Instant Family Read Online Free Page A

He was too
handsome; he attracted her too much. She couldn't stand it, knowing
what viciousness he was capable of. She looked away from the unbearably false intimacy of his gaze, to the child.
    The little girl stared up at her through gray eyes in a disgruntled,
round face topped by straight brown hair cut in a bob. Definitely not
pleased to be dragged into this boring shop. The white T-shirt strained
over the stomach, and the yellow shorts revealed solid brown thighs
and knees. He must spoil her rotten. She was probably as used to getting her own way as he was.
    Chloe gave her a brief smile, then shifted her attention to the father. This man who seemingly had sought her out, here at work.
Was he allowed to do that? His blue eyes were assessing her again,
still piercing, still disconcerting. But she'd regrouped in those few
moments, donned some fragile armor against his charm, against her
own weakness.

    "I wanted to talk to you," he said.
    "How did you know where I work? Surely the police didn't tell
you."
    The words tumbled out, made her sound young and foolish and
incompetent, certainly incapable of raising a teenage boy adequately.
Chloe bit her lip. She'd backed up against PIANO CONCERTOS and
eased herself away from the support. She wouldn't appear weak in
front of this man and his grumpy child, but she glanced to where
Tran was still engrossed in the computer screen. All she need do was
call out for him to ring the police.
    "I found you in the phone book. The lady I spoke to directed me
here." No doubt Simone thought it was a boyfriend at long last. She'd
have been extremely helpful. Probably told him all about Chloe's
nonexistent love life.
    "Did you tell her who you were?"
    His name would mean nothing to Simone. Or to herself. Who was
he? The police didn't say; she hadn't asked. After that exchange she
didn't want to know. And why had he come searching for her if not
to continue his attack?
    "No. I asked for you." The child pulled at his fingers. He ignored
her.
    "Why?"
    He licked his lips but met her gaze directly. "To apologize."
    Chloe stared at him. Apologize? Completely out of left field.
Completely out of character?
    "For the way I spoke to you this morning. I'm sorry" He had her
impaled. The eyes, the expression, the broad chest, the sheer presence of the man. Overwhelming. Unrelenting. That gaze too intimate
for this place, with his daughter as unwilling observer.
    "Who are you?" Chloe asked abruptly. "What's your name?"
    "I'm sorry," he said again but in a different, almost disconcerted
tone. "I didn't realize. Alex Bergman. This is Stephanie." He extended his hand, and Chloe was forced to grip it briefly or seem churlish and
rude. His fingers held hers for a split second. Large, warm, masculine
fingers-strong, used to work, but not rough-skinned with ingrained
grime or damaged nails.

    "Hello, Stephanie." Why had he dragged a six-year-old along
while he made his apology? Was this just a quick stop before grocery
shopping or the movies? A quick appeasement of the conscience before getting on with more interesting things, family things? Was the
wife waiting impatiently somewhere, tapping her foot and looking at
her watch while he did what he saw as this duty?
    "Hello," Stephanie murmured grudgingly. She tugged at his hand.
"Daddy, I want to go now. Come o-o-o-n-n-n." The last word dragged
out in a singsong whine.
    "In a minute, hon." He smiled down at her, then looked at Chloe
again. "It's not the proper time or place, I know, but I needed to tell
you how sorry I am. I didn't know your situation, and I'm mortified.
Will you forgive me?"
    The lips creased in an appealing smile, which faded when she didn't
immediately respond by capitulating. But she was over the first shock
of attraction now, had her emotions under control. Pity about the manner. He anticipated her acceptance as automatic, a given. And why did
her "situation," whatever that meant, matter? Very tempting