Read Online The Family Man by Trish Millburn - Free Book Online

recirculated air around her. “Well, I guess you could go with the chief. He’s a nice-looking guy, but it is Horizon Beach. People might talk.”
    “Think I’ll pass, thanks.”
    Part of her had expected the rejection, but when it came she wasn’t prepared for the kick to her heart. How could her heart be involved? She barely knew the guy. She should walk away before he did.
    “Pass on the chief, that is.”
    It took a moment for her to pull herself out of her backpedaling plans to put a cap on her sudden excitement. “So you do want to go?”
    “Sure.” He didn’t exactly sound like it was going to be the highlight of his life, but he hadn’t rejected her. That was enough.
    “Good.” What did she say now to fill the awkward silence? “You might come in handy if too much liquor flows and punches start flying.” She smiled, and it only felt a little forced.
    “I’ll make sure the bartenders have ice packs at the ready.” With that and a mischievous smile, he gripped the cart handle, ready to leave. “Just let me know the details.”
    “Okay.” She stood and watched him disappear around the corner, heading for the shortest checkout line, before turning her own cart and running the gauntlet of cereal again. The mom and begging children had vacated the aisle, so she allowed a smile to stretch across her face. She did, however, stop herself from doing the happy dance or analyzing why his “yes” had made her so happy.
    When she reached the end of the aisle, she snatched the fudge-covered Oreos and tossed themin the cart. Now they weren’t sulking cookies. They were celebratory cookies.
    She managed to keep her composure during the rest of her shopping, all through the checkout process, all the way until she sat in the driver’s seat of her car. Only then did she allow herself a squeal and a bit of a celebration. The thought of dancing in Adam’s arms, even if it led to absolutely nothing beyond that night—and it couldn’t—gave her a giddiness high not unlike that of a teenage girl.
    Her wide smile froze and drained away, however, when she glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the purple marring her face. She stared at herself as the panic set in. Full-blown, nuclear-reactor-alarms-going-off panic. What had she been thinking? How would she ever make herself look as good as the beautiful women she always saw on Adam’s arm? She couldn’t, no matter how many cosmetics, hair products and stylish clothes she employed.
    She shook her head at her foolishness, not for having asked him, but for worrying about suddenly transforming herself into eye candy. She didn’t have to. She told herself what she would likely have to tell Tana soon—to just be herself, and if that wasn’t enough then the guy wasn’t the right one for her.
    And she knew, deep down, that Adam wasn’t. He was only a date, a diversion, a body to keep her from attending the benefit alone. Not the Mr. Perfect she longed to find.

Chapter Six
    Adam stopped himself from honking at the person in front of him, an older man taking too long to start rolling after the stoplight turned green. He wanted to get home, unload all these groceries before they started sending up a beacon saying, “I’m buying all this food for a hungry boy who happens to be a runaway hiding in my house.”
    When the old man took an eternity to turn in to the parking lot for the medical clinic, Adam gritted his teeth to keep from roaring like a lion.
    He wondered when exactly he’d lost his mind.
    Not only was he harboring a runaway on gut instinct, voluntarily making himself responsible for the kid, but now he’d also agreed to go out with Sara. A woman who’d already proven right in front of him that her job put her in danger for “the greater good.” A woman who could arrest his ass if she found out about David.
    Maybe he’d been gassed with some “lose yourcommon sense” agent while he’d been kicking up dust in the desert.
    At the last possible moment,