Be My Valentine Read Free Page A

Mom stumbled across this butcher who specializes in…well, never mind, that’s not important. What is important is if I don’t come up with a date in the next day or two, I’m going to be stuck going to this stupid dinner with Jerome.”
    â€œIt shouldn’t be so bad,” he said. Dianne could hear the grin in his voice.
    â€œHow generous of you to say so.” She crossed her arms over her chest. She’d orbited her vehicle twice before she spoke again.
    â€œMy kids are even instructing me on the kind of man they want me to date.”
    â€œOh?”
    Dianne wasn’t sure he’d heard her. Her lock snapped free and he opened the door and retrieved her keys, which were in the ignition. He handed them to her, and with a thank-you, Dianne made a move to climb into her car. “Jason and Jill—they’re my kids—want me to go out with a tall, dark, handsome—” She stopped abruptly, thrusting out her arm as if to keep her balance.
    Steve looked at her oddly. “Are you all right?”
    Dianne brought her fingertips to her temple and nodded. “I think so….” She inhaled sharply and motioned toward the streetlight. “Would you mind stepping over there for a minute?”
    â€œMe?” He pointed to himself as though he wasn’t sure she meant him.
    â€œPlease.”
    He shrugged and did as she requested.
    The idea was fast gaining momentum in her mind. He was certainly tall—at least six foot three, which was a nice complement to her own slender five ten. And he was dark—his hair appeared to be a rich shade of mahogany. As for the handsome part, she’d noticed that right off.
    â€œIs something wrong?” he probed.
    â€œNo,” Dianne said, grinning shyly—although what she was about to propose was anything but shy. “By the way, how old are you? Thirty? Thirty-one?”
    â€œThirty-five.”
    â€œThat’s good. Perfect.” A couple of years older than she was. Yes, the kids would approve of that.
    â€œGood? Perfect?” He seemed to be questioning her sanity.
    â€œMarried?” she asked.
    â€œNope. I never got around to it, but I came close once.” His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
    â€œThat’s even better. I don’t suppose you’ve got a jealous girlfriend—or a mad lover hanging around looking for an excuse to murder someone?”
    â€œNot lately.”
    Dianne sighed with relief. “Great.”
    â€œYour car door’s open,” he said, gesturing toward it. He seemed eager to be on his way. “All I need to do is write down your auto club number.”
    â€œYes, I know.” She stood there, arms folded, studying him in the light. He was even better-looking than she’d first thought. “Do you own a decent suit?”
    He chuckled as if the question amused him. “Yes.”
    â€œI mean something really nice, not the one you wore to your high-school graduation.”
    â€œIt’s a really nice suit.”
    Dianne didn’t mean to be insulting, but she had to have all her bases covered. “That’s good,” she said. “How would you like to earn an extra hundred bucks Saturday night?”
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    â€œI’m offering you a hundred dollars to escort me to the Valentine’s dinner here at the center.”
    Steve stared at her as though he suspected she’d escaped from a mental institution.
    â€œListen, I know this is a bit unusual,” Dianne rushed on, “but you’re perfect. Well, not perfect, but you’re exactly the kind of man the kids expect me to date, and frankly I haven’t got time to do a whole lot of recruiting. Mr. Right hasn’t showed up, if you know what I mean.”
    â€œI think I do.”
    â€œI need a date for one night. You fit the bill and you could probably use the extra cash. I realize it’s not much, but a hundred dollars sounds