Vivian Read Online Free PDF

preoccupied,” Clayton said.
    She looked up and he was looking down at her with brown eyes that could easily wrap her in the comfort she was craving. “I suppose I am. No worries.”
    He shifted his glance back to the girls. “They are going to need a bath. It makes my skin crawl just thinking about what’s in that ball pit.”
    “ Just like life, right? The worst things are the most fun?”
    The comment had made him laugh and he had an easy, sexy laugh. Vivian fisted her hands to her side. She was pathetic. He was her ball pit. Everything about him said it would be a bad thing to keep showing up places with him while he wore that ring on his finger, but he made her feel good.
    “ Why don’t we go back to my house?” he offered. “We can get those girls cleaned up, they can watch a movie, and we could eat some pizza without all this noise.”
    Vivian felt it coming on—the desire to go to his home, the aching need to talk to someone who wasn’t married to Adam Monroe or knew him. And yet that stupid gold band—and absence of a wife—was confusing her until her stomach was in such a knot she thought she might get sick right there.
    “ Why are you asking me to your house?”
    Clayton dropped his shoulders. “Because this place is giving me a headache. I’d love to sit and actually talk to you.” He turned and faced her, shoving his hands into his pockets. “You don’t trust me do you?”
    “ I don’t know you.”
    “ Oh, I think we’ve established that quite a few times.”
    She could feel that prickling anger creep up her spine. “Listen, I don’t know what your situation is, but I’m no home wrecker. I married one of those and I don’t need any more of it in my life. So, if you have other plans then I have to tell you I’m not…”
    He held up his hand and closed his eyes as if he were mentally willing her to stop talking—so she did.
    “ Whoa.” He opened his eyes and they flared temper. “Who in the world would accuse you of being a home wrecker?”
    “ Anyone who saw me having dinner with you and if they see me going home with you. Oh, and then there is the fact that you’ve been at my house all week.”
    Now his eyes narrowed and he took a step toward her. “Friends. Are you telling me people in this town don’t understand friendships?”
    “ Sure. Just not between a newly widowed woman and a married man.”
    “ Married? And wait, what about Amelia and Penelope? They are both engaged and newly widowed.”
    “ And no one knows they were Adam’s wives but you.”
    “ Oh, I see since I’m a good enough friend to know all your secrets, but I’m not a good enough friend to have you over?”
    “ I just don’t understand why you…”
    Her voice had risen, but she hadn’t noticed until Stephanie and Emma were standing in front of them.
    Emma tugged on her shirt. “Are you mad at Stephanie’s dad?”
    Vivian looked at her and then at Stephanie whose eyes were equally as sad and confused as her own daughter’s.
    Clayton reached his hand to Emma’s shoulder. “Your mom and I just need to talk away from all this noise. I was thinking you all could come to our house for just a little bit.”
    “ Yes!” Both girls answered simultaneously.
    “ Go get the others.”
    They ran toward the ball pit.
    Vivian fisted her hands on her hips. “That wasn’t fair.”
    “ Looks like it’s the only way I can talk to you. You seem to have some preconceived ideas brewing in your head.”
    She clenched her teeth. “I don’t like to be tricked.”
    “ I was pretty open with the invitation.” He watched the girls bring back their sisters. “One hour. I want one hour of your time.”
    He turned and walked the girls back to the table.
    Fine. She’d give him one hour. What did he need her for? Why did she feel the need to follow him?
    She watched him with the four young girls as they gathered jackets and items they’d carried in. He was amazing with them and she assumed he was equally as