Perfect Fit (Serendipity's Finest 1)

Sam grinned. “Didn’t say you weren’t. So anyone else hear from an old flame?” he continued, clearly in a mood to cause trouble.

“Do we really need all this talk about old flames?” Ella asked, her voice rising in distress.

Oh damn, Cara thought as all of Ella’s children shot her a worried look.

Simon seemed out of it, lost in his own thoughts, or exhausted and not paying attention.

“Mom?” Sam asked, clearly concerned.

“Are you okay?” Mike leaned forward, as if he could reach his mother across the table.

Ella rose from her seat. “I’m fine. If everyone’s finished I’ll start cleaning up. Give me a few minutes and I’ll get dessert on the table.” She gathered a few plates and rushed out of the room.

“Now that was odd,” Erin said.

“I’ll say,” Mike muttered.

Sam nodded.

“Umm, I’ll help clean up,” Cara said, wanting to check on Ella.

“That’s okay. I’ve got it.” Erin rose to her feet. “You’re our guest. I’ll try and talk to Mom, see if she’s okay.”

There was no way Cara could object to Erin’s being alone with her mother without causing more curiosity. “Yell if you need me?”

“Thanks,” Erin said.

Sam turned to his father. “Dad, let’s go watch some television.” He helped his father stand up from the chair, and the two men left the room.

Cara turned to Mike, assuming he’d be worried about his mom. Instead she was surprised to find him staring at her with his usual intensity.

Gone was the lighthearted man who joked with his sister, and the predatory look in his eyes made Cara so hot she squirmed in her seat.

“What?” she asked into the silence.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“Somewhere we can be alone for a few minutes.” He held out his hand to her.

No way could she refuse.

She placed her palm against his. He gripped her hand and led her down a short hall to what must be his old bedroom. No sooner had she entered than he shut the door, turned, picked Cara up, and bounced her onto his bed.

“Now tell me about those old boyfriends.”

From his position above her, Mike stared into Cara’s wide eyes and waited for an answer, his heart beating too rapidly in his chest.

“Are you going to tell me about old girlfriends?” she shot back.

Spunk. She had it in spades. He liked it even as she created a shitstorm of trouble in his head.

“Adam? Kevin?” The names sounded like sandpaper on his tongue.

Cara evenly met his gaze. “Tiffany?”

He groaned. Turnabout was fair play, and he deserved the pointed question. “Last I heard through the grapevine, meaning my mother, she moved out of state and got married.”