With a Little T.L.C. by Teresa Southwick Page A

said.
    â€œWe sure do,” Jeannie agreed. “Say you’ll come. All work and no play, and all that—”
    â€œStudies have proven that time off for the work force is necessary to recharge their batteries. You need to let your hair down,” he said.
    â€œSo we’ll see you there?” Tanya asked.
    He shook his head. “Sorry. I can’t make it. But you ladies have a good time. See you next week.”
    He extricated himself from Tanya’s grip while Liz was—metaphorically speaking—lifting her chin off the floor. He had turned them down! Flat. If she hadn’t heard with her own ears, she wouldn’t have believed it.
    She watched him toss the group a farewell wave. Then he walked toward her with a smile on his face that turned her legs to noodles and her heart to a bongo drum.
    He stopped and looked down at her. “You’re just the person I was looking for.”
    â€œOh?” A darned intelligent response, she thought. Especially when her mind had turned into oatmeal.
    â€œI wanted to let you know that I’ll call you and arrange to pick you up for the party at my folks.” He started moving again. “I’d do it now, but I’m late. Gotta get ready for work. Bye,” he said with a grin and a wave.
    Then he was gone. Before her off-the-scale pulse returned to normal. Before she could say sorry I misjudged you. Or check his forehead for fever. He’d passed up an invitation from three women to see his family, and her!
    She firmly shook her head. This wasn’t about her. He was just giving her an opportunity to see his niece. And she wanted to see him interact with his family. Because that would give her some insight into what made Joe Marchetti tick. She could be wrong about him. And it was very important not to be wrong. She wasn’t sure why, but she had to know if he was one of the good guys.

Chapter Four
    J oe read the look of terror on Liz’s face as she gaped at his parents’ house and all the cars parked out front. He hadn’t thought the spunky nurse was afraid of anything. Especially his family. Interesting to find this chink in her starched white cap. Sort of endearing—as if she needed him. Until now, she’d always acted as if she didn’t need anyone. Particularly a man.
    â€œThe house really isn’t as big as it looks. Sort of an optical illusion,” he said as they walked to the door.
    â€œOkay.”
    From the moment he’d plopped his volunteer form down on her desk, he’d been focused on improving her low opinion of him. Now that he’d managed to get her to spend some time in his company, he wasn’t sure how he felt about it or what to do with her.
    â€œJust stick close to me. I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said.
    â€œOkay.” But she continued to stare at the big house and yuppie cars.
    As he looked down at her, the way the sun brought out the red highlights in her pixie cut hair and made the roses in her cheeks bloom, the idea of her real close to him hiked up his heart rate. He couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, a woman had prompted such poetic thoughts in him.
    His supportive words didn’t seem to fill her with confidence, so he decided a win-one-for-the-Gipper speech was in order. “Don’t be scared. I promise this won’t hurt a bit.”
    â€œThat’s my line. And more often than not I’m lying through my teeth.” Liz swallowed hard as she clutched the birthday-gift bag she held. “I thought you said this was a family party.”
    â€œIt is,” he agreed. “But you remember I have brothers.” He saw her nod. “They’re all here.” He scanned the line of cars in a semicircle on the curved driveway. “Correction. They’re all here but Nick.”
    â€œIt’s a little overwhelming for someone who grew up an only child.”
    â€œI can’t imagine what that