Part-Time Wife Read Free Page B

at heart I'm pretty boring."
    He was about to tell her he wouldn't have used that word to describe her. Cute, maybe. Tempting, probably. Sexy, definitely. But boring? Not in this lifetime. And any man who thought that obviously had his head up his—
    He cleared his throat. "I live south of here. In Fern Hill."
    "I'm not familiar with the neighborhood."
    "It's an independent city. You'll like it. Just follow me. I'll go slow."
    Her gaze widened, as if she'd read more into his statement than he'd meant. Before he could explain, she smiled. "Okay, Officer Haynes, I'll be right behind you." She opened the driver's door and slid inside.
    As Craig started his car and pulled away from the curb, he thought about what Kim had said when she'd phoned to tell him she couldn't take the job.
    "I have a friend who would be perfect for you."
    In that moment, on a night when the pressures of the job and raising three kids alone had driven him to the edge of his patience, he'd wanted to believe she referred to more than a baby-sitter.
    "Pretty stupid, Haynes," he muttered. He'd given up on relationships a long time ago. There weren't any promises, no sure things. And his ex-wife, Krystal, had taught him the foolishness of trying to believe in love.
    So what if he found Jill attractive? All that meant was he wasn't as dead inside as he'd thought. Maybe it was time to think about dating. There was only one problem. He came from a long line of men particularly gifted at screwing up relationships.

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    Chapter 2
    « ^ »
    C raig pulled up in front of the house and motioned for Jill to park her car in the driveway. He pushed the button on the garage door opener and got out immediately, but she sat in her red Mustang, staring. He glanced at the two-story home in front of him. It wasn't all that different from his neighbors'. The area was a more recent development, about six years old. He'd bought the house after his divorce, thinking that making a clean break would make it easier for all the boys. Besides, Fern Hill had a great school system with a sports program that was the envy of the state. He'd wanted that for his sons.
    He tried to see the house as a stranger would see it. The high peaked roof was Spanish tile, as were most of the others on the street. White stucco with wood accents, tall windows that – he squinted and stared – needed washing pretty badly. The front yard was over-sized, mowed but not trimmed. He frowned. Since taking his temporary assignment, he hadn't spent much time at home. The house showed the neglect. He wondered if the boys did, too.
    Jill stepped out of her car and gave him a slight smile. "Cops make more money than I thought," she said. "This is nice."
    "It's south of the city," he said, "so most people won't make the commute. For me, it's closer to work and closer to Glenwood, where my brothers live."
    "Great." But she didn't sound very enthused. She walked around to the rear of her car and lifted the trunk. Before she could reach for the suitcase, he grabbed it and pulled it out.
    This time her smile was genuine. "Thanks. Such nice manners. Your mother must he proud."
    Before he had to decide whether to explain that he hadn't seen his mother in years, the front door was flung open and two boys raced down the walkway. Craig grinned when he saw them.
    "Is this her?" C.J. asked. His nine-year-old looked like a typical Haynes male, with dark hair and eyes.
    "Yes. Jill, this is my middle son, C.J. Short for—"
    She looked at the boy and winked. "Let me guess," she said, interrupting. "Craig Junior."
    "Yeah." C.J. skittered to a stop in front of her and held out his hand. "Pleased to meet you, Ms. Bradford. I'm very much looking forward to having you as our nanny."
    She looked at Craig. "Impressive."
    He shrugged. "C.J.'s our charmer."
    "And a fine job he does, too." She took the hand the boy offered. "The pleasure is mine, young master C.J."
    Craig turned and saw Danny standing by the edge of the driveway. He