Her Ideal Man Read Online Free PDF Page B

you usually do in the evenings, Tyler?”
    â€œCurtis and I read together, then I get him ready for bed. By then, it’s usually almost time for me to turn in, too, so I read or something for a little while.” He lifted a shoulder. “Exciting, huh?”
    â€œSounds peaceful.”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAnd how about when you’re alone? What were you going to do tonight that I interrupted?”
    â€œThat’s personal,” he replied. But his gaze strayed to the photo of Kara on the mantel. The expression on his face was yearning and hopelessly lost.
    â€œYou loved her very much.”
    He seemed to return to himself from very far away. “Yes.” He picked up a smooth piece of wood with faint markings and a remarkable grain, and began to whittle.
    Anna watched his beautiful hands touch and smooth and carve, with the clean, certain movements of long knowledge. “What will that be?” she asked.
    â€œA recorder for Curtis.” He held it up, and Anna could see the vague outline taking shape. “He saw one at the Renaissance Festival last year and thought it was one of the coolest things he’d ever seen.”
    â€œHe is such an adorable boy. I really enjoy spending time with him.”
    Tyler only nodded. The actions of his hands seemed to ease him, however, because after a moment he said, “You’re from New York?”
    Anna suspected he was only making polite conversation, but she jumped on the opening. Anything was better than sitting there in awkward silence. “Queens, actually.”
    â€œYou have family back there, I guess?”
    â€œOh, yes—I have family.” She chuckled, tucking her feet under her comfortably. “Seven brothers and sisters, three hundred cousins, forty aunts and uncles, the usual number of grandparents, minus one, an even dozen nephews and nieces, and a jillion assorted relatives like second cousins and great-aunts and godparents.” She widened her eyes for effect. “A whole army of family.”
    He looked up. “No hyperbole in there, huh?”
    â€œWell.” She smiled. “Maybe a little. I only actually have eighty-three cousins, and thirty-three aunts and uncles. I really do have an even dozen nieces and nephews. Eight boys and four girls.”
    â€œEighty-three cousins?” He stared at her. “You’re kidding.”
    â€œEighty-three first cousins,” she said. “Amazing, isn’t it? I’ve never met anyone who had a family as big as mine. And they all live in New York State. Most of them live somewhere in the boroughs of New York City.”
    Tyler blinked. “I can’t even imagine what that would be like.”
    â€œIt’s just like you think it would be. You think your mother is a busybody?” She chuckled. “You have no idea.”
    â€œIs that why you left?”
    â€œNo,” Anna said honestly. “I mean, they do drive me crazy sometimes, but New York is a big city. I can get away when I need to, and it’s nice to know there’s always somebody there for you if you need them.” She lifted a shoulder. “I just always wanted to be in Colorado.”
    â€œHas anyone else left?”
    â€œMy second oldest brother went into the marines, but he came back after his tour.”
    â€œI can’t even imagine it.” He coaxed a curl of pine from the stick in his hand. “Even just having my mother and two brothers around sometimes gets insane.”
    â€œI’ve seen that.” She nodded. “I love them, but everybody in big families gets stuck with a label, you know? Like my sister Mary Frances is the pretty one, and my brother Joe is the math whiz. Everybody divides all the possible virtues and character flaws between them, and then you’re stuck with it for the rest of your life.”
    An honest laugh slipped out of his throat. Looking up in surprise, Anna thought it was a wonderfully sensual