Cinderella Story. Elizabeth August

senses.

      Ordering himself to forget how much he’d wanted to nip her earlobe, Alex joined the children at the table. Pete was reaching for a slice of pizza, and he quickly helped the child get it onto his plate. Immediately the boy began to eat, ignoring all the others.

      “My mother says you’re a friend,” Elizabeth said, regarding him speculatively as he dished her up a slice of pizza and some ravioli.

      “That’s right,” he acknowledged, marveling at how much more intense a child’s gaze could be than an adult’s.

      “Are you going to ask her on a date?” Elizabeth persisted.

      “As a matter of fact, I consider this our first one,” he replied, wondering if the girl was going to object.

      Elizabeth smiled with satisfaction. “Grandma will be happy to know Mommy is dating. Our dad’s been in heaven a long time. Pete doesn’t even remember him. He was only one. I don’t remember him real well, but Grandma says I take after him. He had blue eyes and blond hair, too.”

      Alex realized she didn’t expect any response, as she abruptly stopped talking and turned her full attention to her food. Children, he mused. They simply say what’s on their minds, then move on to other topics. No small talk for them. Turning his attention to Tommy, he saw the boy sitting, his chin propped in his hands. “How about a piece of pepperoni pizza,” he offered, putting one on the boy’s plate.

      Tommy forced a tired smile but continued to remain leaning into his hands. Concern for the boy flowed through Alex. “You need to eat,” he said.

      “In a minute,” Tommy replied.

      Nina brought in the drinks, and Alex saw the worried look on her face when she saw her eldest son staring lethargically at the food he’d been looking forward to having. “Try to eat a little,” she encouraged.

      Tommy picked up the slice and began to nibble at it.

      Concern for the boy foremost on his mind, Alex joined her in coaxing Tommy to eat. By the time the meal was over, he thought he’d never had so exhausting an experience.

      After a couple of bites, Tommy had turned pale and looked as if he was going to be sick. Nina had carried him to the couch and laid him down. Alex’s worry that the boy was in much more immediate danger than the doctor had led them to believe increased.

      Pete, clearly having inherited his mother’s bold independence, wanted to serve himself. The others had all tried to keep an eye on him, so that when he suddenly stood in his chair and made an attempt to reach something outside of his grasp, they were there to help. But none had been quick enough when he made a grab for another slice of pizza and spilled his soda.

      Although Elizabeth was polite and ladylike at all times, Alex felt her watching him. He’d been sized-up by some very powerful men in his time and many a calculating female. None of those inspections unnerved him the way the little blonde’s did.

      Helping Nina clear the table, he wondered how she’d had the energy to care for three children and hold down a job. It was a heavy load for such a delicate set of shoulders, he thought admiringly. He’d considered leaving soon after the meal. But the tiredness and the strain on her face brought out a protectiveness in him. He would stay awhile longer and help with the children, he decided.

      Putting the leftovers in the refrigerator, Nina was sure Alex Bennett had had enough of her and her children. He’d never relaxed, but remained tensely alert in order to aid Pete, especially after the spilled soda episode. And Elizabeth hadn’t been able to keep her eyes off of the man. Knowing that a child’s nearly constant stare would make anyone uneasy, Nina had cast her daughter several reproving glances and Elizabeth had tried to behave herself. But, Nina had to admit, Alex Bennett was the kind of man any female would be drawn to study. She, herself, had found her gaze wandering to him several times, but she quickly jerked it away. Then there had been Tommy’s bout of threatened nausea.

      Nina was used to active mealtimes and her children watching her, especially when they were anxious. But she was certain Alex was accustomed to a more sedate dining atmosphere with much more comfortable companions. Returning to the living room, she found him on the floor helping Pete build while Elizabeth introduced him to her dolls. She expected him to rise, make a polite excuse about business he needed to take care of and leave. Instead, he ruffled Pete’s hair playfully and added another block to the tower they were constructing.

      Her jaw firmed. Even if he wasn’t tired of them, his presence was wearing her down. She needed some time alone with her children to absorb the impact of the events of the day. But politeness kept her from ordering him out. After all, he had provided dinner. She’d give him another fifteen minutes. If he wasn’t ready to leave by then, she’d politely but firmly send him packing. Seating herself in a nearby chair, she gave in to fatigue, leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

      It seemed only moments had passed when a strong hand, gently shaking her shoulder, woke her.

      Alex hated disturbing her sleep. She’d looked so peaceful. But he knew the children wouldn’t allow him to tuck them in, and he was ready for them to go to bed. Their company had been interesting but tiring. Both Elizabeth and Pete had vied for his attention, and he’d tried to give it equally. Tommy had continued to study him warily, and he’d sensed that all three were trying to decide if it was all right to like him. The effect put a strain on his nerves different from any he’d experienced in a long time. It was, he thought dryly, a lot like his first day in school when he wasn’t certain where he would fit in or if he would fit in at all. “Elizabeth tells me that it’s Pete’s bedtime,” he said when she opened her eyes.

      Nina glanced at the clock. She’d been asleep for nearly two hours. “I’m so sorry,” she apologized, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment.

      She was cute when she was flustered, Alex noted. “You obviously needed the rest.”

      She saw a softness in his eyes that sent a curl of warmth through her. He’s way out of your league, she chided herself, and jerked her gaze to her children. “Time for baths,” she announced, rising and picking up Pete.

      For the next hour, she washed backs, read stories and tucked all three kids into bed. Returning to the living room, she found Alex reading the newspaper. “I would have thought that you’d had enough of me and my family for one day,” she said, as surprised to find him there as she was by how at home he looked in her living room.

      He laid aside the paper. While she’d been away, he’d had a stern talk with himself. He couldn’t deny he was physically attracted to her, but he vowed to keep the attraction under control. Having spent the evening in her home, not only was he more certain than ever that she would want more of a commitment than he wanted to give, but he wasn’t ready to take on the role of father to three children he hadn’t even sired. Not that they weren’t nice kids, he just wasn’t in the market for a ready-made family. Ignoring the curve of her hips, he kept his mind on business. “We don’t have much time to get to know each other.”

      She noted that the warmth she’d seen earlier in his eyes was gone, and his cool, calculating tone let her know there was nothing personal in his inquiry. A few second thoughts about the reality of getting physically or emotionally involved with a woman with three children have obviously dampened any ardor he was experiencing, she thought cynically. It was just as well, she added. She would never be a wealthy man’s playmate, and that was all he would ever offer her. “What do you want to know?”

      “Elizabeth filled me in on her age and those of her brothers. From that I figured out you’ve been widowed approximately three years.”

      “Yes,” she replied when he paused, clearly expecting a response.

      “You mentioned that your parents are deceased.”

      Realizing that this twenty-questions game could go on forever unless she began to elaborate, Nina said, “My father had a small one-man, one-plane charter service. When I was sixteen, he and my mother were flying to Las Vegas for a short vacation. The plane got caught in a storm and