Connie Cox - When the Cameras Stop Rolling...

Mark knew all about being a teenager with a new stepfather in the house. The clashing of two male egos made for a lot of angst and anger.

But Mark had taken all his pent-up energy to the football field and had left it there, thanks to a few great coaches who had taught their players as many life lessons as sports plays.

Still, he’d said too many things he still regretted and it was now too late to apologize to his mother and his stepfather, the man who had done his best to make her happy.

That’s why he’d volunteered to take Aaron into his home. To try to make amends for his own youth.

Maybe he was looking back through self-forgiving lenses, but he didn’t remember being as cruel and as crude as Aaron had been to his mother. The boy showed no respect. And Mark’s meek, mild sister didn’t know how to command it.

What would Eva do? She was a talk-show host. She’d probably try to talk reason to the boy.

Mark had talked until his throat ached. If the right words existed to get through to Aaron, Mark certainly didn’t know them.

Somehow he didn’t think Eva would put up with the poor behavior his sister accepted. There was something in the set of her jaw and the directness of her gaze.

As they pulled into the parking lot, Aaron’s scowl morphed into one of anticipation. The boy couldn’t get enough food.

Even though the pizza buffet offered all-you-can-eat servings, Mark felt like he should pay for two meals for Aaron.

As a physician, Mark had seen a lot of adolescent growth spurts and Aaron’s ranked at the top of the charts.

While Aaron was growing taller, he was growing wider at a faster rate. Football and independent workouts in the weight room were turning all his new-found weight into muscle. When his size caught up to his breadth, the boy would be an imposing young man. He had to get that raging temper of his under control before then.

But Aaron’s mercurial mood had turned into all smiles when he piled out of the truck and headed toward the group of cheerleaders who were waiting outside the door of the pizza place for the boys to show up.

He felt his own mood turn into anticipation once he spotted Eva opening her car door. Her skirt rode up to show off her long, athletic legs as she climbed from the low-slung car.

He hurried over to give her a hand, giving him a chance to get an up-close look at the silky skin her skirt exposed.

When he ran his hands up and down those thighs, he knew they would feel as smooth and firm as they looked. And her hands on him would feel—

He’d thought he’d outgrown his teenage impulsiveness, but around Eva his libido was still at its pubescent peak.

She took his outstretched palm, sending pulses straight to his primal brain center and setting off a chain reaction.

He pulled her up a little too hard, a little too strong, knocking her off balance on those teetering heels.

When she put her other hand on his chest to steady herself she set his heart beating so strongly she couldn’t help but feel it even through his shirt.

Her nails were trim and unpolished. Medical-practice standards. He’d expected a fancy manicure like—

But Eva wasn’t his ex, who had indulged in having her nails done at least once a week.

He hadn’t spent this much time thinking about his ex since the divorce had been finalized. Why now?

And why was he comparing Eva to her?

Because he was trying to find a reason to steer clear of Eva. Judging Eva against another woman wasn’t fair to her. He wouldn’t want to be compared to another man. He owed it to her to find out who she really was.

“Sorry.” Eva jerked her hand back from Mark’s chest.

She almost fell backwards as she tried to right herself.

He put his arm around her, pulling her close to steady her.

What was it about him that kept her so off balance?

He was strong enough, big enough to keep them both on their feet, which was saying a lot. She was not some delicate little daisy of a woman. Few men could handle her so easily.

She had felt this secure in Chuck’s arms, too.

“Sorry,” she repeated as she pushed away, this time more cautiously even though she wanted to quickly put distance between herself and that intense, pulsing energy Mark exuded before she lost more than her balance.

Common sense was hard to come by when in the arms of such a testosterone-laden man.

He was full of life, she could feel it in him.

She’d always liked the type of man who lived life to the fullest. Until that kind of living had got her husband killed.

While she had promised herself that she would honor Chuck’s memory by going on with life, she hadn’t promised to fall for the same kind of guy.

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