Page 9 of This Heart Of Mine (Chicago Stars 5)

“We’ve been introduced at least three times.”

“Which was totally unnecessary, since I’ve got a great memory for names.”

“Not mine. You’ve forgotten.”

“Of course I haven’t.”

She stared at him for a long moment, but he was used to operating under pressure, and he didn’t have any trouble waiting her out.

“It’s Daphne,” she said.

“Why are you telling me something I already know? Are you this paranoid with everyone, Daphne?”

She pursed her lips and muttered something under her breath. He could swear he heard the word “badger” again.

Kevin Tucker didn’t even know her name! Let this be a lesson, Molly thought as she gazed at all that dangerous gorgeousness.

Right then she knew she had to find a way to protect herself from him. Okay, so he was drop-dead good-looking. So were a lot of men. Granted, not many of them had that particular combination of dark blond hair and brilliant green eyes. And not many had a body like his, which was trim and sculpted rather than bulky. Still, she wasn’t stupid enough to be taken in by a man who was nothing more than a great body, a pretty face, and an on/off charm switch.

Well, she was stupid enough—witness her late, unlamented crush on him—but at least she’d known she was being stupid.

One thing she wouldn’t do was come across as a fawning groupie. He was going to see her at her absolute snottiest! She conjured up Goldie Hawn in Overboard for inspiration. “You’re going to have to leave, Ken. Oh, excuse me, I mean Kevin. It is Kevin, right?”

She must have gone too far because the corner of his mouth kicked up. “We’ve been introduced at least three times. I’d think you’d remember.”

“There are just so many football players, and you all look alike.”

One of his eyebrows arched.

She’d made her point, and it was late, so she could afford to be generous, but only in the most condescending way. “You can stay tonight, but I came here to work, so you’ll have to vacate tomorrow morning.” A glance out the back windows showed his Ferrari parked by the garage, which was why she hadn’t seen it when she’d pulled up in front.

He deliberately settled on a stool, as if to show her he wasn’t going anywhere. “What kind of work do you do?” He sounded patronizing, which told her he didn’t believe it was anything too arduous.

“Je suis auteur.”

“An author?”

“Soy autora,” she added in Spanish.

“Any reason you’ve given up English?”

“I thought you might be more comfortable with a foreign language.” A vague wave of her hand. “Something I read…”

Kevin might be shallow, but he wasn’t stupid, and she wondered if she’d crossed the line. Unfortunately, she was on a roll. “I’m almost certain Roo has recovered from his little problem with rabies, but you might want to get some shots, just to be on the safe side.”

“You’re still mad about the burglar thing, aren’t you?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t hear you. Probably a concussion from the fall.”

“I said I was sorry.”

“So you did.” She moved aside a pile of crayons the kids had left on the counter.

“I think I’ll head upstairs to bed.” He rose and started toward the door, then paused for another look at her awful hair. “Tell me the truth. Was it some kind of football bet?”

“Good night, Kirk.”

As Molly entered her bedroom, she realized she was breathing hard. Only a thin wall separated her from the guest room where Kevin would be sleeping. Her skin tingled, and she felt an almost uncontrollable urge to take the scissors to her hair, even though there wasn’t much left to cut. Maybe she should dye it back to its natural color tomorrow, except she couldn’t give him the satisfaction.

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