Kiss Me Crazy by Ednah Walters, E. B. Walters Page A

loss.”
    “I wish you’d cal her more often, dear. She gets lonely in that big house, you know. It’s not easy being married to a professional athlete.”
    Neither was it a hard life. Whenever Briana bothered to return her cals, al her sister talked about were the celebrity parties she’d attended, her wardrobe, or where she went on vacation.
    Sometimes it was hard to imagine the two of them were related.
    She loved her sister, but Briana’s shalowness often shocked her.
    “I know I get a little too busy sometimes, Mom, but I promise to cal her more often. In fact, I wil as soon as I hang up.”
    “Thank you, sweetheart.” There was a pause, and then,
    “Funny, I always thought I’d hold your child first.” Here we go again. Kara closed her eyes and blew out air.

    “How could you possibly think that, Mom? Briana’s been married for nearly four years while I’m stil single.”
    “A mother can hope, can’t she? Tel me you’re at least dating.”
    Kara scowled. She could invent a fictitious man to placate her mother, but then she’d have to pile more lies when it came to details about her supposed boyfriend. No, she refused to be reduced to teling whoppers just because she didn’t have a man in her life.
    “This is not the right time for me to start a relationship. I have so much to do before I open my business.” She forced her voice to sound upbeat even though frustration bubbled inside her.
    Her mother’s obsession with finding a man for her was wounding.
    Whenever Kara went home to visit, she lined up young men from her church, sons, nephews, and grandsons of her friends. It was becoming embarrassing to visit them.
    “Your name on the company logo won’t keep you warm at night, Kara. There’re a lot of eligible men in Los Angeles, and you’re such a lovely girl. Why can’t you find somebody?” Baron’s face flashed in her head. “I wil.”
    “Maybe you need to move back home, dear. Jonathan’s son recently came back from Iraq. He’s single and realy interested in meeting you.”
    Kara roled her eyes. Her mother just pawned her off on another man without an ounce of shame. Why not just hold an auction?
    Before she could think up a response, her father’s faint voice reached her from the background, “Leave the child alone, Penny. She’l settle down when she’s ready.”
    Emotions blocked Kara’s throat. She was a daddy’s girl, always had been. Many a time her daddy had defended her when her mother started on her about something—getting married or dating, the way she wore her hair or her choice in clothes.
    “If I don’t push, she’l die an old maid, Cliff,” her mother answered just as the headlights lit Kara’s windows.
    “Mom, I’ve got to go. I’m expecting a guest.”
    “Who is it?”
    She couldn’t dare tel her mother the truth. She thought the sun rose and set on Baron. The first time they visited her, Kara was closeted in the basement, working on a piece, and Baron had taken time to show them around the galery and even took them to lunch.
    He was always accommodating when they were in town, giving her time off and talking to her father.
    “It’s just a friend from work.” Kara started toward the door.
    “At least you’re not spending Saturday evening alone watching reruns. Let me get your father. He wants to say hi. Oh, how are Renee and Chloe?”
    “Keeping busy. Chloe is getting married.”
    “To that nice Irish boy?”
    “Yes. He bought her a gorgeous ring. You should see it.”
    “That’s wonderful, but I’d rather see one on your finger, baby. Work is no substitute for a good man.”
    Kara would have roled her eyes if she hadn’t just opened her door and her gaze fel on Baron. He looked totaly yummy in al black, his chin shaved, and that hauntingly sexy smile on his lips.
    Her heart did its usual rickety dance.
    She waved him in and flattened her body against the wal to make room for his large frame, the hefty paper bag in his arm, and a laptop bag