One Daddy Too Many by Debra Salonen

myself.”
    “Because your girlfriend broke your heart?”
    He shook his head. “No. I’m the one who called off the engagement when I realized we were getting married for the wrong reason—to make her dad, my boss, happy. There came a point when I realized we had two completely different agendas. She was into the social aspects of a wedding and wanted to explore the concept of being married. I…I wanted something else. I’m not sure what exactly.”
    “Your mother’s been concerned because you’re still living in a residential hotel and you don’t have any friends. She thinks Vegas is just a layover in your life.”
    He pulled into traffic and didn’t respond right away. When he answered, his tone held a note of dry humor. “Mom’s almost as intuitive as your mother—and Jo’s not even Romani.”
    Kate waited for him to elaborate.
    “I didn’t want this job. The Vegas office has had a lousy reputation almost since the day it opened, so being sent here was definitely a step down the ladder of success. I’m sure the senior partners expected me to quit rather than suffer the humiliation, but I’m a little too bullheaded for that.”
    She smiled. She’d been called that, too.
    “My plan was to whip the place into shape then get out. The fact that Mom lived here was a nice bonus, but not a huge motivating factor. We’re both pretty independent people. And I really haven’t had the time or inclination to date—until now.”
    “Do youmean me? No. We can’t date. I’m all wrong for you.”
    He could tell she believed that. But he also sensed a connection between them that deserved a chance—even if it went against every rule in his book.
    He looked around to get his bearings. They were midway between his place and the office. Two quick turns and they pulled into the parking lot of his temporary home. One well-placed tree offered enough shade that they could sit in the car without roasting.
    Kate pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and squinted at him. “Are you trying to corrupt me?”
    “Can you be corrupted?”
    “No. But thank you for asking.” The hint of humor in her tone gave him hope. He leaned over and kissed her. Quick, friendly, unthreatening. An invitation to play.
    She didn’t pull back. Or slap him. In fact, she smiled. “If I were at a different place in my life, I’d probably take you up on your offer, but…”
    “A little corruption might be just what you need. Lord knows I could use some.” Then, he kissed her again—the way he had in his dreams.
    The small car didn’t afford much room to maneuver, but he pulled her to him. She felt even better than he’d imagined. Warm, womanly. Her arms settled around his neck. He caressed her back. Lean but muscled from her work.
    Her scent was sweet and it touched a chord deep in his memory. “What kind of perfume are you wearing?”
    She startled, as if suddenly remembering where she was. She pushed back. “That would be eau de Play-Doh. I was helping Maya make a castle for her Little People this morning.”
    “That’sit,” he exclaimed. “I don’t think that smell has changed since I was a kid.”
    She cocked her head and ran her finger along the edge of his jaw. “You’re still a kid compared to me.”
    He nipped at her finger when it got close to his chin. “True. You’re practically ancient.”
    She frowned and poked him on the nose. “I’m four years older than you.”
    “I know. Which is why we’re going to bury—no, cremate—this nonissue here and now. Okay?”
    She didn’t look convinced, so he added, “Hey, my dad just married a woman nearly thirty years his junior. Didn’t seem to bother either of them.”
    “But—”
    He cut her off. “You’re not going to say something sexist about older men and trophy wives, are you?”
    The corners of her mouth curled up impishly. “Maybe.”
    “Well, forget it. According to Haley, she stalked Dad. She hunted him down and twisted his arm to go out with