Irresistible by Susan Mallery Page A

wasn’t telling her? What was it? Had he lost a child of his own? Fallen for a woman with kids only to have things go badly? There had to be an answer, but she wasn’t sure she had the right to pursue the question.
    “I’ll respect your position,” she said. “If you don’t want to eat with us, will you at least come get a plate?”
    “Sure. Thanks.”
    He nodded at her and left. She returned to her own apartment and thought about all the guys who had tried to use Zoe to get to her. They’d failed, while Walker’s reticence made her trust him more.
    For a guy who wasn’t trying to get her into bed, he was doing a damn fine job of seducing her.
     
    W ALKER STROLLED into The Waterfront about ten in the evening. The dinner crowd had thinned to just a few guests. At a round table in the back he saw Dani, Penny, Cal and Reid. They waved him over.
    “Family meeting?” he asked as he approached.
    Reid pulled out a chair for him. “Just a friendly gathering. I told you attendance wasn’t mandatory.”
    “Hey, kid,” he said and kissed Dani on the cheek. He did the same with Penny, then took his seat. “Who’s minding the store?” he asked Reid.
    His brother grinned. “I had many volunteers.”
    Penny threw a napkin at Reid. “Your life is shallow.”
    “But fun.”
    “It’s time to settle down,” Penny told him.
    “Not interested. Besides, Walker’s home now. Go find him a wife.”
    Walker reached for an empty glass and the open bottle of wine on the table. “I’m good, thanks.”
    “Reid, I’m serious,” Penny said. “You’ve been playing the field long enough. It’s time to pick one nice girl and make a life with her.”
    “I don’t like nice girls.”
    Everyone chuckled. Walker listened as the banter continued. Reid and Penny had been friends for years, even after Penny and Cal split up. He’d once confessed to Walker that he’d suspected they would get back together and he’d been right.
    “How’s the restaurant business?” Walker asked his sister.
    Dani jumped, as if she hadn’t been paying attention. “What? Oh. Good. I’m keeping busy. Nothing new.”
    Penny smiled. “There is something new. Or some one. ”
    “A guy?” Walker asked.
    “There’s no new guy,” Dani told him. “Just stuff.”
    “Rebound guy,” Reid said. “Good for you. Hugh was an asshole. You need to be distracted.”
    Dani shook her head. “You’re the last person I would take dating advice from. Your idea of a committed relationship is sticking around long enough for dessert.”
    “You looking to get involved?” Cal asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
    “Of course not,” Dani told him. “My divorce isn’t even final. It’s not a rebound thing, it’s just…nice.”
    “Leave her alone,” Penny said.
    “Why are you protecting her?” Reid asked. “You’re the one who mentioned the other guy.”
    “I’ve remembered that we girls are supposed to stick together.”
    “I’ll change the subject,” Reid said. “Walker’s buying a boat.”
    Everyone turned to him. Cal grinned. “Really? How big? When can we go fishing?”
    Walker glared at Reid. “I’m not buying a boat.”
    His brother chuckled. “I know, but I distracted everyone.”
    “A boat would be nice,” Dani said. “We could take day trips.”
    “There’s no boat,” Walker told her firmly.
    Just then a guy in a tie walked up to the table. “Sorry to interrupt,” he said. “Penny, here are the numbers on the menu changes. Everything looks good. Also, I have a couple of suggestions for the tasting dinner.”
    Penny looked at him, her eyebrows raised. “I’m sorry, Ryan. Did I hear you correctly? You want to change my tasting dinner?”
    “You’re trying to scare me and it’s not working.”
    “Have you heard about the time I threw a meat cleaver at my husband’s head?” she asked sweetly. “Do you really want to mess with me?”
    He put another piece of paper in her hands. “I found the perfect wine for the