LITMIR.BIZ

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by tomorrow morning. Live by the grapevine, die by the grapevine. He knew people had wondered about Joanna and Kayla and had assumed he was dating. He’d allowed the rumor to grow because right now, Joanna and Kayla had first call on his time and emotional energy. Especially Kayla.

      He hadn’t fully understood the term “emotional energy” until recently or that it was something different from any other energy. But Kayla… Kayla needed something. Joanna needed something, too, but it wasn’t up to Simon to provide it. Which was a good thing, since dealing with Kayla pretty much zapped him.

      Date? Not likely. At this point, the best he could hope for was a mutually pleasurable physical encounter when he traveled on business. An encounter with a woman who also wanted no more than a night, or two. A woman he wouldn’t have to face at the office afterward.

      So why hadn’t he taken advantage of the last several opportunities? Why had he chosen room service and movies on cable instead?

      Because he was at the stage in life where he wanted more. He wanted a meaningful relationship, though he’d be drummed out of the male gender if he ever said so aloud. But Simon wanted a family of his own, and he knew it. Unfortunately, he had to deal with the family he already had.

      WHOA. BACK UP. Back the heck up. Stepmother? Simon’s introduction of Kayla finally registered. Half sister. He’d said half sister. Half sister? And more importantly, stepmother?

      Sara knew she should say something, maybe something like, “Pleased to meet you.” But was she pleased? Was Simon pleased that he’d introduced her?

      It’s a polite response. It doesn’t have to mean anything.

      She turned to Simon, ready to mouth the polite response and make her escape. And call Hayden with some of the juiciest gossip that had ever come Sara’s way.

      “So where’re we gonna eat?” Kayla asked before Sara could say anything.

      “I have reservations at La Griglia.”

      Wow. Fancy. But not too fancy.

      “Simon!” Joanna made a face. Kind of a classy annoyed face. Sara filed it away as another expression she’d like to acquire.

      “The girls aren’t dressed for La Griglia,” Joanna continued.

      No kidding. If those girls wore more than a yard of fabric between them, Sara would be surprised. She glanced at Simon, unable to help herself. She should have left by now, but truly she couldn’t figure out a way to leave without attracting attention. Okay, she wasn’t trying all that hard. It would take a saint to leave now.

      Simon was looking at Kayla and Amber. Sara had been to La Griglia once. It was moderately expensive and Italian. Simon had got the Italian part right. Most everyone liked Italian food, but the atmosphere was chic and to-be-seen. Not the place to take children, though Kayla had just passed the point of childhood and was deep into burgeoning adolescence. In fact, she was about to burgeon right out of those shorts. Her short shorts and tank top definitely looked mall food-courtish, though the businessmen and fifty-somethings at La Griglia were bound to enjoy the view.

      “What’s wrong with the way we’re dressed?” Kayla asked. “I think we look cute.” She thrust her size zero hips to the side.

      Enjoy them now, honey. If the freshman fifteen don’t get you, take-out and weekend dates with Ben & Jerry’s will.

      Kayla was that fun age between child and woman. She was trying to figure out who she was and what she was going to do—not unlike Sara right at this minute. Only Sara had had fifteen or so more years to figure it all out.

      How depressing was that? Sara so needed to get out of Simon’s office. She tried to catch his eye. He glanced at her at the exact moment she turned to him. He looked vulnerable and uncertain. Very un-Simon-like. Yeah, anything he said in response would probably be wrong. Sympathy kept her rooted to the spot.

      “La Griglia is a nice restaurant,” he said slowly. “Not a casual sort of place.”

      “That’s the point,” snipped Joanna.

      Sara wanted to do something to Joanna. Maybe take her aside and smack her.

      “Well, I’m going to have to get to class.” Joanna gave Kayla and Amber a once-over before removing her sunglasses from the top of her head and putting them on. “I suppose they’ll be okay.” But the way she said it, everyone knew they wouldn’t be okay.

      What a nasty piece of work. Hayden would have put her in her place, but Sara was no Hayden.

      Amber, who had been silent up until now, looked stricken.

      Kayla looked disgusted. “Is it some stuffy place? I told you I didn’t want to go to stuffy places anymore.”

      “It’s one of the top-rated restaurants in Houston. I thought it would be a treat,” Simon said quietly.

      Awwwww, Sara thought and sent a vicious and completely unnoticed look at Joanna. Why didn’t she say something parental like “Mind your manners?”

      “Can we take a limo?” Kayla asked.

      “I was planning to drive.”

      “Man.” Kayla wore a sullen expression.

      “Limos are for entertaining clients,” Simon said in the voice of one who knows he’s doomed. “You don’t like going out with clients.”

      Joanna bailed. “I’ve got a seven o’clock class.” She waggled her fingers, wrinkled her nose at Sara and left.

      Simon looked at Sara. If ever there was a cry for help, this was it. And Sara responded to the call. Willingly. Gladly.

      “They really aren’t dressed for La Griglia,” she said as though she’d been there many times herself. “You know what they’d like? Dave and Busters.”

      “Dave and Busters!” Kayla’s whole demeanor changed.

      “I love that place,” Amber said. “But since you have to be with an adult, I don’t get to go there unless it’s a special occasion, or something. My cousin’s graduation was the last time I got to go there. I still have leftover tickets.” She groaned. “But I didn’t bring them with me.”

      “Tickets?” asked Simon.

      He looked lost. Appealingly lost. The kind of lost where Sara could be the rescuer. Now here was a nice switch on the traditional fantasy. Sara liked it. Now she could appear competent in front of him.

      And she owed him big time. Huge time. She could have been fired. Clearly, he wanted to make good with his sister, so Sara would help him. Just as clearly, but unbelievably, he didn’t know about Dave and Buster’s. Sara would cover for him because it was very uncool not to know about Dave and Buster’s.

      “I love Dave and Buster’s,” she said. “There’s nothing like it for relieving stress. I mean, sometimes I just want to chill out and play pool, but other times, I can’t wait to get in one of those pods and blow people up.”

      “Yeah!” Kayla and Amber clutched each other as they looked from Simon to Sara and back. Kayla’s eyes were as dark as her big brother’s and just as intense.

      “The drinks aren’t bad, either, are they, Simon?” Sara grinned at him.

      And he grinned back. Oh, boy. Talk about fuel for her crush.

      “You’re right,” he said. “I am more in a Dave and Buster’s mood. Would you like to come with us?”

      Sara had half anticipated the invitation. Still… Simon Northrup. Could she? Should she?

      “We’re going to Dave and Buster’s? For real?” Kayla looked stunned. Amber looked impressed. And Simon, well, Simon managed to look sexy and grateful at the same time.

      To Sara’s surprise, Kayla grabbed her arm. “You’re gonna come with us, right?” She looked from Sara to Simon and

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