Keeping Katie (A Mother's Heart #1) Read Online Free Page A

foolish, she could do nothing but smile in return. She thought herself immune to handsome men—especially those who so obviously knew it. But she couldn’t lie to herself. Alan Parks made her extremely uncomfortable. Her body fairly hummed in anticipation of the things his eyes suggested.
    Then Katie laughed, jarring Maureen, and she was abruptly reminded of who she was, and who he was: a man she couldn’t risk having thoughts about. It was time to put a little distance between herself and Alan Parks.
    “We’ll be right back, Rita,” she said, turning and heading for the kitchen door. “Katie and I need to wash our hands.”
    Alan smiled as Maureen fled the room. He liked the way she looked tonight—fresh, young, and undoubtedly female. She’d been laughing when she entered the kitchen, a light, carefree laugh filled with warmth, while the child in her arms giggled and squirmed. He could see how the pair of them would add a homey texture to this big old house.
    Then she had spotted him, and he’d recognized her reaction. It was all woman. That, too, warmed him. The only surprise had been how much it pleased him.
    Tucking that insight aside for later, he let his thoughts drift to the other differences in her. For instance, the jeans she wore fit snugly, revealing a very feminine posterior—something she’d hidden yesterday beneath oversize denim. Her face, uncomplicated by makeup, nearly glowed, and her startling blue eyes reflected her every thought. In the few minutes she’d been in the room, he’d seen joy, hunger, and annoyance in those eyes. No, she was nothing like the wary woman he’d met at Lynn’s yesterday. Nothing at all.
    “What’re you standing there grinning about?” It was Mrs. Matson who interrupted his thoughts. “Ain’t like you never saw a pretty girl before.”
    “That doesn’t make it any less pleasant to see another one,” Alan said, directing his most charming smile in Millie Matson’s direction. “However,” he added with a wink, “I like my women more mature.”
    “Get on with you.” Color rose in Millie’s cheeks as she brushed his comment aside. “You’re such a flatterer, Alan Parks. Always have been.”
    Alan laughed and reached down to help the older woman from her chair. “Whatever works, Millie. Whatever works.”
    “If you two are done flirting,” Rita said good-naturedly, “I could use some help.”
    With a final smile at Millie, Alan went to Rita’s aid, lifting the huge turkey from the oven. Meanwhile, Millie began carrying platters of food into the dining room.
    A few minutes later, when Maureen and Katie returned to the kitchen, Alan stood at the counter, carving the turkey. She pointedly ignored him and took Katie into the dining room. Once again he smiled. Yes sir, he had her attention now. And finding out about her was going to be a lot more interesting than he’d expected.
    Once they sat down to eat, no one spoke as they filled their plates with the sumptuous meal. Rita had outdone herself. Alan was used to Rita’s Sunday dinners, but tonight could have been Thanksgiving and Christmas combined, considering all the food she’d made. He knew it was because of the woman and child sitting across the table from him. Rita loved having family around, and she’d evidently taken these two in as if they were her own. He was beginning to understand why.
    He watched Maureen as she tended her daughter. Her role as a mother suited her. Her devotion to the child was obvious in her every move. Every graceful,
confident
move, he reminded himself. Once again, he wondered what circumstance had brought them to Wyattville. The thought shook him, reminding him that things weren’t exactly as they seemed with this woman.
    “Maureen and Katie are from Chicago,” Rita said, breaking into his thoughts and giving him the perfect opening.
    “Yes. She told me.” Alan caught Maureen’s quick glance in his direction. She didn’t like talking about herself. He could