Excerpt: Runaway Run

“No.”

Zack blinked his brown eyes at her. “What?”

Natalie shook her head, firmly (she hoped). “No. Absolutely not. It’s not going to happen, Zack.” She looked pointedly at the two duffel bags at his feet.

Zack batted his eyelashes and gave her that sweet, innocent little boy smile she knew far too well to trust. She’d seen him use that smile on everyone, from his brother Clarke and his four sisters, the lady at the drycleaners who tried to explain the expiration date on his coupon, and even once a woman about to step in a cab. He always got what he wanted.

“No!” Well, not today. She knew why he was here, she knew why he was standing on her straw welcome sign with two duffel bags beside him. She knew exactly the reason he was there at the door to her apartment and it was not going to happen. She was not going to let him in.

“C’mon, Nat,” he pleaded, pouting almost as identical as her twin sons did when they wanted something. “I can’t take it anymore.”

She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorway. “You can’t take what anymore?”

Zack shuddered. “Them,” he said, as if that would explain everything.

“Them who?” she teased, knowing exactly who he was talking about. He looked so pathetic, like a dog someone had just kicked. She knew she was caving, but she couldn’t make it too easy for him. If she did he’d think he could just get whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.