So its a date?
If by date you mean a mutually agreed upon and strictly platonic social outing intended to cheer up my daughter, then yes.
JT didnt seem offended. In fact, his lips actually twitched as if he might
Yowza. In teir few exchanges, shed never seen him truly smile. Now a grin transformed his whole face, making his memorable gray eyes bright with humor.
Its a date, he repeated, giving her one last unreadable look before walking past to tell the kids that hed see them next weekend.
Kenzie, her legs feeling unsteady, stood listening to her daughters exultant whoop of delight and the door closing as JT left.
Had she just received a glimpse of the man hed once been? Because, despite what shed said about not forming attachments at Peachy Acres, she suspected she could very much enjoy getting to know that man.
Dear Reader,
Welcome back to THE STATE OF PARENTHOOD miniseries, Harlequin American Romances celebration of parenthood and place. In this, our 25th year of publishing great books, were delighted to bring you these heartwarming stories that sing the praises of the home state of six different authors, and share the many trials and delights of being a parent.
In A Dad for Her Twins by Tanya Michaels, Kenzie Green is not looking for a new man in her lifeand her neighbor JT most certainly isnt looking for instant fatherhood. Despite their outlooks, they find themselves thrown together at the end of one steamy Atlanta summerthanks to a bit of matchmaking by her well-meaning twins!
There are five other books in the series. We hope you didnt miss Tina Leonards Texas Lullaby (June 08), Smoky Mountain Reunion by Lynnette Kent (July 08) or Cowboy Dad by Cathy McDavid (August 08). Next month watch for Margot Earlys Holding the Baby, a story about a woman who is carrying a child for her sistera sister who suddenly decides she no longer wants the baby. Watch for our final book in the series, A Daddy for Christmas by Laura Marie Altom, when we head west to Oklahoma for a family holiday story youll never forget.
We hope these romantic stories inspire you to celebrate where you livebecause any place you raise a child is home.
Wishing you happy reading,
Kathleen Scheibling
Senior Editor
Harlequin American Romance
A Dad for Her Twins
Tanya Michaels
MILLS & BOON
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tanya Michaels started telling stories almost as soon as she could talkand started stealing her moms Harlequin romances less than a decade later. In 2003, Tanya was thrilled to have her first book, a romantic comedy, published by Harlequin Books. Since then, Tanya has sold nearly twenty books and is a two-time recipient of a Booksellers Best Award, as well as a finalist for the Holt Medallion, National Readers Choice Award and Romance Writers of Americas prestigious RITA® Award. Tanya lives in Georgia with her husband, two preschoolers and an unpredictable cat, but you can visit Tanya online at www.tanyamichaels.com.
My heartfelt thanks to Kathleen Scheibling for including me in the State of Parenthood series, and all my love to Ryan and Hailey, even if you do keep my life in a perpetual State of Chaos.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Epilogue
Chapter One
Peachy Acres is a stupid name, Drew complained from the backseat.
Thank you, Mr. Optimism. Mackenzie Green, intrepid single mom and owner of a minivan that was older than her nine-year-old twins, sighed inwardly.
Kenzie empathized with her sons unhappiness over moving, but his negative commentary was making the four-hour trip from Raindrop, North Carolina, to Atlanta, Georgia, feel like an interminable cross-country trek. Or a voyage in space, she thought, vaguely recalling some old movie promo about no one being able to hear you scream. Too often Kenzie felt as if she were screaming on the inside.
Behind her, Leslie had adopted the prim, emphatic tone that made her sound like a cranky schoolteacher. Im sure its called Peachy Acres because Georgia is the Peach State, she informed her brother.
Drew was unimpressed. Know-it-all. I hate when you talk like youre older than me. Were the same age!
A person doesnt have to be older to be smarter.
All right! Kenzie took a breath, reminding herself that deep feelings of maternal love prevented her from strapping the kids to the roof for the duration of the trip. Well, maternal love and state laws. You two be nice.
She was always a touch envious when she heard about inseparable twins who dressed alike and finished each others sentences. It would be bliss if her children could just go a day without bickering. Heck, an hourshe wasnt picky! Tensions were running abnormally high today; the kids had said goodbye to the only home theyd ever known.
Leslie was coping by burying her nose in a young-adult reference book about Georgia during the Civil War, despite her increased tendency to get carsick while reading. Drew, as had become his habit this past spring, was channeling his misery into anger. Would the new setting do him good, giving him the chance for a fresh start and provide distractions like the zoo and natural-science museum, or were Kenzies difficulties with her son about to get worse?
Shed debated turning down this transfer to a Georgia branch of the bank she worked for, but the Atlanta location had far more frequent job openings than the small bank in Raindrop, including the position of loan officer, to which she was being promoted. The stress of moving and the higher cost of living seemed worth the much-improved salary and increased odds of upward mobility. Another plus was that Kenzies sister lived in the Atlanta area. Even if the two hadnt been close as children, it would do Kenzie and her kids some good to have family nearby. Nice, stable family.
Besides, although Kenzie was fond of the little town theyd been living in, she was looking forward to having the kids in a different school. Shed chosen their new home based largely on the district in which it was located. At the tiny elementary school in Raindrop, there had been no gifted curriculum to challenge bookish Leslie, and many of the instructors were a stones throw from retirement. Drews third-grade teacher, who had only a year left to go, had lacked the energy to address Drews growing number of outbursts in class, countermanding Kenzies warnings that losing his temper would carry consequences. Not that Kenzie blamed Mrs. Blaugarten for Drews behavior problems.
While Drew had always been active, last spring had been the first time hed taken his extracurricular sports seriously. Hed been surrounded by fathers coaching teams and volunteering to work the concession stands, dads coming to watch their sons score goals in soccer or hit a baseball into the outfield. For Drew, the runs he batted in paled in comparison to the fact his father had never witnessed them, despite glib promises to be there.
Mo-om? Leslies plaintive wail cut through Kenzies thoughts. I dont feel so
Pull over! Drew yelled in a panicked voice. Shes gonna blow!
Kenzie signaled with her blinker as Drew urged, Hurry!
Spoken like someone whos never tried to drive a minivan hauling a loaded trailer. She steered gently onto the shoulder, kicking herself for not insisting that Leslie put aside her books for once and sing along to the radio or, better yet, take a catnap to make the ride pass faster.
In the grassy ditch on the side of the road, Kenzie smoothed her daughters blond hair and handed over a bottle of water from the minicooler in the front seat. Moments later, they were back on the road. Leslie was sufficiently recovered to start bickering with her brother again.
As she stemmed off the burgeoning argument, Kenzie met her own gaze in the rearview mirror. Are we there yet?
KIDS? KIDS, WEVE MADE it to Aunt Anns street.
Both children had fallen asleepduring the final ten minutes of the drive. Naturally. Kenzie might have enjoyed the few moments of peace more if she werent so tired herself. Shed been up at dawn to finish last-minute packing before getting the rental trailer this morning. After loading up their possessions and driving for hours, Kenzies entire body ached.
Leslie lifted her head from its crooked angle against the seat and peered out the window. It was after seven but, due to the long summer days, still bright outside. Well-dressed children played on shiny scooters in driveways outside two-car, and even the occasional three-car, garages. The first time shed been here, Kenzie had wrestled with twinges of resentmentwho was she to question why the heck Ann and Forrest Smith needed a palatial, redbrick two-story to themselves? It wasnt their fault that Kenzie and the kids owned a secondhand couch with upholstery so garish it brought to mind the Las Vegas strip, or that they hadnt been able to afford replacing the dishwasher. Besides, Ann and Forrest had started a family now, so theyd probably grow into the space.
Kenzie was momentarily stymied as she approached the Smith residence. On the one hand, she didnt have enough experience maneuvering a trailer to comfortably navigate the driveway and the perfectly manicured flowering shrubs that lined it. On the other hand, she suspected the home owners association governing the ritzy suburb had some sort of rule about staying parked in the street overnight. She pulled up to the curb for the time being and told herself shed deal later with any uptight stipulations. The house she and the kids were buying on the opposite side of the city would be their first in an actual subdivisionwith a name on the stone entrance and everythingbut it didnt quite merit an HOA.
The front door to the house opened, and Kenzies sister emerged. Shed been born Rhiannon, but these days she was Ann, wife of an economics professor at a small but credentialed local college. Kenzie, twenty-eight and technically older by a year and a half, often felt like the younger sibling. Ann was always the one giving advice, accompanied by head-shaking and sighs. Shed been that way her entire life, determined that she knew better than her crazy parents and older sister.
It had taken until the twins toddlerhood for Kenzie to realize that, however frustrating Anns attitude over the years, her sister had a point. Witness how differently their lives had turned out.
Well, twenty-eight is hardly old, and this move is a new beginning. Kenzie had been making slow changes to her life for the past few years. This promotion gave her a chance to create a fresh start for her and the twins. From here on out, she would be practical Kenzie Green, loan officer and suburbanite.
With help from Ann on the legwork, Kenzie had found the perfect home. It wasnt a big house, but it came with like-new appliances, and the school system was fantastic. The only drawback was that the sellers, who were moving out of the country, had put the house up early in case it took time to get an offer. They didnt want to close until mid-October; Kenzies job started next week. Hence, the Peachy Acres apartment complex and the short-term lease Kenzie had signed. Ann had made halfhearted noises about offering her guest rooms for the interim, but even her sisters spacious home would feel unbearably cramped by the time nearly three months passed.
Besides, living out here would create complications once school started, and involve a hellish commute. The apartment building, closer to the city, was just inside the edge of the kids new school district. By staying at Peachy Acres until their house was ready, the twins could get settled into their classes and start making local friends. There was no way Kenzie was going to move them from Raindrop, enroll them in school near Anns, then ask them to transfer again, later in the fall. She had assured her sister that letting them stay tonight was assistance enough.
We were starting to worry! Ann said from the driveway. We expected you earlier.
Kenzie stretched, rubbing one palm against her lower back. Id planned to be here sooner, but you know how effective plans are once kids are involved.
Ann tilted her head, regarding her blankly.
What, baby Abigail never disrupted plans? Okay, that just wasnt fair.
It wasnt that Kenzie wished her sister ill, but when Kenzie had been a mother for five months, shed been a sleep-deprived neurotic mess whose shirt was normally splattered in spit-up (Leslies sensitive stomach had started from the cradle). Yet here was Ann, looking like an ad from a womens clothing catalog in her khaki capris, coral short-sleeved shirt and pearl earrings. Granted, she was plumper than shed been before the baby, and Kenzie knew the pale blond bobbed hair was not her sisters natural color. Still, Ann was a vision of grace and loveliness.
Drew muscled between the two adults. It took for-e-ver because Les here had to hurl every five minutes.
I only got sick twice! Youre the one who ordered the big soda at lunch and
Kids! Kenzie didnt yell, but her tone spoke volumes. If Leslie ever wanted another bookstore shopping spree or Drew planned to play another video game for the remainder of his natural life, they both needed to cease and desist.
Well. Anns green eyes were wide. That certainly does sound like an eventful trip. Leslie, do you feel up to eating? I have a roast simmering. Forrest had hoped to join us for dinner, but hes teaching a weekly night course for the summer semester. He has a meeting in the morning, Kenzie, but he can help move big stuff in the afternoon.
Roast beef? Im starved! Drew ran on ahead, food being his number one priority in a three-way tie with video games and sports.
My stomachs fine now, Leslie said, but Im more interested in holding Abigail than eating.
Maybe after dinner. Shes taking her evening nap. I dont want to disturb her routine.
Kenzie stumbled as she stepped up onto the front porch. Ann had managed to instill a routine in a five-month-old? Amazing. Kenzies recollection of the twins first year was blurred, but theyd practically never sleptat least, not at the same time.