"Nice shoes," Lindsay told Cole when he came to stand beside her after he finished signing autographs for the kids.

"Thanks," he said, his eyes shifting downward. "Nice shirt."

She glanced down at her SpongeBob SquarePants T-shirt, the one with SpongeBob giving the thumbs up. "The kids like it."

"It says *I'm Ready'," he said, pointing at her bosom. "Ready for what?"

"For anything," she said over her shoulder as she headed for the bowling lanes.

He followed her. "Is that right?" He found a ball and tried stuffing his large fingers into the holes, but it was no use. He tried every ball but it was no use, the holes were all too small.

"If you're ready for anything," he asked her, "then why don't we make a real game of this. If I win, you go out with me tomorrow night. If I lose, I have to massage your feet and give you a pedicure."

She laughed. "Not a chance."

"Not that good of a bowler, huh?"

"I'm a great bowler." She plunked a hand on her hip, making her ponytail sway a little. "I just don't want to go out with you. And besides, I just had a pedicure."

"I don't bite."

"I don't date jocks."

"Well maybe I'll just have to change your mind."

"Not gonna happen. Here," she said, handing him a bright pink bowling ball.

He took the ball, surprised when his fingers fit the holes perfectly. "Let's up the stakes," he said, ignoring her smirk. "If I win by more than twenty points with this pansy pink ball you picked out for me, you'll agree to go out with me tomorrow night."

"And if you lose?"

"I'll be your daycare assistant for a day."

She crossed her arms. "So, I guess Kari told you I ran a daycare. What else did she tell you about me?"

"Not much. Just that you get a little high-strung after a long week with the kids and that you don't get out much. She said something about daylilies and Butterfingers, but nothing about SpongeBob."

"I didn't realize my friend talked so much."

His smile revealed straight white teeth. "Are we on?"

"I don't know. How are you with kids?"

"I'm number one out of eight. All my siblings have two or more children, and I can't remember the last time I visited a sibling without having to babysit and change at least one diaper."

She laughed again as she took in his large frame. She'd always been considered tall at five-foot-nine, but at six-six, Cole easily towered over her. His neck had to be nineteen or twenty inches in diameter and his arms were big and strong. His hair was cut too short around his ears. If he ever expected her to go out with him, which was not going to happen, he'd have to grow his hair out. And that tight ribbed knit shirt he wore like a second skin would have to be replaced with something more casual like a vintage T-shirt. The man needed work, but she had to admit, he seemed like a nice enough guy. He had some potential. At least for a football jock who obviously thought he was "all that."

His eyes flickered. "So what's it going to be?"

"I guess being the oldest of eight qualifies you as a daycare assistant. It so happens that the teenager who usually helps me will be gone next week, so I really could use some help. But if I win," Lindsay said, "you'll have to be my assistant for the entire week."

She examined her nails. "I'll expect you at the house at seven o'clock sharp first thing Monday morning. If you're late, just turn around and go back where you came from. I run a tight ship. Just because you've been on a few covers of Sports Illustrated doesn't mean you get special privileges."

"You're talkin' as if you're going to win."

"That's because I am."

Kari stood in front of the bowling lane and waited for Max to throw his ball. While she focused on him, he focused on the pins as he took three brisk strides down the lane. When he leaned forward, she admired his nice tight butt. With his lean build and broad shoulders, he was one of the most well-put-together men she ever laid eyes on.

He kept his elbow stiff and high behind him until the point he released the ball with a quick jerk of his hand. The ball was a blur before hitting the pins and sending them crashing together. Another strike. Was there anything he couldn't do?

He turned, winked, and took a seat.

Kari took her time finding the ball Lindsay had picked out for her. She didn't want to play, but Lindsay had forced her, threatening to ruin Molly's party if she dared leave her alone with Cole Fletcher.

But Lindsay didn't understand what this was doing to her. It was difficult to concentrate knowing Max and Molly were both in the bowling alley, under the same roof, at the same time. She wasn't ready for Max to meet Molly. What if they looked at one another, really looked and saw the resemblance, which was striking to say the least.

"Next year," Lindsay said impatiently.

Kari gave her friend an evil look. Then she turned back to the bowling lane and took slow careful steps toward the foul line. Leaning forward, she released the ball and watched it roll toward the gutter.

"She stepped over the foul line," Lindsay said. "Isn't there a penalty for that?"

"No penalty," Max said with authority as he moved to Kari's side. "Mind if I give you a few tips?"

Kari shot Lindsay a smug look. "Sure," she said. "Why not?"He stepped up close behind her, making full body contact; her back against his front. Any closer and people would talk. She didn't dare glance at Lindsay, knowing full well what her friend must be thinking.

Max's hand seemed to linger, his fingers caressing her forearm before he began to swing her arm like a pendulum. "Nice and soft," he said close to her ear, "and then hard at the very last moment."

Tingles shot up her spine.

"Pay special attention to the timing between footwork and the position of the ball as you swing." He stepped back and pulled her with him, his hand moving to her waist. He smelled like soap and a splash of pine-scented cologne.

He had her take three practice steps while she swung her arm without using a ball. He shadowed her every step.

"Could you two step it up a notch," Lindsay said. "These kids are eating up my quarters playing video games."

"I'll take care of it," Cole said. "Just don't take a turn until I come back."

"You don't trust me?" Lindsay asked him.

"Not even a little bit."

Lindsay laughed.

Kari would love to hurry things along, but Max seemed intent on torturing her with his lingering touches and soothing voice. She took three steps, swung again, then pivoted so she could see Max's face...see if she had done it right.

He looked proud. "Perfect. If the direction and speed of your steps remains consistent, so will your swing."

Kari took her ball from the ball rack and tried it again. Three steps. Release. Her delivery felt much smoother this time. The ball rolled straight down the middle of the lane and smacked into the pins. Nine pins dropped. The tenth pin wobbled before it finally fell over with the others.

Kari jumped up, laughing, and before she knew it she was in Max's arms. Max beamed at her, looking as if she'd accomplished some magnificent feat, which wasn't too far from the truth. She found herself looking into eyes so blue she wanted to jump in and swim a few laps, but then she remembered Molly and quickly pushed away.

Lindsay gave her a wink.

Cole returned, and while Cole and Lindsay positioned themselves on the lanes, Max took a seat next to Kari on the bench. "What's wrong?"

"I can't do this."

He looked about. "Do what?"

"This," she said waving her hands between them.

He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. "You mean that?"

She stood so quick, she nearly lost her balance. Afraid Molly might have seen, and intent on eating cake and putting an end to this crazy party, she went in search of Molly.

"Come on you guys," Kari told the kids after they'd finished eating cake and ice cream in the private room provided at the bowling alley. Move in closer so I can get all of you in the picture. Now smile on three," Kari said. "One. Two. Three." Click.

Molly sighed. "Okay, Mom. Now can you take a picture of me and Grant with Mad Max?"

Kari looked over her shoulder. Sure enough Max stood waiting. He'd already bowled one game with the kids, sat next to Molly as she opened gifts, helped serve ice cream and cake, and now he was going to provide Molly with her own personal photo op. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate him coming to the party and being such a big help...she just didn't appreciate him coming to the party and being such a big help. Today had ended up being her absolute worst nightmare. Her little girl was turning thirteen. Kari should be celebrating with Molly instead of feeling sick to her stomach. But how could she celebrate the day when she knew that the one thing Molly wanted more than anything...was a father. And now suddenly, here he was in the flesh, and yet Kari didn't have the courage to tell either of them the truth. Not now. Not when there was so much at stake: her daughter's respect, her job and reputation, and then there was Max. There was always Max. What would he think? How would he react? None of this was her fault, Kari told herself. Max made his choice years ago.

Lindsay came up behind her and took the digital camera out of her grasp. "You look like you could use a break. Sit down for a minute and let me take the pictures."

Kari obeyed and took a seat. Max draped one big arm around Molly's shoulders while the other arm hung loosely around Grant.

"Smile," Lindsay said as she clicked away, taking pictures of the trio as they made various facial expressions and poses. In the last shot the three of them showed off their muscles.

"Now just me and the birthday girl," Max suggested after Grant walked off.

As Lindsay instructed Max and Molly on how to pose, Kari felt dizzy. There was no denying that Max was Molly's father. Molly had her father's nose and the same blue eyes. At least her daughter's mouth resembled her own, but everything else was all Max.

Lindsay snapped a picture of the two of them, and then another. Max and Molly hugged one another tightly for the last shot, their cheeks touching, his right side against Molly's left.

And that's when Kari saw Lindsay stiffen.

Lindsay snapped the picture, then looked over her shoulder at Kari in wide-eyed wonder.

Lindsay knew...it was all over her face. No words were said aloud. No words were needed.

Just one look. One all-knowing look.

Two hours later, Kari and Molly arrived home after dropping off a couple of Molly's friends. Lindsay had beat them home, since Cole had offered to give her a ride. When Kari walked into the house, she heard Lindsay talking on the phone in the kitchen.

Molly hugged Kari for the dozenth time. "Thanks for the best party ever, Mom. I'm going to go take a shower."

"Okay, kiddo. I'm glad you had fun." Kari plopped down on the couch in the family room, exhausted.

She heard Lindsay say goodbye to her caller. The knowing glint in Lindsay's eyes as she walked into the room, told Kari she was about to get an earful. Lindsay waited until she heard the sound of running water. "Okay," she said as she took a seat on the couch next to Kari. "Talk."

"Great party," Kari said, "don't you think? I haven't been bowling in so long. I didn't realize it could take so much out of a person. And Cole. What a guy, huh?"

"Oh, no you don't." Lindsay wagged a finger at her. "Why didn't you tell me Mad Max was Molly's father?"

Kari gestured wildly for Lindsay to keep her voice down.

Lindsay brought her voice down a couple notches. "When did the two of you hook up?"

Kari didn't know what to say.

Lindsay's face paled. "I knew it! It was his sister's graduation party you went to at his house, wasn't it? I can't believe this. I was so angry with you that night for going to a party without me."

Kari opened her mouth to speak, but Lindsay was too quick.

"You lied to me."

"When?"

"The other day when I mentioned you used to have a crush on Max during high school...you said it wasn't him...you said it was Frank Hunsaker." Her shoulders drooped. "I can't believe this. Mad Max is Molly's father."

Kari didn't know what to say. Lindsay was right. She should have told her. More importantly, she should have told Molly...and she should have told Max exactly who she was the very first day she ran into him.

There was a long pause before Lindsay looked back at her. "When do you plan to tell Molly?"

"I don't know." Kari heard a neighbor's dog barking in the distance. Once she and Molly found a house, maybe she would get Molly a dog. "Do you think I should get Molly a dog? She's always wanted one. Maybe a Chihuahua or a miniature pinscher-what do you think?"

"I think you're nuts. You are not going to change the subject. Why didn't you tell Max? Don't you think he has a right to know his own daughter?"

"Lindsay, you know me well enough to know that I would never keep something like this from someone on purpose. I tried to tell Max. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I went to his house. His mother was home alone, so I gave her the letter I had written to Max."

"What did the letter say?"

"I told him I was pregnant, that I didn't expect anything from him, but that I thought he should know. When I didn't hear from him, I stopped by his house once more before you and I moved to Los Angeles. There was a for-sale sign on Max's front lawn. Nobody answered the door, so I slipped a second letter addressed to Max in the mailbox. I left him my parent's address and phone number, my new address and phone number, and yet I still didn't hear from him. I tried to forget about him. By the time Molly turned five, Max was playing for the Condors so I sent a letter with pictures to Max via the NFL franchise." She sighed. "I never heard a word. What was I supposed to do? After that, I assumed he didn't want anything to do with his child, so I left him alone."

"I'm sorry," Lindsay said. "But what about Molly?"

"At the time, I decided she was too young to understand. Two years ago, she stopped asking about her father altogether, so I took that as my cue to stop worrying about telling her anything at all. I've always loved Molly enough for two parents. Besides, Max made it clear he didn't want anything to do with his child when he failed to respond to my letters. I didn't want to tell Molly and risk the possibility of her being rejected by her own father. It happens you know...it happens all the time. What if I tell Max about Molly and he wants nothing to do with her? I can't do that to her."

Lindsay rubbed her arms as if she had a sudden chill. "This is a lot to absorb."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't think it was fair for anyone to know if Molly didn't know."