A Man Like Mike Read Online Free Page A

learned next to nothing about what made Eve O’Brien tick and had been left with the impression he wasn’t missing anything he couldn’t live without.
    That didn’t mean she wasn’t a pretty, intriguing woman, with those big brown eyes and hair the unlikely hue of summer-ripe cherries. He hadn’t meant to insult her.
    His momentary urge to apologise was quickly dispelled by Eve’s haughty comment, “Let me assure you , I wouldn’t be interested in any case.”
    “Like I said…” Mike smiled through his teeth, hating himself for feeling the need to engage in such a childish game of one-upmanship, of who’s-less-attracted-to-whom. “It’s not something you need to be concerned about.”
    “What about other women?”
    Eve’s own question astounded her. The last thing she wanted to know about was Mike’s love life, but she’d been too desperate to deflect attention from her own humiliation to come up with a better thing to say. So Mike didn’t find her in the least attractive. It wasn’t something she should take to heart, especially as she had already suspected as much, long before he ever promised he wouldn’t be tempted to make a pass at her. Yet the blow to her feminine ego felt like a palpable thing to her, as obvious in the charged atmosphere as the smell of fresh-brewed coffee.
    Mike appeared as surprised at her question as she was. “What do you mean, other women?”
    Having no choice but to push on with the line of inquiry, Eve forced a cool expression to cover her discomfort. “I don’t think it would be good for Bailey to see a parade of women coming and going, and if that’s going to put a crimp in your style you might want to reconsider staying here.”
    “Contrary to what you seem to think, Eve,” he began, speaking very carefully as though he were just barely holding on to his temper, “I can manage without female company for a couple of weeks. And I can stay downstairs in the studio, if that makes you feel better. Are there any other potential problems you might want to address, while you’re at it?”
    Oh, there were sure to be plenty of problems, but for the life of her Eve couldn’t think of a single one that might deter him. And his mention of the downstairs studio relieved some of the tension in her shoulders. Once used for nothing more than underground storage, the previous owner had enclosed the lower level of the cottage, installing a second bathroom and converting it to a separate living space. The temperature downstairs was always a few degrees lower than it was on the main level, but with winter still a couple of months away that shouldn’t pose a problem for Mike.
    And if Mike posed a problem for her , she would have to deal with it. She wasn’t used to sharing space with another person, especially not a man. She was just now getting used to sharing space with Bailey. She just hoped she could learn to manage with Mike here as well.
    “I don’t need help,” Eve began, the words feeling dragged out of her, “but I suppose I can hardly tell you not to stay in your own house.”
    “Your enthusiasm is underwhelming,” Mike drawled. “I promise I’ll try my best to be agreeable.”
    Eve didn’t want to admit that it wasn’t his ability to be agreeable that she was unsure of. Mike possessed a naturally easy-going grace that enabled him to get on with just about anyone. She had no such gift. He’d been here no longer than an hour and already there was friction, largely of her making.
    “And I promise I’ll try, too.” Eve hoped she could succeed at such a venture as getting along swimmingly with Mike Wilcox.
    He gave her a dubious look but said nothing more about the subject. Instead he walked over to where Bailey sat in his high chair. He rubbed a hand over the little boy’s hair, and Eve detected the slightest uncertainty in the action, an uncertainty she hadn’t noticed earlier. Was he, like her, unsure how exactly to act around a small child?
    She felt a pang