Forget Prince Charming. Natalie Stenzel

the books across the store as she led the way, chatting politely with Adam.

      Haley turned back to her mother.

      “Isn’t he handsome?” Clara’s hushed voice vibrated with enthusiasm.

      “Oh, very.”

      “He’s rich, too. All kinds of attorneys and judges and business people in his family. An established name, good connections. And so charming. He took me to lunch the other day and ordered in French. Very impressive. Don’t you think so?” Her sparkling eyes avidly perused the tall man.

      “Oh, sure.” Haley’s eyes remained stubbornly on her mother.

      At Haley’s flat tone, Clara turned back to frown at her daughter. “So why am I getting this attitude? I worked very hard to find a man I thought would impress you.”

      Haley gritted her teeth. “I appreciate all the hard work, Mom, but please stop all this. It’s humiliating. Do you think I’m so unattractive I can’t find a man myself?”

      “Oh, no, honey. I’m just trying to save time. At twenty-eight, your childbearing years are slipping away before my eyes. I want grandchildren before I’m old and drooling in the home.”

      “Mom!”

      “Honestly, Haley. Your father’s gone, and you’re all I have left. It would break my heart if you didn’t start a family of your own. I don’t want you to be lonely, and frankly, I don’t want to die alone while you work yourself to death.”

      “If you’re so lonely, maybe you ought to be the one dating, not me.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Haley wished she could call them back. She stared into her mother’s wide eyes. “Oh, Mom. I’m sorry. Really. I know you and Daddy—I didn’t mean—”

      Clara stared, her perfectly powdered chin quivering slightly. “No, it’s okay. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’ve been putting too much of a burden on your shoulders. I’m sorry.” She made a visible effort to smile. “I guess I won’t call the other men on the list, then.”

      “List?”

      Clara waved it off. “Never mind.”

      A cha-ching of the cash register distracted them both, and soon Jen and Adam joined them. After a few moments of polite conversation, during which Haley felt lower and lower, Clara and Adam left together.

      After the door closed behind them, Haley slumped into a miniature chair. “I’m pond scum. Absolute slime. Lower than slime. Bacteria reject me as substandard host material.” Haltingly, Haley related events to Jen. “And Dad’s only been gone three years. Mom was devastated. I’m such a creep.”

      Jen shook her head, a sympathetic smile on her face. “That was a little rough, Haley.”

      “No kidding. I’m really tired of her parading men in front of me, but I could have just said so without being mean.”

      Jen cocked her head. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe she needed to hear the ‘mean’ part, too. Your mom’s an attractive woman still.”

      Haley’s eyebrows raised high. “You think she should start dating again? But she’s my mother.”

      “Oh, don’t be juvenile, Haley.” Jen spoke with the blunt familiarity of lifelong friendship. When you shared jump rope, puberty and boys, then remained friends into adulthood, there wasn’t much you couldn’t say to one another.

      Haley sighed. “I suppose. I’m still going to call her and apologize, though.”

      “Mmm. Not a bad idea. Sure you don’t want to date Adam?”

      “I’m sure.”

      Jen smiled. “Something tells me you prefer tall blond men who like dogs, bikes and pizza. Right?”

      “Wrong.”

      “Oh, come on. He sounds fantastic. I think you should go out with him.”

      Haley eyed her incredulously. “Hello? Where were you when we talked about all this earlier? I’m through with the Adams and the Ricks of this world. Not only is Rick a hunk, just like all the other jerks I’ve dated, but he also annoys me to no end. Do you want to see me arrested for murder? Some friend you are.”

      “I’m sure you’re right.” But Jen still looked highly amused.

      Haley scowled and finished reorganizing the boxed games before helping Jen lock up for the rest of the weekend. No way would she admit that she still couldn’t rid her memory of a pair of wicked blue eyes taunting and tempting her. She headed home with not a few misgivings about the evening’s plans.