Twins Times Two!

Cara didn’t trust that quality in a man, either. Elliot had been male-model handsome, but she had discovered soon enough that the outer beauty camouflaged a weak character.

So why, after vowing to herself that she wouldn’t be caught in the same trap again, did she feel the faint stirrings of attraction?

No. Absolutely not! She didn’t find him in the least bit attractive.

But even as she insisted as much to herself, a tingling awareness spread through her veins as he extended a hand toward her.

“I’ll carry that for you.”

Unconsciously Cara clutched the duffel bag even more securely—as if it were a shield to protect her from…

From what?

There was nothing about Ross Gifford’s appearance or manner to make her feel threatened. In fact, the sadness that cloaked his features made her feel as if she should be doing something for him rather than for herself.

But as she admitted the twinge of concern, she knew that she couldn’t give in to such emotions. She couldn’t dwell on her physical reaction to the man. She couldn’t afford that luxury. Such emotions would simply complicate the situation—and heaven only knew her current predicament was already untenable.

Since Ross was still waiting, she reluctantly handed him the duffel bag, all the while wishing she hadn’t agreed to stay for coffee. She was playing with fire and had no doubts that she would get burned.

Ross led the way through the big, silent house, offering Cara glimpses of rooms that were lushly decorated but curiously devoid of color. At long last they reached the kitchen with its white cabinets, pale tile and pale marble counters.

Who was responsible for the absence of color in the house? Was it a designer’s decision or had Ross made the choice?

“Have a seat,” Ross said, gesturing to a pair of stools drawn up to an ornate center island.

“Decaf or regular coffee,” he asked.

“Decaf.”

Ross shrugged out of his jacket and laid it over a chair. As he moved to prepare the coffee, her gaze immediately latched on to the crisp starched shirt. The long evening had rumpled the fabric at his back.

Cara didn’t know why, but the sight was oddly intimate and exciting. Inexplicably Cara found herself wondering who starched those shirts, ironed them and hung them in his closet. A cleaning service? A housekeeper? Stibbs?

Or a woman who had already begun to heal his grieving heart?

“So…you’re a regular with the Mom Squad?”

She jumped, her gaze bouncing away from Ross when he suddenly turned and caught her staring.

“Yes. I’m one of the founding partners.”

One of his brows rose. He had dark eyes, expressive eyes, and even when he was apparently relaxed, they were filled with such a poignant sadness that Cara wanted to take him into her arms.

Stop it! The man isn’t a wounded bird to bring home and keep warm in a shoebox.

But hadn’t she always had a soft heart for wounded animals and strays? Isn’t that how she’d found herself marrying her first husband? She’d met Elliot when he’d been on the rebound from a three-year relationship, and she’d been determined to make him smile again.

Little had she known…

“If you’re one of the founding partners of the Mom Squad, why are you still taking baby-sitting jobs?” Ross asked, bringing her thoughts abruptly back to the present.

Not wanting to wallow in the past, Cara concentrated on the man in front of her instead. There was a simple grace to his movements as he measured the grounds and water into a gleaming stainless steel coffeemaker. Then he reached into an overhead cabinet for mugs. She watched transfixed as his shirt pulled taut, revealing the muscular outlines of his back.

Ross Gifford was certainly fit. Healthy.

Beautiful.

Cara forced herself to look away. “I’m the company accountant, but I fill in when there’s a need.”

“Your husband doesn’t object to the late nights?”

“My husband?” Briefly, she thought of Elliot. Elliot definitely would have complained about the late hours if she hadn’t left their relationship long before the Mom Squad was formed.

“You mentioned you had twin girls.”

She stared at him blankly, her pulse knocking at her throat, then realized that she had offered the information before she’d seen Ross’s children.

He doesn’t know anything. Keep your cool.

“Yes. They’re…three.” The information was offered carefully, slowly. She watched Ross for a hint of unease but there was no reaction—not that she should have expected one.

“Boys or girls?”

Her heart thumped again.

“Girls.”

“Twins can be a handful, can’t they?”

She nodded. “They’re a challenge at times, especially for a new mom.”

He leaned his hips against the counter. “New mom?”

“The children are…were my brother’s, actually. But he was killed a year ago. Since then the girls have lived with me.”

For a moment the room thrummed with the reminder that life could be changed in a heartbeat. Then Ross straightened and reached into cupboards again, removing sugar and spoons, then grabbed a carton of cream from the refrigerator.

“So you’re a single mom?”

Now why did it seem as if he’d put a slight emphasis on the word single?

“Yes. I was married once. Briefly.” Enough. He doesn’t need to know any of this. He’s merely making polite conversation. “What happened?”

She shrugged, hoping that she didn’t appear as vulnerable and exposed as she felt.

“My husband…my ex-husband and I grew apart.”

The simple reply was an understatement. Elliot Wells was charismatic, charming and driven. As CEO of a fast-track marketing firm, he had dazzled her with his sophistication and discipline. He’d wooed her with wildly romantic rendezvous, expensive gifts and just the right amount of flattery and adoration.