Page 12 of Her Defiant Warrior

“It really isn’t,” Farah assured her.

Again, Bonnie found herself biting her bottom lip. She immediately stopped. “Thank you, Jase. I’d sure appreciate that. Let me give you some money for the rental. I just need to go to the back bedroom and get my purse.”

“Don’t worry about it. You can take me out to lunch sometime.”

“Huh?”

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Bonnie. Bonnie Larkin. Seriously, let me just go get my purse.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Bonnie.” He held out his hand, and she reached out to shake it.

What the hell?

She did her best not to snatch her hand back. It was like she had just touched lightning. Jase gave her a wicked smile.

“He won’t bite,” Farah assured her. “Let him do this for you, Bonnie. And Jase, make it dinner instead of lunch. I’ll even babysit.”

“That’s a good idea.” His smile got wider. “I’d love to take you out to dinner, Bonnie.”

Shit, he has a dimple, too.

No.

Not that. No liking smiles or dimples. I have kids to raise.

“That sounds great,” she said weakly.

“Mom?” Amber touched her waist. “Can we go play with Punk until we start cleaning?”

“No, you may not. Get on up to Maryanne’s room and wait for me.”

“But it smells,” Lachlan whined.

Bonnie grinned. “Yes, it does, doesn’t it? Serves you right. Next time, I want you to think about the consequences before you act.”

She watched as her twins started toward the stairs.

“Why is she always talking about consequences?” Lachlan asked Amber.

“I think ’cause she doesn’t want us to do bigger things that turn into bigger mistakes.”

“You mean we could have bigger adventures?” Lachlan asked excitedly. “Like what?”

Jase let out a loud laugh. “Damn, woman, you have your work cut out for you.”

2

My God, that ass!

Jase did his absolute best not to stare, but for God’s sake, he was only human.

“Lachlan, hold the bag with two hands so your sister can scrape up the cherries and vomit with the dustpan and throw it into the bag.”

Jase looked at the kid as he held his nose with one hand and held the bag with the other.

“Both hands,” his mother said sharply. It was the first time she had come close to raising her voice. Pretty good, all things considered.