Natural Born Trouble by Sherryl Woods Page A

go there, even though there’s a perfectly good pool at White Pines. They still sneak into town, but they’ve learned to avoid the days the mayor drops by.”
    â€œYou could have told me that before I fell all over myself apologizing,” Duke grumbled.
    â€œI considered it educational,” she retorted. “I wanted to see if you were capable of abject humility.”
    Duke chuckled despite his annoyance. “Did I pass the test?”
    â€œYou were very good. I believed you were very sincere.”
    â€œAnd the mayor?”
    â€œOnce he figured out you worked in an executive capacity for Dad, you could have told him to take a flying leap off the town hall roof and he would have done it and thanked you for suggesting it.”
    Duke regarded her speculatively. “You know, Miss Smarty-Pants, it occurs to me that if you hold such disdain for this man, perhaps you ought to run for mayor yourself. At least then the Adams pullingstrings around town would be operating in an official elected capacity.”
    She looked horrified by the suggestion. “Me? You’ve got to be kidding.”
    â€œWhy not? You’re bright. Everyone in town knows and respects you. I think it’s a great idea. When’s the next election?”
    â€œThankfully, not for another three years.”
    â€œJust long enough to get your campaign funds lined up,” Duke said.
    Dani’s gaze narrowed. “You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”
    Duke shrugged. “A little, maybe. You’ve been looking a little too serious all evening, despite your claim that your ex-fiancé’s appearance didn’t upset you.”
    â€œIt was just a shock, that’s all.”
    â€œBut you can’t stop thinking about his girls, can you?”
    She smiled sadly. “No.”
    â€œThen see them. He’s opened the door.”
    â€œI can’t,” she said simply. “It wouldn’t be fair to get their hopes up, when I know nothing will ever happen between me and their father. They’re used to me being gone now. It’s better if it stays that way.”
    Duke thought back to his own childhood. How many times had he prayed that his parents would suddenly come back to claim him? Even knowing that it was impossible, he’d harbored the dream in some tiny, secret place in his heart.
    â€œThey’ll never get over losing you,” he insisted. “See them. Let them know you still care, even if you can’t be with them.”
    Obviously startled by his vehemence, Dani stared at him. “Experience talking?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter,” he said. “Just trust me, kids never forget losing someone they love.”
    â€œAre you talking about Zack and Joshua? Do they miss their mother so terribly?”
    Actually, that had been the farthest thing from Duke’s mind, but it was an easier answer than revealing his own childhood traumas. “Of course,” he said. “They ask about their mother all the time.”
    â€œAnd what do you tell them?”
    â€œThat she was very unhappy with me and that she needed to go away to find happiness.”
    â€œDoes she stay in touch with them?”
    â€œShe did at first. She sent postcards every few weeks. It’s been a while now since we last heard from her, though.”
    Dani reacted with visible anger. “How could a mother do that to her own children? How selfish can she be?”
    Duke didn’t have any excuses for Caroline, either. It didn’t matter to him that she’d seemingly dropped off the face of the earth, but it hurt the boys. He understood that kind of anguish all too well. More than once he’d considered hiring someone to look for her, then dismissed the idea. If she didn’t want to be a part of her sons’ lives, then forcing her to go through the motions would be worse than letting them grieve and get it over with.
    Though he understood its roots,