The Manning Grooms Read Free Page B

leaving now.”
    “You purposely broke the faucet so we could call him down here?” Charlotte gestured toward Jason.
    Carrie sent him an irritated look as though to suggest this was all his fault. “I wanted him to see you. For being thirty-five, you aren’t half bad. Once he saw your potential, I was sure he’d ask you out on a date. I tried to talk him into it earlier, but—”
    “You what? ” Charlotte exploded. Color flashed into her cheeks like bright neon lights. Her eyes narrowed. “Tell me you didn’t! Please tell me you didn’t!”
    Carrie snapped her mouth shut, about ten seconds too late to suit Jason.
    “This is all a big joke, isn’t it?” Charlotte turned to Jason for reassurance, which was a mistake, since he was glaring at Carrie, irritated with her for saying far more than necessary.
    “I had to do something,” Carrie cried, defending herself. “You need a man. I saw the look on your face when you were holding Kathy Crenshaw’s baby. You’ve never said anything, but you want more children. You never date…I don’t know what my father did to you, but you’ve shut yourself off and—and…I was just trying to help.”
    Charlotte stalked to the far side of the small kitchen. “I can’t believe this. You actually asked a man to take me out?”
    “I did more than ask. I offered him money!”
    Charlotte whirled on Jason. “Just what kind of man are you? Agreeing to my daughter’s plans…Why…you’re detestable!”
    Despite himself, Jason smiled, which was no doubt the worst thing he could have done. “So I’ve been told. Now if you’ll both excuse me, I’ll leave you to your discussion.”
    “What kind of man are you?” Charlotte demanded a second time, following him to the door, blocking his exit.
    “Mom…”
    “Go to your room, young lady. I’ll deal with you later.” She pointed the way, as if Carrie needed directions.
    Jason hadn’t imagined things would go like this,and he did feel badly about it, but that didn’t help. Charlotte Weston could think harshly of him if she wanted, but now Carrie was in trouble and Jason felt halfway responsible.
    “She was just trying to do you a good turn,” he said matter-of-factly. “Think of it as an early Mother’s Day gift.”

Two
    W ith her daughter out of the room, Charlotte scowled at Jason Manning, angrier than she could ever remember being.
    “You’re…” She couldn’t think of anything bad enough to call him.
    “ Detestable is a good word.” He was practically laughing at her!
    “Detestable,” she repeated, clenching her fists. “I’ll have you know I’m reporting you to…” The name of the government agency, any government agency, was beyond her.
    “Children Protective Services,” he supplied.
    “Them, too.” She jerked the apron from her waist and threw it on the floor. Surprised by her own action, Charlotte tried to steady herself. “According to the terms of our rental agreement, I’m giving you our two-weeks’ notice as of this minute. I refuse to live near a man as…”
    “Heinous,” he offered, looking bored.
    “Heinous as you,” she stated emphatically. Then with an indignant tilt of her chin, she said as undramatically as she could manage, “Now kindly leave my home.”
    “As you wish.” He opened the door and without a backward glance walked out of her apartment. He’d worn a cocky grin throughout, as if he found her tirade thoroughly amusing.
    His attitude infuriated Charlotte. She followed him to the door and loudly turned the lock, hoping the sound of it would echo in his ears for a good long time.
    When he’d gone, Charlotte discovered she was shaking so badly she needed to sit down. She sank onto a chair, her knees trembling.
    “Mom?” A small voice drifted down from the hallway. “You weren’t serious about us moving, were you?”
    “You’re darn right I’m serious. I’m so serious I’d prefer to live in our car than have anything to do with that…that…apartment