as any other man, but he’d never ogle them in front of her kids. That was low.
Dominic sighed as his body demanded otherwise. He’d been on the road too long. He should’ve given in two states back and taken what the pretty redhead at the bar had offered. He should’ve accepted when she’d pressed a cold bottle of beer into his hand and her breasts against his biceps.
But he couldn’t. Not after what the last morning-after had brought. Emptiness and regret. Self-recriminations and discontent. Part of what drove him back home was that feeling of reaching for something and never quite getting a grip on it. That and the thousandth guilt trip his brother had laid on him through the phone last week.
Brow creasing, he studied the woman as she struggled with the candy machine. Her attacks were relentless, the toned muscles in her pale arms and legs straining.
“Ma’am,” he proffered, “why don’t you let me give it a try?”
“No, I have it,” she huffed. Her elbows jerked toward his gut, forcing him to take a step back.
Aw, hell. Nothing worse than a stubborn woman.
He turned to find the boys scrutinizing him. Their blond heads tilted to the side and wide blue eyes drifted down the length of him with slow precision. One of the carbon copies pursed his mouth as he seemed to come to a decision.
“Aunt Cissy.” The boy’s attention remained planted on him. “Let him. You’re gonna break it.”
Her grunt preceded, “No, I’m not, Kayden.”
“Yes, you are,” he reaffirmed.
The other copy cocked his head and nodded up at Dominic. “She is, you know.”
Dominic shrugged. He should just walk away. Walking away would be nothing out of the norm for him. It would be expected, even.
Hell, the only reason he’d stopped in this hole in the wall to begin with was because they had the best burgers in a ten-state radius. Add to that, it was the last place he could catch his breath before the heavy press of home stifled it.
Besides, the quills on this gal’s back could rival a porcupine. A man couldn’t be blamed for self-preservation.
A high-pitched squeak cut through the air as the rubber sole of her scuffed shoe slipped off the pole. She regained her footing and bent deeper on a more ruthless attack. The hem of her denim shorts rose higher, exposing a greater expanse of smooth, creamy skin.
Dominic cast another look over his shoulder at the leering onlookers and gripped the back of his neck. The boys hovered off to the side, their faces clouded with doubt.
Hadn’t he chosen to make this quick trip home with the intention of leaving on better terms? Maybe this was his first test. An opportunity to try being more responsible before his brother got a chance to cut into him.
Dominic stretched around her and touched the back of her hand with his palm. “Ma’am, you’re not really getting anywhere—”
“I appreciate your offer but I’m doing just fine, thank you.” She puffed a short strand of golden hair out of her face and glared up at him.
Damn. Those cornflower-blue eyes could bring a man to his knees. Or rip a gaping wound in his chest, which seemed to be her preference at the moment. He sprang to action as the candy machine took a sharp swing toward the boys.
“Now, look,” he gritted, wrapping both arms around her trim waist to straighten the glass bowl, “this thing’s about on its last leg—”
“I’m aware of that. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be in this predicament.” She shoved her hip into his gut as the machine tottered on its stand.
“Y’all need some help?” A voice prompted from behind.
“No.”
“Yes.” Her shout outweighed his.
Dominic threw an apologetic look over his shoulder to find Sheila, a waitress he’d gotten to know too well on his last visit home, watching with trepidation.
“Well, Dom,” Sheila squealed. She slapped her notepad against her apron, her gaze dropping south. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Her stare penetrated the denim stretched over his backside. Yep. That night was high up on his list of regrets.
“Good to see you, Sheila,” Dominic said, politeness spurring the lie.
He winced as an elbow thrust into his ribs, and turned to growl, “Let go and let me help you.”
“You let go.”
The words had barely escaped her mouth when he heard a sharp snap. She crashed back into his chest, toppling them both to the floor. Dominic had a split second of warning to roll her body under his before the candy-filled globe crashed at their side scattering glass and jawbreakers around them.
Yelps from the boys punctuated the sudden silence of the diner.
“Oh, Aunt Cissy, you broke it.” One boy clapped his hands to his cheeks.
“I told you she was gonna break it.” The other smirked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“You all right?” Dominic rasped, flexing his hand against the back of her head.
Her soft hair brushed his palm as she nodded. The tight press of her breasts against his chest sent a wave of heat through him. Clearing his throat, he surveyed her flushed face. Her blue eyes widened and her lush lips trembled.
Dominic bit back a grin. She sure packed a wallop for such a tiny thing. Almost more than a few bulls he’d sat on recently. Except she was a helluva lot prettier. And a damned deal softer.
A subsequent crack issued from the remaining half of the machine. A metal piece banged to the floor and a rush of quarters poured out.
“She really broke it,” the smug twin muttered with a disapproving shake of his head.
Dominic shifted his weight and rose to a kneeling position. The crack and crush of glass and candy erupted under each of his movements. Brushing debris off his boots, he proceeded to throw out a hand as the more outspoken twin moved toward them.
“Stay back,” Dominic directed. “There’s too much glass.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Sheila clamped a hand to her ample chest. “That thing should’ve been replaced a long time ago.”
Dominic opened his mouth to speak but the curvy bundle beneath him beat him to it.
“No, it was my fault.” Issuing a soft apology, she pushed up on her elbows and made to rise.
“Wait.” Dominic eyed the smooth skin of her thighs and calves. “You’re gonna cut yourself.”
Against his better judgment, he wrapped his arms around her again, obtained a firm foundation with his feet and lifted her up against his chest. He followed the shaky point of her finger to a nearby booth.
“Th-thanks,”
