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She shrugged, completely unapologetic. “Hey, don’t blame me. She’s the one who asked, and I wonder where she got that curiosity from?” Her dark brows lifted in a challenge, daring me to deny it.
There was no denying that Lila’s overactive imagination and desire to know everything was a direct result of living with an author, so I switched topics.
“You’re really planning to make all that?”
“I’m gonna go find our pumpkins,” Lila declared and skipped off, humming loudly to herself.
When my gaze turned back to Tara, she still wore a bemused smile. “I plan to spend the night baking and studying. It’s the perfect reward, and all the goodies will be my motivation not to skip my workouts.”
At her mention of working out, I gave her a long slow look, enjoying the way the denim clung to her body and the cotton t-shirt fell lightly over her curves. Damn, but the sexy police woman was just my type. If I was looking for a woman. Which I wasn’t.
“How do you know how to make all those things with pumpkins? We just gut them and carve them.”
Tara laughed, and once again the sound was lyrical and feminine. “It’s called research, Mr. Jacobs, and I hear that particular skill is right up your alley.” Mischief lit her eyes, but a moment later sympathy filled the green orbs and she took pity on me. “I’m happy to teach Lila how to make two pumpkin dishes,” she said, emphasizing the number with her fingers. “If that helps.”
“It does, but only if you’re sure?” I didn’t want to impose, no matter how much I really kind of wanted to impose. “You said you have to study and I know this test is important to you.”
“I’ll be fine Chris, but thanks for your concern. I’m happy to teach Lila the joys of cooking.” Her smile was sweet and her lips plump, and I fought the urge to kiss them again, even though I’d thought about that kiss more times than I would have liked over the past week.
“Yay!” Lila appeared between us with the stealth of a ninja. “Come on Daddy, I found the perfect pumpkins.” Lila growled her impatience as she tugged me away from Tara.
I flashed an apologetic smile and mouthed, “Sorry,” at her as the distance between us grew.
Tara let out another sharp laugh and shook her head as she glanced down at her watch. “Come by at seven-thirty. That’ll give me time to unwind and get a few things done before we get started.”
Of course. She’d just finished her shift, not even an hour ago and still she’d volunteered to help me and Lila. I’d forgotten women like Tara even existed.
“You sure?” I practically had to shout, but Tara nodded, a faint smile still on her lips.
“Can’t let down a fellow future officer, can I?”
Her mother let her down. Constantly, and she felt no qualms at all about doing so, which was just the reminder I needed not to get too close to Tara. It didn’t matter that we had chemistry, or that the sweet kiss between us was still on my mind. Distance. Emotional distance was exactly what I needed. What we both needed.
“I guess not,” I told her with a sheepish shrug.
She smiled at me one last time before she turned away and disappeared from sight.
Tara
What was I thinking, inviting Chris and Lila back to my place for a night of homegrown domesticity?
I knew, whether Chris did or not, just what Eva and Sophie were hoping for, and this little scene going down tonight would give them immense satisfaction. But the excitement in Lila’s eyes was irresistible and she was just too damn cute to say no to. Not to mention that anyone that eager to know more about pumpkins was a member of my tribe.
But being a good person, a kind neighbor, it meant sacrifice and tonight it meant sacrificing a few hours of study time to help out a single dad and his beautiful little girl. That’s all it was, being a good member of the community.
Nothing more.
After leaving the pumpkin patch, I rushed home and took a quick, super hot shower, to scrub the day away before I made my way downstairs to deal with the pumpkins. All four of them. One was set aside to be carved at a later date, when I had more time to commit and two more were put on the far side of my kitchen able, the side usually reserved for unread mail and magazines. I chose the biggest one for tonight, splitting it in half and taking out the insides before I popped it into the oven. I had everything planned out within ten minutes because that’s what I did when I was nervous. I planned every moment down to the second.
