem to forget
kissing. “Well, that’s a bit of a loaded question, don’t you think?”
    “Sorry. I didn’t mean to come across as nosy. I guess I just
can’t fathom why you haven’t been snatched up by at least a dozen different guys
by now.”
    Shrugging, she wandered over to a pair of Adirondack chairs
nestled beneath a large oak tree and claimed one as her own. “It’s okay. I don’t
really mind. I guess I’m just on edge about that particular topic, thanks to
Kate.”
    He took the other chair. “She’s a little pushy where your love
life is concerned, huh?”
    For a moment, he was afraid he’d offended Emily again, but when
she finally answered, her words painted a very different picture. “Kate is one
of those people who has a life plan. One that’s actually written out on a piece
of paper. All the goals she wants to hit are spelled out right there, in order,
with bullets. Last I checked, she was on number six, I think.”
    “Number six?”
    Emily nodded, her gaze fixed on the trunk of the oak tree. “The
sixth bullet point. Which, between you and me, means she’s trying to have a
baby. It could be a girl or a boy this first time around. But whatever it is
will necessitate a specific gender where bullet point number seven is concerned.
Because she’s supposed to have one of each, you know, according to her life
plan.”
    “A life plan? Really?”
    “Uh-huh. And Kate believes the things on her list are the same
ones everyone else is supposed to want. You know…get married, work for a few
years, develop a few hobbies, have a child, and so on and so on. It’s why she’s
having a little difficulty accepting the fact that my life has taken a very
different path. And while sometimes I think she gets it—at least in a grudging
way—there are other times where I actually feel as if I’ve disappointed
her.”
    “By not getting married?” he asked. “Come on, I can’t believe
that’s true. Besides, there’s still plenty of time for you to hit a few bullet
points of your own. Lots of women these days wait to get married into their
early thirties and beyond. Sally and I just did it a little early. More like
Kate and Joe.” He