Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery Page A

again?”
    â€œAbsolutely.”
    The bar was high enough that with her sitting and him standing, they were practically at eye level. She could see all the shades of brown that made up his irises, the long, thick lashes that took her three coats of mascara to achieve. If she inhaled deeply, she would catch the scent of soap and man. A scent she remembered, even now.
    â€œTonight we’ve called a truce,” he declared, touching his glass to hers. “Remember?”
    â€œAnd I can trust you?”
    The smile turned into the slow, sexy grin she remembered. The one that made her think about how long it had been since she’d had a man in her bed. No, not a man, she corrected herself. This man.
    They might have been young, but he’d still been a whole lot more than her first time. He’d been her best time. He’d made love with a combination of affection and tenderness no one else had matched. He’d made her believe that anything was possible.
    And then he’d broken her heart.
    â€œA truce,” she agreed, knowing that having loved Ethan once, she would always be vulnerable to him. She had to stay strong to protect herself and Tyler.
    He moved to the other side of the counter and pushed the plate of food toward her.
    â€œHow’s it going with Roy’s kids?” he asked.
    â€œSo far, so good. I’ve got them fed and feeling safe, so that’s half the battle.” She leaned toward him. “They survived on their own for nearly three months. Roy’s wife left them one hundred dollars and took off. I want to report her to the police, but I need to talk to Roy first. Find out what he wants.”
    Ethan looked stunned. “She abandoned two kids?”
    â€œWalked out and never came back. The money ran out, the utilities got turned off. Melissa’s been stealing what they needed to survive.”
    â€œNo one noticed?” he asked. “No one called social services?”
    Liz thought about her own childhood. “You’d be amazed at how many kids slip through the cracks. I’m going to see Roy tomorrow. I wanted to go there while the girls are still in school.” She glanced at him. “Would you mind taking Tyler? I don’t think he’s ready to see Folsom Prison.”
    â€œSure. Bring him by the office.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œWhat’s going to happen to the girls?”
    â€œI don’t know,” she admitted. “I’m hoping Roy has a plan. If he doesn’t, my family just got bigger.”
    â€œYou’d take them?”
    She nodded slowly, thinking if there wasn’t anyone else, she didn’t have much choice. She knew nothing about teenage girls, except she’d once been one. She hoped that was going to be enough.
    â€œThat’s a lot to take on,” he said.
    â€œYou’d do the same for one of your brothers or sisters.”
    â€œProbably. If Mom didn’t take them first.”
    â€œShe is a tiger.” Liz did her best to keep her tone light.
    â€œYou’ll like her a lot more when you get to know her.”
    â€œSomething else to look forward to,” Liz murmured, hoping she wouldn’t be in town long enough for any of Ethan’s family to be an issue.
    â€œHaving Roy’s kids in your life would change everything,” he told her.
    â€œI know. I’m still kind of in denial. Better to wait and see what happens than start any planning now. If the arrangement is permanent, then we’ll all figure it out together.”
    She looked up and saw him staring at her. “What?”
    â€œJust waiting for you to admit you were killing me over and over again in your books.”
    She shrugged, trying not to smile. Or be happy that he’d obviously read her books. “You should be flattered. You’re a recurring character in a successful series of books.”
    â€œI’m a dead body. Not much to be flattered about.”
    â€œYou