That Dating Thing Read Online Free

usually walks away.”
    “I don’t think that will be the case this time.”
    “For your aunt’s sake, I hope that’s true, but…” He shrugged.
    Her gaze darted to the landing above. She said nothing for a long moment, cocking her head to study him as though she was struggling to make up her mind about something. Those dark eyes, so clearly assessing, sent blood racing from his head and upper body to gather below his waist. He drew a slow breath at the pleasant rush of arousal.
    “That won’t be the case this time,” she repeated with firm resolve.
    He cleared his throat. “And you know this because?”
    Utter confidence filled her tight smile. “Because…if Elliott even thinks of walking away from Sil, he’ll have to deal with me .”

Chapter Three
    “You what?”
    “I married her.”
    Holding the phone to his ear, Coop straightened from the open file on his desk to sprawl back in the chair.
    “Did you hear me?”
    “I heard you, Dad. I just don’t believe you.”
    “I married Silvia Burke three days ago,” Elliott repeated, his voice hard with resolve.
    “Okay, I’ll bite. Why?”
    “Because I’m in love with her.”
    Coop snorted. “Right. What happens when the next babe comes along and you decide you’re in love with her? You have a short attention span with women, but at least you haven’t married any of them. Not since…”
    “Since your mother?” Elliott finished.
    Coop frowned. He rarely thought of the woman who gave birth to him, much less discussed her with his father. Claudia Reed made her choice, walking away without a backward glance, and though Elliott stuck around, doing his best to raise their son, Coop divided the blame for their broken marriage evenly. Whatever other problems were between his parents, Elliott’s womanizing played a large part in their breakup.
    “My mother has little to do with this, but while we’re on the subject, that didn’t work out very well, did it?”
    “Coop.” Elliott sighed. “Claudia and I were young and stupid. Selfish too, in our own ways. You and I have never really discussed what happened—”
    “And I don’t see the need now,” Coop interrupted.
    “No, I don’t suppose you would.” Elliott paused. “I’ll simply say this. I never remarried after your mother because, although I’ve loved many of the women I’ve known over the years, I was never in love with them.”
    “Give me a break, Colonel. You sound like a greeting card.”
    “You don’t exactly live the life of a monk, yourself,” Elliott mocked, “so you know what it is to love women. But what you don’t know is that when the right woman comes along, everything changes.”
    Coop dropped his head back against the chair and closed his eyes. “I’m not sure what you want me to say, Dad.”
    “Congratulations would be a good start.”
    He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Congratulations.”
    Elliott chuckled at Coop’s dry tone. “One last thing. You have your doubts. Nothing I can do about that, but Sil is important to me. I’d like for you to get to know her.”
    “Dad,” Coop started to object. His childhood memories were filled with the faces of women Elliott brought around for Coop to get to know, only so the colonel could move on to the next, right about the time Coop became attached. He hated the familiar, oily nausea those memories produced.
    “I married Silvia, Coop,” Elliott said as though reading Coop’s mind. “I’m not asking you to welcome her with open arms, just to keep an open mind and give me the chance to prove this time, this woman, is different.”
    “I’m not a little boy anymore and you don’t need my approval.”
    “But I want your approval, son, and Silvia is innocent in our conflicts. She wants to get to know you. Give her a chance, please. Give us a chance.”
    Unsure if Elliott was referring to the relationship he shared with Silvia, or the one they shared as father and son, Coop remained silent, scraping a hand over his