Hero in Disguise (Reed Sisters: Holding out for a Hero 1)

“But breakfast is—”

“The most important meal of the day. Honestly, Derek, you sound like someone’s grandmother.”

He only grunted.

“Isn’t it amazing how much meaning he can put into that one short sound?” Connie asked Summer, smiling across the table in a conspiratorial manner.

“You’re talking about me again,” Derek complained.

“It’s not the first time,” his sister retorted.

“I’ll bet,” he responded resignedly. “I’d ask you to join Summer and me today, Connie, but I know you and Mother are planning to visit Barbara’s newest grandchild.”

“I’m only going because Mother insisted,” Connie grumbled. “I dread spending even five minutes in the same room with Saint Barbara.”

“Connie—”

Again Summer jumped in before the Anderson siblings came to verbal blows. “I told you earlier, Derek. I’m not spending the day with you.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I’m not. I have plans for today, and I have no intention of changing them.”

He scowled. “You have a date?”

She considered using that excuse, but she wouldn’t lie to him. “Well, no, not exactly a date.”

His expression cleared. Rubbing his chin consideringly, he shrugged away her argument as unimportant. “Okay, I’ll go with you. Where are we going?”

“You weren’t invited!”

“I am now. Where are we going?”

Connie laughed. “You might as well give up, Summer. If you don’t take him along, he’ll just follow you.”

Derek nodded genially. “That’s right. Where are we going, Summer-love?”

Summer looked down at her coffee cup, her fingers twitching on the chipped handle.

Reading either her mind or her expression—Summer devoutly hoped it was the latter—Derek said softly, “I wouldn’t recommend it, Summer.”

Connie giggled, but Summer only glared at him. “I wouldn’t dream of wasting my first cup of coffee of the day on your shirtfront,” she told him loftily.

“Smart move.” His mouth tilted into the grin that was making an appearance with increasing regularity, the one that made Summer want to throw herself on him and taste it.

Dismayed and even a little frightened by the strange impulses Derek aroused in her, Summer decided to go along with him without further argument. She’d let him tag along today, she determined abruptly. Later he’d be sorry he insisted. Maybe today he’d get the picture that there could be no question of a relationship between them, regardless of how brief. “I don’t think I’ll tell you where we’re going,” she told him slowly. “You’re sure you don’t want to back out now?”

“I’m sure.” He tilted his cup, drained the contents and set the cup in the sink. “When do we start?”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

“I’m ready now.”

She pushed herself away from the table. “Then let’s go. See you later, Connie.”

“Bye.” Connie seemed to be holding in gales of laughter as she eyed the other two, her dancing eyes giving away the emotion she was trying to suppress. “Have fun, kids.”

“Yeah,” Summer muttered heavily. “You bet.”