Worth the Risk_ A Contemporary - Megan Hart Page 0,98

her spelling words.

Shane sat in the middle, valiantly trying to pay attention to both of them at the same time, but looking overwhelmed. He looked up as Arden raced into the living room and pulled up short, skidding on the throw rug as she did and managing not to fall by catching herself on the back of a chair.

“Ignore the graceful entrance,” Arden said, embarrassed. “How long have you been here?”

Shane smiled. “About ten minutes. Maeve and Aislin were telling me about school and stuff.”

“I can see that.” Now was not the time to lecture them about opening the door to strangers. “Girls, go get your shoes on.”

They scampered to obey, and Shane stood. “They’re great.”

Arden laughed. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to rescue you sooner.”

He shook his head. “Nah. They’re fine. I have nephews that age. They don’t talk quite as much, but they were fine. Really.”

Maeve and Aislin whirled back into the living room, shoes on feet.

“Ready to go?” Shane asked them. He turned to Arden. “I heard we’re going to the Chinese buffet.”

Arden gave Maeve and Aislin a stern look. “Girls, I told you it was up to Shane.”

“It’s fine. I love the Chinese buffet.”

The girls cheered. Shane grinned. Warmth filled her at the sight of Maeve and Aislin’s victory dance and Shane’s smile.

This is going to be all right, she thought. It really is.

Dinner went without a hitch. Her daughters maintained their best behavior. Shane regaled them with stories about his job. Maeve and Aislin competed to see who could tell the funnier knock-knock joke, and Shane was gallant enough to laugh at them all.

She felt like it was Maeve and Aislin’s date more than hers, but Arden didn’t mind. Every time Shane looked up to catch her eye, his smile became hers alone.

“All right, you monsters,” she said at last, when the girls had each polished off a bowl of ice cream with sprinkles. “We need to get home and get you ready for bed. It’s a school night.”

And to her surprise, they both complied without protest. They didn’t argue in the car on the way home either, or complain when she told them to go upstairs and brush their teeth and get ready for bed. They didn’t even push each other on the stairs.

“What miracle is this?” she asked aloud, head cocked to listen to the patter of feet upstairs. She looked at Shane. “They are on their best behavior tonight. They must be trying to impress you.”

“They’re good kids.” He pulled her into his arms for a quick kiss that made her blush. “I had a good time with them tonight.”

There wasn’t time for an in-depth discussion about their relationship, where it was going or what he felt. Baby steps, she reminded herself. Take it slow.

“Thanks for letting me meet them.”

Arden kissed him again, fast. “You’re welcome. They seemed to like you a lot.”

“And how about you?”

“I like you a lot, too.”

He grinned. “Even if I’m not the bad boy you remember?”

“I think, especially because you’re not the bad boy I remember.”

The moment stretched between them, caught in their gaze.

“Good,” Shane said. “Because I plan on spending a lot of time with you.”

She couldn’t stop the smile from stretching across her face. “Good.”

The sound of two pairs of feet pounding down the stairs interrupted their kiss. Arden stepped out of Shane’s arms, but not in time to avoid her daughters’ eagle eyes.

They didn’t say anything, though they shared another one of those looks that showed Arden how fast they were growing up.

“All ready for bed? Teeth brushed? Faces washed?”

The routine words came out of her and the girls nodded dutifully.

“I’ll be up in a minute to read to you both,” Arden said.

“Are you going to leave?” Maeve asked Shane.

He looked at Arden. “Only if your mom says I have to.”

“You and Mommy can watch a movie,” offered Aislin generously. “She loves to watch movies, but it’s more fun to watch them with someone else.”

They were matchmaking. The realization made her want to hug and kiss them both, her girls, who were trying so hard to see that she was happy.

“Maybe we’ll watch a movie,”Arden said. “But right now, you have to get to bed. You both have school in the morning.”

And wonder of wonders, they headed toward the stairs without a moan or groan. Maeve paused on the staircase. “Good night, Shane!”

“’Night, Maeve.”

“Are you going to be Mom’s boyfriend?” Aislin asked, pausing so suddenly Arden bumped into her back.

“Aislin!”

Arden looked over the rail