Read Online Yours, Mine & Ours by Jennifer Greene - Free Book Online Page A

sweaty, oiled man all morning—shirtless, muscles gleaming, laughing with his son—well, the whole morning had put bad ideas in her mind, that was all. Unacceptable ideas. The trauma with the dogs was just a different layer of tension. She was living next door to this guy. She had to make it all more comfortable—a lot more comfortable—than she was feeling right now. And food seemed the best way to do it, because he was a guy.
    Food always worked with guys.
    â€œIt was no trouble,” her daughter informed him, in her best grown-up voice.
    Mike, to give him credit, didn’t laugh. “Well, we sure appreciate it,” Mike told Molly with due seriousness, and then herded them all onto the shady back deck.
    Not that Amanda wanted to dwell on it, but Mike definitely cleaned up well. A white polo set off his ruddy skin; the denim shorts even had a belt.
    His hand touched her lower back for only a second, yet it was enough to put a tick in her pulse.
    Teddy had been spruced up, too, his unruly hair still damp and hard-combed. The dog was completely out of sight, although there was a hint of mournful baying coming from the second floor. The deck table had been cleaned off. The view overlooked their almost-finished water garden.
    The kids sat across from each other, while Mikeand Amanda unpacked the picnic basket. “That’s an amazing project you took on,” she said, wanting her voice to come out as cheerful as a stranger’s. Specifically, she wanted to sound like an unfamiliar woman he’d never kissed, and for damn sure, never rattled.
    â€œIt’s going to take a lot of hours of blood, sweat and tears, but I’m hoping it’ll turn out.”
    His son piped up, “We’re gonna put frogs in the pond. And then we’ll feed them our own worms.”
    â€œYuck! Mommy,” Molly said.
    â€œRemember. Gracious.” At Amanda’s reminder, Molly bobbed her head in exuberant agreement. And that was when the whole dinner started a crash-dive that just never recovered.
    Her sweet daughter looked up at Mike. “We’re going to be gracious to you two even if you’re complete pigs.”
    Amanda winced.
    â€œWell. We’ll try not to be pigs for you,” Mike told her. “What would you kids like to drink?”
    â€œRoot beer,” his son answered, where Molly said, “Iced tea with a little sugar and a little lemon and two small ice cubes. But not too big a glass because I could spill it. And I can’t spill it because I’m being extra polite today. Thank you. Oh. I mean, please. Right, Mommy?”
    Amanda glanced under the table. Nope, no room to hide there.
    Teddy said to his dad, “What’s wrong with her?”
    â€œNothing’s wrong with anyone,” Mike said firmly, and stopped choking long enough to deliver drinks. Everyone but her suddenly impossibly fussy daughter were easily pleased by having only to pop a top.
    For a short stretch, food captured everyone’s attention. Molly sat next to her, crossing her legs exactly as Amanda did. Teddy looked at them both across the table as if they were as fascinating—almost—as dead animals. He started a steady round of kicking, only once in a while kicking Amanda—which was far, far better, she thought, than the Armageddon that would follow if he accidentally kicked Molly.
    But those few moments of good luck just couldn’t hold. She’d never seen anyone eat as much as Mike—easy proof he was nuts for lasagna. Both kids gained red stains on their clothes, but that was to be expected. One drink spilled. A nearby bee made Molly shriek. Their golden cat with the scary eyes attempted several times to leap on the table.
    But it was almost over—and nothing too terrible had happened—until the subject of sex came up.
    It wasn’t exactly Mike’s fault. Everybody was shoveling in food, and Mike took the occasion of quiet to murmur