Be Mine Read Online Free Page B

had substituted what sounded like a lame excuse.
    Daniel shifted his feet, as self-conscious as it was possible for close to six and a half feet of muscles to look. “This is an art class project. The Unnatural Human Form. Eric is a perfect model.” He winced as his sister’s elbow connected with his ribs. “I mean, ah, she’s almost double jointed.”
    “Good recovery, Daniel,” Erica teased.
    Their exchange amused Sabina, who looked more closely at the sketches. “I’d say you’re on your way to an A.” She returned the drawing to him. “You’d better put this someplace safe. I’d hate for your sister to have to go through all that again.”
    More relief than seemed necessary swept over the boy’s face as he put the sketches in the window seat. At the sound of the front door opening, Erica murmured, “Just in time.” She rushed past Sabina shrieking, “Chad! You beast, you’ve been back two whole days and haven’t come to see us till now. Why not?”
    Sabina turned in time to see the man in the arch brace himself before Erica’s strong young arms engulfed him. Before the head of hair much the color of his own obstructed her view of his face, he smiled broadly. Chad Peters was tall, but this Viking girl cousin was just a few inches shorter. She groaned inwardly as Daniel joined the two, muttering to herself, “I should have known. There couldn’t be many people in a town this small with lion manes like that. What a fun evening this will be.”
    Three tawny heads turning toward her in unison. She felt left out — not unwelcome, since the twins’ smiles were genuine — but an outsider. Chad Peters’ expression could only be described as wary, but he managed the greeting with grace. “Ms. Hanlon. I didn’t know you were staying here until Aunt Clara told me. I hope you’ll be comfortable.”
    It must have been a whale of an appointment, Sabina decided. In his beautifully tailored, charcoal gray suit he looked as if he had just stepped off Wall Street. A conservative burgundy and silver striped tie was half hidden beneath the vest. If he were to model dress shirts, Sabina was sure Chad Peters would cause a run on the market for Arrow. Surprisingly, his GQ appearance helped her deal with the jolt of awareness which swept from her head to her toes. “As comfortable as I can   be, considering that I seem to have taken lodging in the middle of your family.”
    “Your image doesn’t live up to your reputation, Ms. Hanlon.”
    Sabina nearly flinched under Chad’s quick, assessing glance. She knew without words that he was wondering exactly how old she was. Her friends had urged her to wear more sophisticated clothing and an upscale hair style, but they didn’t match her line of work, and she preferred to let her capability proclaim her maturity.
     “If you mean I don’t look like a Tough Broad, I’ll take that as a compliment.” She met gaze his steadily, allowing a flash of humor to acknowledge his reference. “We have a grapevine on our side of the fence too, Mr. Peters.”
    “ She can’t be the Tough Broad, Chad,” protested Daniel. “She’s just a little thing.” As soon as the words passed his lips, he turned bright scarlet.
    His discomfiture was so genuine Sabina grinned at him.
    “That `little thing’ left Bobbie Russell limping this morning.”
    Her eyes dancing with respect, Erica came over to Sabina with her hand outstretched. “Good for you! He’s a gross letch. Will you tell me later what you did to him?”
    Sabina sensed acceptance by at least two of her dinner companions, but, as they crossed the hall to the dining room, she knew she was safer without Chad Peters’s approval. Whatever the man had, he could bottle it, sell it, and make millions. For the first time since her disastrous engagement, she had to remind herself she wasn’t in the market.
    The aroma of the food on the heavy oak table distracted her, and she filed away her ridiculous worry about a situation