“You're doing great," he said. "They're good kids."

“No potential serial killers?"

“Not a one."

“I hope they're okay. I worry about them growing up without a father. I was an only child, so my experience with boys was limited to those I knew inschool. I'm trying to encourage the whole 'be macho' thing, while still keeping them on this side of civilized."

“You mean no spitting indoors?" She shuddered, then grinned. "Exactly. No spitting, no writing on the walls, no dead animals' skins."

“Pretty strict rules." One corner of his mouth twitched slightly. "How about a couple of skulls?”

“Animal or human?"

“Does it matter?"

“Of course. Animal is fine, as long as they're small and we bought them from a store. I want clean skulls."

“Typical girl. Dirt is fun."

“Easy for you to say. You're not stuck doing the vacuuming." Nash dropped his hands to his side and took a step toward her. Just one step, but her breath caught as if she'd just climbed a mountain. He was closer. Much closer. The light mood their conversation had created suddenly thickened. Air refused to flow into her lungs. She felt hot, shivery and more than a little out of control.

When his eyes darkened, she told herself it was a trick of the light, nothing more. It had to be that, because thinking that Nash might also be feeling some flicker of sexual attraction was more than she ever hoped for. It was also outside the realm of possibility.

She wanted to throw herself into his arms and beg him to kiss her. She wanted to rip off her shirt and bra, baring her breasts. Surely that would be enough of a hint. Not that he would be interested in her breasts. She'd had three kids and parts of her were not as perky as they once had been. Miracles could be worked with an underwire bra.

So she could just rip off her shirt and leave the bra on. Still a good hint for him.

Right, she thought with humorous resignation. He would respond by ripping off his shirt, too, right after he wrote her that check for a million dollars.

“I don't want to keep you," she said at last. It was the mature thing to say. The right thing. How disappointing when he nodded.

“I'll see you in the morning."

“I'll be the one baking," she said, keeping her voice light.

He smiled, then walked out of the room. She allowed herself a last look at his rear, then pulled out a kitchen chair and sank onto the seat.

She had to get a grip. Yes, the attraction was nice. The quivery feelings reminded her that she wasn't dead yet. All delightful and completely meaningless messages when compared with the fact that men were nothing but trouble and getting involved with one would make her an idiot times two. Oh sure, she'd heard rumors that there were male members of the species who were actually helpful, responsible and on occasion behaved like partners, but she'd never experienced it firsthand. What were the odds of her encountering one at this point in her life? Even more important, what were the odds of her encountering one in someone who made her hormones belly dance in supplication?

“Is he gone?" She looked up and saw Brett entering the kitchen. "By 'he' I assume you mean Nash?" Her twelve-year-old nodded.

“He went up to his room." Brett pulled out a chair and sat next to her. "Why's this guy hanging around?"

“Maybe he's a film producer doing research on the perfect American family." Brett rolled his eyes.

Stephanie grinned. "Do you have a better answer?"

“No, but it's totally weird."

“I think it's nice. Don't forget, he fixed our very temperamental washer. The piles of laundry stretching to the ceiling and I are grateful." She touched Brett's shoulder. "You helped him with that. I thought you liked him." Her son shrugged.

What was going on? Did Brett feel threatened by Nash in some way? Stephanie hadn't dated since Marty's death. Maybe having another guy around made him feel as though his father was being replaced.

“Hey, don't sweat it," she said, leaning close and wrapping her arms around him. "Nash is a guest here. Which means his home is somewhere else and he's going to be leaving us in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, he's nice, he cleans up after himself and I like having another grown-up to talk to. Nothing more. Okay?" As they were alone, Brett burrowed into her embrace. He'd reached the stage where he didn't allow hugs and kisses in front of other people, but when it was just the two of them, he was still her little boy. Sort of.

He raised his head and looked at her. "Do you still miss Dad?" She studied his dark blue eyes and the mouth shaped just like Marty's. "Of course I do. I loved him very much." Brett nodded, as if reassured.

Stephanie told herself that under the circumstances, the lie didn't matter. Her first responsibility was to make her children's world as safe and stable as possible. A dark stain on her conscience was a small price to pay for that.

The teenaged waitress stared at the four men at the table. "I'm new in town," she told them, "but I have to tell you there's something pretty amazing in the water. You're Haynes brothers, aren't you? I recognize you from what I've been told. Every one of you is tall, dark and delicious. You guys all married? Anyone want my number?" Nash was less surprised by the unsubtle come-on than he would have been before meeting Travis and Kyle Haynes. Kevin had arranged for the four of them to meet up for lunch. Even if he hadn't known about the relationship between them all, he would have guessed something was up the second he saw them.

The four men were nearly identical in height and build. Their dark hair was the same shade and the shapes of their eyes and mouths were similar. Travis and Kyle were a few years older, but still obviously related.

“Thanks, but not today," Kyle said as he took the menus from the young waitress.

“Your loss," she said.

“Probably, darlin', but you should stick to guys your own age."

“What about the stuff they say about older men knowing their way around a woman?" Kyle grinned. "All lies."

“Why don't I believe you?" She gave a sassy wink, took their drink order and headed off. Kevin shook his head. "Friendly girl." Travis Haynes unrolled his paper napkin and set his flatware on the table. "Our family has something of a reputation in this town. Four generations of Haynes men have had their way with a large percentage of the local female population. The four of us have tried to change things, but that sort of legend doesn't die easily."

“Apparently not," Nash said. He looked at his twin. "We don't have a reputation in Possum Landing. We must have been doing something wrong."

“Or right," Kyle said. "Being good with women isn't something to be proud of. Now being a good husband and father-that's a hell of a lot more important."

“Agreed," Travis said. He looked across the table at Nash. "Are you settled in?"

“Yeah. I'm staying at a B &B on the other side of town."

“Stephanie Wynne's place," Kyle said. "Her oldest boy is friends with my oldest son." He smiled. "It's a small town. There aren't many strangers and even fewer secrets." Travis passed out the menus. "Everything's good here. I'd recommend the burgers, but then I'm a man of simple tastes." Kevin looked at Nash, then back at Travis. ''We're not exactly sushi eaters ourselves." Kyle leaned forward. He and his brother wore identical khaki uniforms. Travis's name badge proclaimed him sheriff, while Kyle's said he was a deputy.

“Are you two finding this as strange as we are?" Kyle asked.

“Discovering family after all this time?" Nash opened the menu, then closed it. "We had no idea our father had any other children."

“It was one thing to find out that our best friends were actually half brothers," Kevin said. "But when Gage told us about all of you, I was surprised." The waitress reappeared with their drinks. All the men had ordered iced tea. She took their orders-four burgers, hold the onions, and fries, then disappeared.

“There are five of us," Travis said. His dark brows drew together in a frown. "We have a half sister--Hannah. She works at the sheriff's office, too. She's in communications. Her mother is Louise, who-" He shook his head. "This is going to be confusing as hell."

“Talk slow," Kevin said.

Kyle chuckled. "Travis is good at that-what with being mentally challenged." Travis turned to his brother. "I can still take you."

“With what army?" Their playful banter reminded Nash of his relationship with Kevin. Warm, affection and constant.

"There are four Haynes brothers," Travis said.

“Craig's the oldest. He lives in Fern Hill with his wife, Jill, and their five children." Nash had taken a drink of his iced tea and nearly choked. "Five?" Travis grinned. "We have a lot of kids. I'm married to Elizabeth. We have four girls. Next is Jordan. He's married to Holly. They have three girls."

“I'm the youngest boy in the family," Kyle said. "I'm married to Sandy. We have five kids, too. Four girls, one boy. Hannah's our half sister, through our father, so she's your half sister, as well. She's married to Nick. They have two girls." He turned to – Kevin. "You and Haley are staying at the B &B Nick owns with Louise, Hannah's mother." Nash set down his glass. "I'm never going to keep this straight."

“It'll get easier with time," Travis said. "There's also Austin Lucas, who isn't officially one of the Haynes men. He's sort of an adopted member of the family. He and his wife, Rebecca, have four kids, three boys and a girl."

“Wait until we start telling you which kids are from a previous marriage," Kyle said.

Kevin held up his hands. "I don't think I want to know." Nash tried to do the math to figure out how many people could show up at the dinner that night, but lost count somewhere after twenty.