That Touch of Pink Read Online Free Page B

and DNA. He’d felt protective of her from the moment she had come home from the hospital. He had a bond with her. More than that—he loved her.
    â€œIs there any way I can convince you you’re wrong?” he asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAre you going to share, or do I have to use more aggressive interrogation techniques?”
    â€œNo tickling,” she warned.
    â€œThen talk.”
    â€œRight back at you, Riley. Face Abby Walsh. And talk.” She sighed at his look. “The thing is, you don’thave a choice. This is you. Although you try to hide all your good qualities behind a surly exterior, I happen to know you’re loyal, honest and you always pay your debts and do your duty. You gave your word to the Charity City Foundation when you volunteered the weekend for auction. And you’re an honorable man. You can’t do anything but talk to her.”
    He hated that she was right. “Okay. You win.”
    â€œGood.” She pointed at him. “But remember. That doesn’t mean the talk needs to be personal. In fact, if I were you, I wouldn’t under any circumstances get involved with her.”
    â€œYou’re preaching to the choir, sis. I don’t do personal. I’ll smooth things over.” Things like the curve of her cheek and the slender column of her neck. The insubordinate thoughts made him grind his teeth and proved that Abby Walsh was trouble with a capital T. “By the time I’m finished oozing charm, she’ll be glad to let me compensate her for the money she spent.”
    And he’d be off one very large, very uncomfortable hook.

Chapter Two
    A half hour after deciding to be sweet and lovable in his quest to change Abby Walsh’s mind, Riley stood on her doorstep. He’d have been there sooner, but it took him a few minutes to find out where she lived.
    Her place was in The Villas, one of Charity City’s newest areas built by Richmond Homes. It was a charming neighborhood, meaning he was in the right place to take his charm out for a spin and see what it could do. And she’d accused him of lacking charm and courtesy. She was in for the charmfest of her life, he thought, pushing the doorbell.
    â€œWho’s there?” It was a child’s voice behind the door.
    â€œRiley Dixon,” he answered.
    â€œThe man Mommy bought at the auction?”
    â€œYes.” His reputation preceded him.
    The door opened and a pint-size girl stood in front of him wearing pink satin pajamas, matching slipperswith feathers on the toes and a pink robe with cartoon princesses on it. Her hair was long enough to disappear behind her shoulders, but what he could see of it was wet. Taking a mental leap, he guessed she’d just had her evening bath and was dressed for bed.
    â€œKimmie?” he said, remembering how Abby had corrected him when he’d called her “the kid.”
    â€œYes.”
    He noticed the sleeves and hem of her robe were trimmed with white lace and tried to picture her camping in rugged terrain. Paying back the Charity City foundation should have been easy. Take a guy camping and teach him a few survival skills. End of obligation. But his luck wasn’t that good. The woman who’d bought him would consider a broken nail a life-altering event. And her child no doubt took after her.
    â€œI’d like to talk to your mom. Is she here?”
    There was a ten-year-old car in the driveway, but that didn’t mean the mom in question was on the premises.
    â€œMommy’s in the attic. It’s upstairs, and the ladder is pulled down.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I’m watchin’ TV before I hafta go to bed and I don’t have a lot of time.”
    â€œIt’s okay. I can find her.”
    After Kimmie went back to her show, he looked around. Abby’s place was small, but very nice. And very pink. It was like living in a Pepto-Bismol bottle. Everything he’d