The Accidental Encore Read Free

and
Craig pushed him toward the door. Their bags were lined up like soldiers. “If
you need immediate backup, call the neighbors listed on the back of the sheet.”
    “Mark,” Craig said through gritted teeth. “Just go. We’ll be
fine.”
    Leah, who’d been so eager for them to leave just minutes
before, launched herself into her dad’s arms. “I love you, Daddy. Please be
careful.”
    Mark lifted her off her toes and hugged her hard, his eyes
closed. Craig knew Mark loved Leah more than anything in the world. From the
look on Carolyn’s face, she knew it, too.
    “Listen to Uncle Craig, honey.” Mark plopped Leah back on
the ground and picked up the largest of Carolyn’s bags. “And be good.”
    “I will, Dad.” Leah looked at Carolyn. “Have a nice time.”
    “Thank you,” her woefully unprepared stepmother said before
following Mark to the car.
    After they pulled out of the driveway and Craig closed the
door, he turned to face Leah. “Well, kiddo. It’s just you and me for fourteen
days. What do you want to do first?”
    “Let’s go get Blackjack,” she suggested. “I’ve got to
practice piano and he loves it when I play.”
     

 
    Chapter 3
    Allie took a deep breath before answering the knock on her
door and steeled herself for the scream.
    “Oh my Gosh!” Melissa gasped. “Okay, okay.” She nodded her
head. “I’m glad you warned me.” She pushed past Allie and walked into the den,
flipping on the overhead light. “Come stand under the light so I can see.”
    Allie closed the door and faced her oldest friend. “How bad
is it?”
    “Well…” Melissa grabbed Allie’s chin and swiveled her face
back and forth under the recessed spotlights. “You look like you were punched
in the face. Hard.”
    “I was punched in the face. By me.”
    “I didn’t think airbags did that kind of damage,” Melissa
said.
    “They don’t. I was taking a sip of diet coke when the airbag
deployed. I’m lucky I didn’t chip a tooth.”
    Melissa narrowed her eyes. “I thought you gave up soda?”
    “God, Mel. Only you would hone in on that detail at a time
like this.”
    “If you’d been that diligent with me about chocolate, I’d
look a hell of a lot better in these jeans right now.”
    Patience, Allie reminded herself. She needed an honest
opinion, and no one was more qualified than Melissa. “Can we focus on me for
just a second, please? I’ve got clients to see tomorrow and I need to know what
reaction to expect. Remember, I’m talking about children. I don’t want to scare
them or their parents, whose checks pay my mortgage.”
    “With a little makeup, they might not notice the bruising,
but I’m not sure about the swelling.”
    “I knew it.” Allie sat on the couch and flung her arm over
her eyes. “I look like the elephant man.”
    Melissa laughed. “Allie, please. The elephant man never
looked as good as you.” Melissa sat next to Allie and patted her leg. “Just
tell the kids you were in a car accident. What’s the big deal?”
    “I look like a freak!”
    “Says the girl voted most beautiful in high school,” Melissa
mumbled loud enough for Allie to hear and feel the sting. “Welcome to my
world.”
    “That’s not fair.”
    “Allie, you’re stunningly beautiful, even with a bruised and
battered cheek.”
    “Says the happily married mother of one.”
    “Touché.” Melissa pulled Allie’s hands into her own. “Look,
are you okay? Did this accident do any real damage?”
    “No. I was sore for a few days, but I’m better now. It’s
faded a lot in the last few days. I was just hoping I’d look normal by Friday.”
    Melissa cocked her head and blinked once, very slowly. Here
comes the lecture, Allie thought. “Oh, I get it now. You’ve got a date.”
    “I was feeling sorry for myself and signed up for a new
site. Lovefinders.com.”
    “Oh, Allie,” Melissa chided in her mom voice. “I thought you
were done with online dating.”
    “I was. Until I got