LITMIR.BIZ

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      “What?”

      “Feel free to tell me to jump in the lake. But I was wondering how a mother could simply walk out on her children.”

      “There’s the million-dollar question.” He lifted one broad shoulder drawing her attention there.

      His light blue collared golf shirt molded to his upper body in a most intriguing way. He was alternately lean and muscular in all the right places. Her gaze slid to the sturdy work boots he wore and she tried to remember if she’d always thought the look was sexy. Or if it was more a matter of the man in the boots.

      He sighed. “I was focused on how hard her leaving was on me and the difficulties of raising the girls alone. They seemed to be doing fine, so I took that at face value. I believed it because it was easier. I buried my head in the sand and left my backside exposed.”

      And a very nice backside it was, Thea thought. Unfortunately, she’d noticed a lot more than his backside and had the spiking pulse and sweaty palms to prove it.

      “You’ve obviously done a fine job with the girls, Scott. And that’s the last time I’m going to pump up your ego. It’s entirely possible that Kendra hasn’t missed her mother all that much. Until now. Graduation from high school is a big step. I still remember the emotional trauma.”

      “Really?” He folded his arms over his chest. The movement showcased his superior biceps.

      “Spoken like a man,” she said, shaking her head. “She’s grieving the loss of a comfortable way of life as well as the familiar faces she sees every day.”

      “But she’ll make new friends in college.”

      “She doesn’t know that yet. All she can see is what will be gone. What’s changing. Maybe this has triggered some emotional upheaval she hasn’t felt until now.”

      He rubbed the back of his neck. “Interesting theory. She’s had bouts of rebelliousness here and there. But until yesterday, she’s never done anything without running it by me first.”

      “Reading between the lines, I’d say that behavior is an indication of something pretty important to her.”

      “Yeah. When I listened to her, I got that impression.”

      Thea knew men were action-oriented, and Scott more than most. She wondered how many fathers would have taken her advice and actually listened to their daughters. She met his gaze across the space separating the desks and realized he was certainly more than just another pretty face. In addition to his good looks, he was thoughtful, introspective and boyishly charming. The triple threat.

      She had a vague sense of relief that she hadn’t gotten the catering job. He was the first man she’d noticed in a long time and the sensation wasn’t the least bit comfortable. She didn’t want to notice a man. It was act one in a play she wouldn’t audition for.

      Obviously Scott had dropped by to thank her for the advice. And the courtesy was very nice. But she was grateful she wouldn’t have to see him again after this.

      “I appreciate the 4-1-1 about Kendra.”

      “Hmm?” he said, obviously puzzled.

      “Information. That she’s communicating,” Thea clarified.

      “Yeah.” He blew out a long breath.

      She straightened away from the desk. “I’m glad things went well with the two of you. Now I have to get to an appointment.”

      He stood up. “And I have to get to work.”

      “Kendra said you’re a building contractor?”

      “Matthews and Sons Construction. My father is retired now, but my brother and I run the company.”

      “Aren’t you doing that big housing project over in Northbridge?”

      He nodded. “And I have a crew there waiting for me.”

      “You shouldn’t keep them waiting any longer. Thanks for stopping by, Scott.”

      “Actually, I didn’t come by just to give you an update. I want to hire Thea Bell to toil for me. Will you cater my daughter’s graduation party?”

      Talk about burying your head in the sand. Thea hadn’t seen that one coming. Or maybe she just hadn’t wanted to see it. Now what was she going to do?

      Chapter Four

      “You want to hire me?”

      “That’s what I said. You sound surprised.”

      “That’s because I am.” There was an understatement, she thought.

      “Why?”

      “I guess because you acted as if I committed a mortal sin when I treated your daughter like a grown-up.”

      “I may have overreacted,” he admitted. “I might have come off a tad abrasive.”

      She couldn’t resist needling him a tad. “Might have? You acted as if I was working black-ops catering with your teenager behind your back. I got the impression that my integrity was questionable in your opinion.”

      “Now that you mention it…” His expression turned sheepish. “I made some phone calls. You’ll be glad to know your integrity checks out fine.”

      “What a relief. I was worried.”

      When he turned all the amps in his grin on her, Thea couldn’t breathe. She began to straighten the already neat stack of receipts on Connie’s desk, but the distraction didn’t do much to take the edge off her reaction to him. He was offering her a job. The fact that she was even hesitating to take it spoke volumes. When she was dealing with Kendra, there had been no question about her doing the party. Now that she would be dealing with Kendra’s father, everything was different. And it shouldn’t be.

      Thea had catered events for both women and men. She’d done functions for corporate CEOs—male executives. This man was no different.

      And that was when she recognized the lie.

      She liked Scott and that made him different. It made her as nervous as a dieter in a doughnut shop, which was why she wanted to turn him down flat.

      Then she looked head-on into the intensity of his gaze and her stomach did that whole stop, drop and roll thing. From another lifetime she vaguely remembered this feeling. It was another good reason to refuse the job. But what did that intensity in his expression mean? Did he find her attractive? It had been too long since she’d wondered or cared about such things and she couldn’t tell. Her feminine instincts, too long turned off, were now unreliable. He probably didn’t care about her one way or the other and she was being a ninny.

      “Earth to Thea. It didn’t take this long to build the Suez Canal. So what do you say? Will you take the gig?”

      “Do you have a date in mind?” she hedged. “I need to check my schedule.”

      “She’s graduating the middle of June, assuming there are no unexpected surprises with her grades. But she’s always been an honors student, so I don’t expect that.” He thought for a moment. “I think a Saturday night would work best.” Moving closer to her, he glanced down at the large, desk-blotter calendar. “How about June nineteenth?” he said, pointing to the date.

      She noticed the strength in his wide wrist and tanned forearm. She watched the muscles there bunch and ripple, making it difficult for her to take a deep breath.

      “I’ll check my day planner.” She unzipped her briefcase and pulled out the leather-bound calendar. After opening it, she found the date and tried not to let him see her relief when she spotted a conflict. Loophole. She met his gaze. “I’m holding that date open for someone.”

      “Holding it?” He frowned. “I’m going to take a shot in the dark here. Do you have a signed contract?

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