A Man Like Mike Read Online Free

decade. Derek’s open scorn of what he saw as Mike’s lack of ambition had always kept Mike from taking steps to repair what had started as a small rift and had grown wider with time and inattention. They had really seen each other only at Christmas, and at important family events, such as Derek’s wedding and, after the birth of his nephew, when he had flown home for what was, in retrospect, a too-brief visit.
    Derek had been happy with Jacinta. The man had been deliriously in love, so much so that Mike had sensed a softening in his older brother’s attitude toward him and, after that visit home, he’d dared to hope that one day they could have a real relationship.
    But that one day, as fate would have it, had never come.
    With efficient movements, Eve settled Bailey in his high chair and pulled a jar of baby food from the pantry. Mike took a sip of his coffee, but almost choked on it when Eve matter-of-factly announced, “Then we’ll move out until you get yourself organised.”
    Mike felt his moment of triumph dissipate. “ What? ”
    “I don’t want to put you out, Mike. I’m sure we’d be in each other’s way here.”
    Speechless for several moments, Mike watched in amazement as Eve went about calmly feeding Bailey his dinner, letting him hold the big plastic spoon every few bites so he could attempt to feed himself the bright orange goo. His forehead wore much of it.
    At length, Mike asked, “Why are you being such a pain in the—” he cut off what he had been about to say, took a breath, and started again. “Why are you making this so difficult, Eve?”
    “ I’m being difficult? I’m not the one who shows up here, out of the blue, expecting to use this place as a halfway house. Bailey has a routine, you can’t just expect me to change everything around for you at a moment’s notice.”
    “And you moving out wouldn’t upset Bailey’s routine?”
    She pushed out a sigh and swiped the hair from her face, leaving a trace of mashed pumpkin on her forehead. “I just don’t feel comfortable with the idea of someone looking over my shoulder.”
    “Is that what you think I want to do?”
    “Didn’t your mother send you to check up on me?”
    “The day has long passed that my mother sends me anywhere.” Mike’s annoyance gathered momentum. “Did it ever occur to you that I might just want to spend some time with my nephew? He’s not just Jacinta’s son, you know. He’s also my brother’s.”
    He saw her shoulders tense, contradicting the pleasant tone she used with Bailey. “All finished B. Good job!” She gently pinched his cheek before standing and brushing past Mike to deposit the spoon and empty food jar in the sink. In low tones, she said, “I know that. Bailey’s your nephew, and I would never want to do anything to keep you from him, but … do you really have to move in ?”
    If she kept saying it like that, like he was proposing putting a sewage treatment plant in the back yard, Mike thought he might start developing a complex. “I’ve explained to you my reasons, and it would only be temporary. If you’re worried I might make moves on you, let me assure you it won’t happen.”
    He almost regretted the brusque promise when her cheeks filled with fiery colour. He hadn’t meant to belittle her feminine appeal, only to reassure her she wouldn’t have any problems with him trying to sneak a peek at her in her underwear or anything else untoward.
    Eve, he reminded himself, was not his type. Aside from the physical aspects, she was way too complicated, giving an impression of fragility one minute, one of dogged strength the next. She had an ability to fire bullets of acid wit that could fell a man at the knees if he dared give her opinion any weight. Their discourse at his brother’s wedding two years ago had been superficial; something about Eve’s steel-rod-for-a-spine carriage had precluded anything else, and Mike had conducted himself accordingly. As a result, he had