Blame it on the Stars (The Blame Game) Read Online Free Page A

her sleeve. “I’m going to have to censor my thoughts from here on out.”
    “ No, no, no!” He laughed, and then turned serious. “I guess the answer to your question is, yes. Barbara and I are still married. But when we moved here, she moved to New York.”
    “ So what happens if she shows up on your doorstep tomorrow and says, ‘I made a mistake, I want to be here with you’? That’s part two to my question.”
    Steve looked down and shook his head. “I don’t know. I can tell you that we had major problems before we moved our separate ways. I’m not calling her, trying to work things out. I can also tell you, I was not looking for a relationship when I went to my children’s Back-to-School night. But, as my father is fond of saying, every day comes with its own surprises.”
    She mulled over what he’d said.
    “ Catlin.” He touched her chin. “It’s just dinner. I’m not asking for a commitment.”
    “ Just dinner,” she repeated.
    H e nodded.
    She inhaled and released the breath. “Something tells me this is probably not the best idea.”
    He looked up at the night sky before focusing back on her. “We’ll blame it on the stars, then. Because when I see you in this light, it seems like the best idea I ever had.”
    Her heart melted. How am I supposed to resist that? She tried to remain grounded. The school didn’t have a policy about teachers dating parents. Probably because no one has ever tried it. They certainly had polices on everything else. Up until a few years ago, most of the teachers were nuns. Nuns wouldn’t have had dating issues. I hope not, anyway! She gazed at him again. Just dinner . Somehow, with this man, she suspected it could be so much more. “All right,” she finally said. “When?”
    “ I guess tonight is out?”
    She poked his chest lightly. “You caught that drift, remember?”
    “ I remember, I remember. Tomorrow night?” he winced hopefully.
    “ Tomorrow night sounds good.”
    Steve breathed a sigh of relief. “I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard for a date in my life.”
    She laughed, and motioned to her car door. “Can I go now?”
    “ Can I have your address, please? Or your cell number, and you can text it to me.”
    She wrinkled up her face. “I don’t have a cell, and I don’t text. Sorry.”
    He blinked. “No cell? Are you kidding me? That’s unheard of these days.”
    Catlin shrugged. “I’d never know where the stupid thing was, anyway. I have a home phone, and of course there’s one at school. It works for me, okay?”
    “ Whatever you say.” He inhaled and let the breath out. “So, lord, this is like pulling teeth…your address?”
    She smiled sweetly. “Would you like to write it down?”
    He tapped his temple. “I don’t forget the important things.”
    “ Okay.” She got in her car and rolled the window down. “1428 Hazelnut.”
    “ Six-thirty?”
    “ See you tomorrow.” She started to drive off, then remembered. “Hey,” she called back to him. “Your sweater?”
    He waved it off. “Later. It probably smells like popcorn and hot dogs, anyway.”
    Catlin waved, and sank down into the sweater as she drove home. It did not smell like popcorn or hot dogs. It smelled heavenly.
     
    She spent two hours getting ready for their date on Saturday. She usually didn’t dry her hair, but this time she dried it and set it on hot rollers, so it would look especially good. She teased the top and sprayed it with hairspray. Then she held up two mirrors and checked it out from all angles. “You look good, ” she said to her hair.
    From her closet she pulled out the dress she was going to wear. It was teal blue with a full skirt that ruffled when she walked or danced. The top was strapless with a valentine shaped bust line, and a little zipper up the back that she squirmed to zip by herself. She ran her hands over the silky fabric, and did a quick spin around to see the skirt flare. “Perfect.” She surprised herself with how