LITMIR.BIZ

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aflame. The memory was just the cold dose of reality he needed. It was time to get out of here before he made a complete fool of himself and broke his own rules about dating and asked the enticing Ms. Patterson out. He made a show of looking at his watch and made a sound of surprise.

      “I need to get on my way, but first I should remedy the demise of JJ’s ice cream.”

      “Oh, please don’t worry. He’ll be fine and, besides, the homemade ice cream store will be closed now.”

      “And I’m holding you up from closing, too, I see,” he said, gesturing to the face of his watch. “I’ll head off.”

      “Please, don’t rush away. Look around—you never know—something might grab your attention. We’ll be a little while closing up anyway.”

      Despite his determination to put some distance between them, Nolan found himself agreeing to prolong his visit.

      “Okay, thanks. Let me know when you want me out of your way.”

      She nodded and gave him another of those serene smiles that delivered a solid whack to his solar plexus.

      As he moved among the pieces she had on display, he reexamined his options. He was here to do a job. Part of that job was gathering information. He hadn’t missed the spark of interest in her eyes. Perhaps he could use that interest to his advantage. Ms. Patterson, whether she knew it or not, had just become his best opportunity to get an angle on Winslow Properties and hopefully the leverage he’d need to pull off this purchase. Somehow, he needed to get past his emotional barriers and see her purely as a means to an end. If he didn’t, all bets were likely off, and he’d have to deliver Rafiq his first failure in this acquisitions venture. Nolan’s need to succeed pushed through. He could do this. And he would.

      Nolan could hear Raina moving around toward the back of the store. He flicked a look her way and saw her laying out egg cartons and wicks and precut blocks of what he assumed was wax. JJ was doing his best to help. Raina moved quietly behind him and straightened up the things he laid out for her, and every now and then she paused to wipe his little nose.

      She did everything with grace and an effortless elegance that mesmerized Nolan, and he had to force himself to look away and remind himself he was here to gather intel about the Courtyard, not spend his time mooning over one of the proprietors. He was on the verge of leaving the store when he overheard Raina talking to JJ.

      “Well, how about that?” she said, putting her hands on her hips and looking around the workroom. “We’re all done, JJ. I couldn’t have done it all so fast without your help.”

      Nolan fought back a smile. He had no doubt she’d have had it done in half the time, but it tugged at his heart to see how she took the time to make JJ feel special and his efforts valued. Then came a fresh debilitating wave of sorrow as he remembered all he’d lost. Even so, he still couldn’t tear himself away from the tableau in front of him.

      “I’m a good boy, aren’t I, Mommy?” JJ said, his little chest puffed out with pride.

      “Yes you are. The very best. And you’re all mine!” She reached out to tickle him and he giggled and squirmed out of reach. “How about, as a reward, I take you to the diner for dinner before your sitter comes tonight.”

      The little boy nodded vigorously. An idea occurred to Nolan. This was an opening he could use. He still owed JJ an ice cream. What better opportunity to fulfill his promise to the kid and to accidentally bump into his mother again and draw her back into conversation.

      She’d mentioned a sitter. Did that mean there was no Mr. Patterson around? He gave himself another mental shake. Whether there was or not, it made no difference. This would merely be another opportunity to ask her more questions about the Courtyard and Winslow Properties.

      At least that’s what he told himself.

Two

      Raina heard her cell phone ring in her handbag as she was securing JJ in his car seat. Whoever it was would just have to leave a message, she thought as she did up his harness and checked to make sure he was snug. Finally satisfied, she got in the driver’s seat and turned on the ignition.

      “Seat belt, Mommy!”

      She smiled at JJ in the rearview mirror. “Yes, sir!”

      He giggled in response, the way he always did, and it made her heart glad. She thanked God every day for the gift of her son. Jeb Pickering might have been a useless no good son-of-a-bitch but he’d left her with a gift beyond price. While it would have been her ideal wish to have provided JJ with both a mommy and a daddy who loved him, she was happy to parent alone. In fact, given Jeb’s reliability, or lack of it, and his predilection for gambling and drink, JJ was better off not knowing the man even existed. Of course, being a single mom running a business brought its own issues, including relying on sitters when her dad wasn’t free to help out. Which reminded her—the phone call. Maybe it had been her sitter calling.

      “I’m just going to check my phone, JJ, then we’ll head to the diner, okay?”

      “C’n I have nuggets ’n’ fries?”

      “You sure can.”

      “Yum!”

      Satisfied that he could have his favorite meal, JJ hummed quietly to himself, kicking a beat on the back of the front passenger seat while he waited. Raina stifled the admonition that sprang to her lips when he started to kick. She didn’t want to enter into an argument with him now. Instead, she reached into her bag and dragged out her phone. One missed call, unknown number. A sick feeling of dread crept into her gut. Quelling the sensation, she listened to the message.

      “Hey Rai, it’s Jeb. I hear you got your little shop up and running again. That’s good, ’cause I’m in a bit of a bind. I really need some money, honey.” He sniggered and Raina cringed. He sounded drunk, again. “Anyway, I owe some guys... I, uh, well, I’ll tell you when I see you. Soon, babe. By the way, how’s that kid of ours? Later!”

      Raina deleted the message instantly, her skin crawling. She felt as if she needed a long hot shower. Hadn’t it been enough that he’d emptied out her bank account and skipped town when she’d been at the hospital in labor with JJ? And what about the extra five grand she’d given him early last year for what she’d told him was absolutely and totally the last time ever?

      “Mommy, I’m hungry!” JJ demanded from the back, his kicks picking up in tempo.

      Raina reached across to still his little legs. “JJ, what’s the rule about kicking in the car?”

      His little mouth firmed in a stubborn line. Pick your battles, Raina reminded herself, morphing into distraction mode instead. “Are you having ketchup with your chicken nuggets?”

      “Yay! Ketchup!”

      “Let’s go then,” she said with a smile as she put the car into gear.

      It was a short drive into Royal but traffic was heavy. Raina was lucky to get a parking spot on the road about a block away from the diner. JJ skipped and jumped, holding her hand, as they walked along the pavement. Judging by his energy levels, she hoped he’d be okay to go back to day care tomorrow.

      When they entered the Royal Diner, JJ hopscotched along the black-and-white checkerboard linoleum floor. They took a booth near the back and settled in on the red faux-leather seats.

      “Be with you soon, hon,” a waitress said with a smile as she poured glasses of water and left them with the sheet menus that everyone knew by heart but still pretended to study anyway.

      Raina’s appetite was gone, but she decided on a green salad with ranch dressing because she knew if she didn’t eat, she’d be running on empty by the time her craft class started in a couple of hours. Shoving all thoughts of her ex to the back of her mind, she focused instead on her son and the evening ahead.

      All

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