A Whole New Man
Roxann Delaney
Hank Davis had spent his whole life going from place to place, never putting down roots. So he knew the move to Kansas City was only temporary.Then he met image consultant Lizzie Edwards. In two short weeks she was able to transform his rugged blue-collar appearance into manager material. Still, it was her charming personality and farm-fresh looks, not to mention her precocious four-year-old daughter, that truly captured his heart. Problem was, promising Lizzie a future wasn't something this live-for-the-moment man knew how to do. But when an incredible gift left him with an unexpected legacy, would Hank allow this little family into his life, and finally find a place to call home…?
“We’re just like a family.”
The innocent comment by her four-year-old brought Lizzie to a halt. Could she handle Amanda’s broken heart, and her own, when the time came and Hank left Kansas City? Lizzie prayed she would be able to. A small part of her dared to wish that day would never come. That Hank would stay.
“Come on, Mommy,” Amanda cried, tugging on Lizzie’s hand.
Over the top of her head, Hank gave Lizzie a look she had trouble identifying. A voice inside told her she was getting in too deep. But in fact, it was already too late.
She was falling in love with Hank Davis and there was nothing she could do to stop it.…
Dear Reader,
Spring cleaning wearing you out? Perk up with a heart-thumping romance from Silhouette Romance. This month, your favorite authors return to the line, and a new one makes her debut!
Take a much-deserved break with bestselling author Judy Christenberry’s secret-baby story, Daddy on the Doorstep (#1654). Then plunge into Elizabeth August’s latest, The Rancher’s Hand-Picked Bride (#1656), about a celibate heroine forced to find her rugged neighbor a bride!
You won’t want to miss the first in Raye Morgan’s CATCHING THE CROWN miniseries about three royal siblings raised in America who must return to their kingdom and marry. In Jack and the Princess (#1655), Princess Karina falls for her bodyguard, but what will it take for this gruff commoner to win a place in the royal family? And in Diane Pershing’s The Wish (#1657), the next SOULMATES installment, a pair of magic eyeglasses gives Gerri Conklin the chance to do over the most disastrous week of her life…and find the man of her dreams!
And be sure to keep your eye on these two Romance authors. Roxann Delaney delivers her third fabulous Silhouette Romance novel, A Whole New Man (#1658), about a live-for-the-moment hero transformed into a family man, but will it last? And Cheryl Kushner makes her debut with He’s Still the One (#1659), a fresh, funny, heartwarming tale about a TV show host who returns to her hometown and the man she never stopped loving.
Happy reading!
Mary-Theresa Hussey
Senior Editor
A Whole New Man
Roxann Delaney
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
To Gail, who nudged me back to reading romance and
knows me all too well. Thanks for believing in me more
than I believe in myself and for being my best friend
for more years than we need to count.
Books by Roxann Delaney
Silhouette Romance
Rachel’s Rescuer #1509
A Saddle Made for Two #1533
A Whole New Man #1658
ROXANN DELANEY
is the mother of four daughters. With the two oldest on their own, although a mere twenty yards away, life in her hometown in south-central Kansas is still far from dull. The 1999 Maggie winner enjoys keeping up with the former high school classmates she encounters and the tons of relatives, whose ancestors settled in the area over a century ago. A theater buff, she once helped establish a community theater and both acted and directed in the productions, as well as served on the board of directors. But writing is her first love, and she is thrilled to have followed the yellow brick road to the land of Silhouette Romance. She would love to hear from readers, who can write her at P.O. Box 636, Clearwater, KS 67026.
Contents
Chapter One (#u12ada523-ad7a-5c62-8983-69e332f5c86a)
Chapter Two (#ua420a25b-23f4-5223-bdda-a78041478ec0)
Chapter Three (#u30dab526-5b96-526d-8351-fecb7fb14829)
Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One
“Henry Davis?”
Hank looked up from the magazine he was thumbing through, and his breath lodged in his chest. Contacting this image-consulting place was one of the best ideas he’d ever had, considering the woman standing in front of him.
“I’m Hank.” Disengaging himself from the chair, he rose to his feet.
Her smile was blinding. “Mr. Davis, I’m Elizabeth Edwards. Welcome to Kansas City and Images, Inc.”
When he took the woman’s outstretched hand in his, an unaccustomed warmth climbed up his arm, and he met her gaze head-on. Wide, blue eyes, the color of Navajo turquoise, stared into his. Smooth skin the color of ripe peaches and fresh cream framed a lush, strawberry mouth.
When he continued to stare, she pulled away with her breath-stealing smile intact. “Let’s get comfortable in my office and discuss what it is specifically that I plan to do for you.” She turned to her receptionist, robbing him of his view of her smile. “Perhaps Mr. Davis would like something to drink before we get started, Janine.”
“I’m fine,” Hank managed to say, even though he wasn’t. He could’ve used a stiff drink as he studied her profile. When he’d seen the fancy ad in the Kansas City magazine back in New Mexico, he hadn’t imagined he would encounter someone who looked like her. Not that he minded. He didn’t know how long he would stay with his new foreman’s job at Crown Construction, but he couldn’t deny himself a few simple pleasures. That’s as far as it would go, though. He had never been much of a ladies’ man, and he knew better than to get tangled up with a woman. Most wanted to make things permanent and be a family—something he didn’t know much about.
“We have a lot of things to accomplish, Mr. Davis,” his new consultant said and motioned for him to follow her.
Hank had always believed a man had the right to take advantage of and enjoy things whenever the opportunity presented itself. Walking behind her down a hallway, that opportunity was a tantalizing view of a pair of curvy, swaying hips that hinted at what lay beneath the snug white skirt encasing them and a pair of long, shapely legs that stretched his imagination.
Shifting his gaze to rein in his fantasy, he barely noticed the pricey but tasteful decor of Images, Inc. as she led him to her office. Instead the alabaster column of her neck, revealed beneath a knot of gorgeous auburn hair, had snared his attention. Copper wisps escaped the bun and teased the collar of the virginal white suit she wore. His fingers itched to touch them and feel their silky softness. Too bad he would never get the chance to do it.
Before his imagination led him further than it should, they reached her office. She motioned toward a long sofa along one wall. While he took a seat, she picked up a file folder from her desk, then settled at the opposite end of the sofa. It didn’t escape him that her skirt inched higher, revealing even more of her long legs, and he tried his best to ignore it so he could concentrate on the reason he was there.
After shuffling the papers in her hands, she looked up to give him another dazzling smile. “Tell me what convinced you to come to Images, Inc., Mr. Davis.”
“Call me Hank.” He crossed one work-booted foot over his knee and fingered a worn seam in the leather. The truth was, his thirtieth birthday three months ago had brought home the hard fact that he had never made much of himself. Then he had received the letter from Crown Construction offering him a position with the well-respected company. When he saw the ad for Images, Inc., he called on a whim, thinking he might as well give it a try and fill in the time during the next two weeks until he started his new job.
“I suppose you could say I thought I could use a little spiffing up,” he said, giving away as little about himself as he could. “I could use a little polish, anyway. I’ve been on the road all my life, so I haven’t picked up the social graces most people come by naturally.”
She glanced at a paper, the bridge of her nose wrinkling in concentration. “You start a new job with Crown Construction in two weeks. You’ve been hired for a foreman position?”
He nodded. “I’ve been working construction for a couple of years with the same company. With several other companies before that, too. Crown contacted me about the job. I’m not sure where they got my name, but I decided I might as well move up the ladder, since it was offered.”
Her gaze met his, but she looked away quickly. “Let’s go over your employment history, so I can get an idea of your experience.”
He bit back a laugh. It had taken three extra typed pages to fill out his application for Crown. Thirteen jobs in as many years gave him more experience than most people, but he doubted this woman was interested in the details. “I worked the oil fields in Alaska, Oklahoma, and a short stint in Kuwait. I’ve been a ranch hand in Wyoming and Montana, a dockworker in San Diego, had a little rodeo here and there, worked on a salmon boat for a while out of—”
“I get the picture,” she said and ducked her head to check the paper.
But not before he’d seen a flicker of something in her eyes. It passed too quickly to identify, so he chalked it up to nothing.
“Since you’re so well-traveled,” she said, meeting his gaze once again, “why did you choose Kansas City?”
Hank shrugged and focused on her question instead of her blue eyes. “Other than the fact that my mother was from here, Crown has a good reputation.”
She picked up a pen and jotted something on the paper. “So you have relatives in the area?”
“Not that I know of.”
“You don’t know?”
“It’s unlikely. My mother lost her folks when she was young. To be honest, I never heard her talk of any other family. I don’t recall my dad talking about any family, either.” Family wasn’t all that important to Hank. He had been on his own, without any, for over ten years. Marriage and a family of his own weren’t an option. Not for him. He had never had a permanent address other than a post office box and he didn’t intend to change that. Not for long, anyway. Besides, he’d seen what a life of moving from one place to another had done to his mom. He wouldn’t risk doing that to a woman he loved, and he wasn’t going to change.
“Is your mother in New Mexico?” she asked, bringing his attention back to her.
“She died when I was ten.”
Compassion shone in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Wanting to ease her mind and curious to know about her, he turned the conversation around. “Do you have family here?”
She hesitated for a moment, then she nodded. “All but my dad.”
This time he didn’t miss the look in her eyes, and wondered at the sadness he saw there. The one thing he remembered about his mother was her telling him that the eyes were the windows to a person’s soul. But it wasn’t this woman’s soul that he was interested in. Her looks had caught his attention, that was all.
“Well,” she said, then cleared her throat. “Janine has the contract drawn up. We agreed on two weeks, right?”
“Right.”
“We’ll get started right away. Usually we work with a client for a minimum of a month. In your case, we’ll have to be quick but thorough, with intense focus on the basics. Instead of a few hours a day, we’ll work together most of the day, and occasionally into the evening. I hope you can block out the time, just for this.”
“It’s not a problem,” he replied. Especially since he had nothing else to do until his job started.
Pulling a paper out of the folder, she placed it on top of the others and skimmed a long slender finger down it. “Our first order of business is to make sure you’re living at an address that will reflect that you’re a stable person. As they say in the real estate business, location is everything.”
Her infectious grin caught him by surprise, and he wondered what lay beneath her cool exterior. “I have a room at the Regency out near the airport.”
She shook her head, and he imagined that tight knot of hair at the back of her neck loose and flowing like a liquid flame. The thought made him want to reach out and start pulling out whatever held it in place, but he stopped the fantasy as soon as it started.
She offered a gentle smile. “In this case, since you’ll be living here for some time, I think it’s best to find something that could become more permanent.”
“I don’t know the area, but I’ll trust your judgment,” he said, thinking he might as well go along with her.
Flipping through a notebook, she stopped and made a note. “I know of an apartment that can be subleased. Even better, you can give it a try for a month before you make a decision.”
Hank didn’t plan to be in town long enough to need a permanent place to live and hoped he wouldn’t get in over his head. He had the money, but getting out of a sublease could be tricky. Or at least that’s what he’d heard. His usual trappings were more temporary.
Before he could voice his concern, the intercom buzzer sounded. “Excuse me,” she said and walked to her desk where she leaned over to pick up the phone. “What is it, Janine?” She paused, listening. “I’ll return her call later…Who? Did you get his number? Any idea—All right. Do what you can.”
Replacing the receiver, she turned back to Hank. “I hate to rush you, but we might as well get started. If you’ll stop at Janine’s desk, she has the contract. Read it, make any changes you think are needed, then sign it. Do you have a car?”
He shook his head. “I left my pickup back in New Mexico. As soon as I landed, I dropped my things at the hotel and came straight here.”
“No need to be in a hurry to get one. I can pick you up at your hotel in—” She glanced at her watch, frowning. “Two hours. That will give me time to make some arrangements on the apartment, and then we can decide where to go from there.”
For some reason, she intrigued him. He wouldn’t mind spending a little time with her. A little fun wouldn’t hurt, either. There was no danger in that. But anything more was out of the question.
Standing, he took the hand she offered and held it. “Your friends call you Lizzie?”
She shook her head, but didn’t pull away. “Professionally, I prefer Elizabeth.”
“If it’s okay with you, I’ll stick with Lizzie.”
“Well, I suppose—”
“Good. And I’m Hank.”
Still holding her hand, he unconsciously rubbed his thumb over hers. He heard her sharp intake of breath and let go. “I’ll see you in two hours,” he said, and noticed his voice was huskier than he’d expected.
He also noticed she didn’t move from the spot when he left the room. As he walked down the hall, he shook his head. He couldn’t deny being attracted to her. But he’d been attracted to women before, and, except for the few times before he knew better, the relationship hadn’t become serious. There wasn’t any reason to think he couldn’t handle it this time. No reason at all.
Lizzie watched Hank Davis leave her office, then took a step back, grabbed the edge of her desk for support and bit back the groan that threatened to give her away. Her legs had turned to rubber the first moment she had laid eyes on him in the reception area of Images, Inc. Hunk? The word made her want to laugh out loud. What an understatement! And she had to work with this man? Every day? Possibly evenings? This time, the groan was impossible to keep inside.
With an unsteady step, she walked to the door and quietly closed it, fighting the urge to follow him down the hall for another look at him. Leaning her forehead against the smooth, cool wood, she was tempted to start banging it. She would never be able to keep her wits about her for the next two weeks if she didn’t pound some sense into her foggy mind.
His voice, low and lazy, like a river slowly moving along a grassy bank on a summer day, had sent warm currents flowing through her body. But it was his dimples that had done her in. Those twin valleys bracketing a sexy mouth had made that smile a true kneeweakener. And Lizzie’s knees felt like warm jelly again, just thinking about them.
She quickly scolded herself for her weakness. She didn’t have time for men, no matter how good-looking. Her life was full enough with Images, Inc., and with Amanda, her daughter.
On her way to her desk, she grabbed the folder she had left on the sofa, hoping to get her mind back on business. But it was impossible. The moment he had looked up from the magazine in his hand, she knew she was in for a difficult time. Professionalism had flown out the window. Clear brown eyes had stared into hers, and she had detected a decided twinkle in them.
Determined to get herself under control, she pressed the intercom button and asked Janine to step into her office. She had a lot to do before she picked up Hank at his hotel.
Janine opened the door and poked her head into the office. “Mercy, that is some man you’re going to be working with.”
Lizzie smiled at her best friend and employee and prayed Janine wouldn’t see how much Hank Davis had rattled her. “You gave him the folder with the schedule, didn’t you?”
“Of course.” Stepping into the room, Janine perched on the arm of the sofa and propped her chin in one hand, her hazel eyes dancing. “Once you’re done with him, there won’t be a woman within a hundred miles of Kansas City that won’t be falling at his feet.”
Lizzie kept her thoughts to herself. No need feeding into Janine’s daydreams.
“It doesn’t take much of a stretch of the imagination to see him all spiffed up in a custom-made tux and starched shirt, charming the Kansas City social set,” Janine continued.
“Clothes can sometimes make the man,” Lizzie said without thinking. And that’s what worried her. Good-looking men in tuxedos had always been her weakness. Amanda’s father had been the first proof of that.
But even in something as mundane as a blue chambray shirt and jeans, Henry Wallace Davis was a sight to behold. He didn’t look like the type who would be comfortable in a business suit. He was too rugged, too rough around the edges. And it was now her job to smooth out those edges.
“Mr. Davis seems pretty well made to me,” Janine said with another sigh. “But you’ll know how to handle him.”
Just the thought of “handling” Hank Davis sent a shiver through Lizzie. She shoved the thought from her mind and returned to the business at hand. “Would you call Bailey and tell him to have the car here in about an hour? I need to return Mrs. Adams’s call at the convalescent center about my mom.”
“How’s she doing?”
“Better. The nurses think the doctor will let her come home soon. That will be a big relief.”
“And more work for you,” Janine pointed out.
“I’ll deal with it.” She placed a finger on her temple, massaging the headache threatening her clear thinking. “I have to. Even with the fee from Hank Davis, we need to bring in more clients. There’s no getting around that. We both know business has been slow this spring. Do you have any idea who called earlier?”
Janine shook her head. “He asked for you and I told him you were with a client. Before I could ask for a name, he’d hung up.”
“Maybe he’ll call back.” Lizzie didn’t want to lose a chance at new business. “If he does—if you recognize his voice—put him right through.”
While Janine went to make arrangements for transportation, Lizzie dialed the phone, then waited for one of the nurses to check her mother’s chart. Mentally clicking off her list of things to do, she almost wished she could do without Hank Davis and his fee. But she couldn’t back out because of a foolish attraction to a client. This one was too important. His deposit alone was the last step toward making the final payment on her small-business loan. Once it was paid, Images, Inc., would be free and clear. With the bank, anyway. Her mother’s care and the worry over the medical bills would be a thing of the past. If they could bring in more clients, she could afford to hire more consultants, and then she would have more time to spend with Amanda.
Maybe someday she would realize her dream of making her firm the most sought after in Kansas City. If she could do that, she might prove to her family that she wasn’t the wild child she once was.
One step at a time, she reminded herself.
In her heart, her daughter and family came first. She wouldn’t let a man change that, and since she reluctantly admitted she was attracted to Hank, she needed to focus on his roaming life. That should keep her hormones in line. She knew his type. The moment Amanda’s father had heard the word “baby,” he’d hit the road and never looked back. He wasn’t the only one who had left her, either. She knew, firsthand, that some men weren’t the type to settle down, and she wasn’t going to let herself get caught up with someone like that again. In fact, she had proven she didn’t need any man, so even if Hank was stable, she still had no business letting her weak knees and her racing heart get the better of her. She had a dream and something to prove.
“What’s this?” Hank asked when he stepped out of the hotel. It was obvious that the limousine parked at the curb and the uniformed driver waiting at the open door were for him.
“It’s something special we do for our clients.” Lizzie gave the driver a warm smile as she got into the car and motioned for Hank to follow.
He climbed in after her and settled onto the wide seat across from her. “But a limo? Isn’t that kind of extravagant? I’m taking the foreman’s job, not the company president’s.”
“It all has to do with self-image,” she explained, her face intent. “If a person believes he’s worthy of something, he’ll live up to it eventually. A limo is something that, in most people’s minds, represents a certain social and economic level. Being chauffeured in a limousine gives a person a special feeling and, in time, it begins to show in the way that person thinks of himself and acts.”
“Not to mention being seen in one, right?”
She leveled her gaze on him and shot him a perfect smile. “Right.”
He held her gaze, lost in the blue of her eyes until she finally looked away to give the driver instructions. Turning back to Hank when she was finished, she smiled. “Bailey will be your driver for the next two weeks. And if you need anything, let him know.”
The driver smoothly pulled the limo out of the parking lot and into the steady stream of traffic. “Call me any time, Mr. Davis.”
“Thanks.” Stretching out his legs in the roomy interior, Hank accidentally nudged Lizzie’s foot, only to see her shift away from him. “And the name’s Hank.”
“Yessir.”
Hank glanced at the woman across from him as the glass went up, cutting them off from Bailey. With nothing else to do, he’d spent the two hours since he’d left her office doing little more than thinking about her. Dressed in the same creamy-white suit, with her deep red hair still neatly bundled up on the back of her head, she looked glossy and crisp, exactly like the ad for her company. Professional. Untouchable. But Hank had an idea that she used her own psychology on herself. Things were not always what they seemed. Just like the limo.
Shifting in his seat, he caught her attention. “While I was reading through the contract, I had a question.”
“What’s that?” she asked and leaned forward.
The scent of her perfume, sweet yet musky, drifted in Hank’s direction, taking his concentration to continue. “You mentioned that you usually work at least a month with the people who hire you. Since I only have two weeks, maybe I should just be paying for a half course.”
Her eyes widened, and the pulse beating at the base of her throat picked up speed. “We’ll just double our efforts,” she said, her voice slightly unsteady.
Her answer narrowed down the possibilities that had run through his mind while he had waited for her to arrive. She needed the money. Luckily he didn’t. He’d made good money at every job he’d ever worked, and there had been no expenses but his own day-to-day living. The foreman’s job would pay better than he’d been getting on his old crew, so he didn’t have to worry. But he wondered why, with a fancy business, money was an issue for her.
“Where’s our first stop?” he asked.
She cleared her throat and tugged at the hem of her skirt. “The apartment won’t be ready until tomorrow, so I thought we’d start with some shopping at The Plaza today.”
“Shopping?”
“Clothes shopping.”
He wasn’t surprised. She obviously believed the outside was the place to start. “Clothes make the man, huh?” he asked with a grin.
She lifted her head and stared at him. “How did you—” A blush painted her cheekbones and she pressed her lips together.
“How did I know? Well, the limo is as much for show as for the self-image,” he explained, enchanted by her high color. “Clothes would be the same.”
“You’re much more perceptive than I’d imagined. Do you have it all figured out?”
Her smile was sincere, and he knew she’d just paid him a compliment. “Not all of it. Is this what you do for fun?”
“Fun?” She shook her head. “I don’t have much time for fun. Running a business takes a lot of time.”
“But everybody should take the time to cut loose and have some fun once in a while.”
“I agree, but it depends on your definition of the word,” she pointed out.
Hank thought about it. For most of his life, he had done what he wanted, when he wanted. Life had been hard at times, but he had never failed to enjoy it. So why had he signed up to have his “image” changed?
Because he’d been bored. Because the ad in the magazine had caught his attention, and he thought it might be fun. And it wouldn’t hurt to make a good impression. He’d still be Hank, when all was said and done. New clothes wouldn’t change that.
He shot her his best grin. “I think working with you is going to be fun. What do you think?”
She opened her mouth to answer, then shut it again. “I think it’ll be interesting.”
For the time being, her answer was good enough for him, but it definitely raised his curiosity.
Chapter Two
“But I like blue jeans.”
Hank’s announcement brought stares from the other customers in the expensive men’s clothing store, and he nearly laughed. He didn’t give a fig what he wore. Never had. But he wanted to put a little scratch in the veneer Lizzie wore and see her reaction.
Holding a pair of khaki trousers draped over one arm, her face was a mask of patience and calm. “There are times and places for denim, Hank. Trust me. But you’ll need something for your first day at Crown and something for casual wear.”
“That’s what jeans are for,” he argued, while she nudged him toward the dressing room. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her she could wear the damned pants herself, when her features softened, and he saw her bite back a smile.
So, she does know how to loosen up. She just didn’t want to do it. He would remember that. Maybe the next two weeks wouldn’t be so bad, after all.
“We’ll check out the jeans as soon as we’ve finished with these.” With another nudge in the direction of the dressing room, she handed him the khakis. “Please, Hank?”
Whether it was the tone of her voice or the sound of his name, he didn’t know. He stopped in his tracks and took the pants from her. “Now, how can I say no when I can see how much it means to you?”
Her grateful smile was enhanced by the shades of rose blooming on her cheeks. She pulled another item from a rack. “And take this shirt with you,” she said, pressing a sport shirt into his free hand. “Oh, and these pants and shirt, too.”
Hank chuckled and shook his head. “Do all your clients get this kind of special treatment?”
“Of course they do. All my clients are special.” She turned around and headed in the direction of one of the clerks.
In the dressing room, he was ready to dump the pile on the floor and tell her everything fit fine, but he thought better of the idea. She had a point. He wanted to look his best for the new job. It was important that he make a good impression. Whether he stuck with the job or not, he wanted to start out on the right foot. Wasn’t that why he’d hired Lizzie?
He stripped out of the clothes he felt most comfortable in—had always felt most comfortable in—and into the clothes she’d given him.
He didn’t bother with the mirror when he stepped out of the dressing room. Instead he went looking for Lizzie and found her comparing ties. “How’s this?” he asked, standing beside her.
“Oh, Hank, they’re perfect!”
The admiring gleam in her eye and the smile on her face took him by surprise. He shrugged to cover it and tried for indifference. “If you like it, it’s good enough for me. I hate to admit it, Lizzie, but you have good taste. I only have one question.”
She looked up from the tie she was holding against a shirt. “What’s that?”
“Are you helping me pick out my underwear, too?” he asked, giving in to the temptation to tease her.
“Hank!”
Her eyes, wide with surprise, closed, and she pursed her lips. Then he saw her bite back a smile and noticed how her shoulders shook. He’d hit his mark. “Come on. Socks and shorts are over here,” he said taking her arm and propelling her to the other side of the store.
“Stop, Hank!” she cried, laughing.
Her words didn’t stop him, but the sound of her bubbling laughter did. It was like flowers bursting open in the springtime. Warm and refreshing. He looked at her and saw a sparkle and shine in her eyes that made his heart skip a beat. That wasn’t good. He needed to get a grip. Fun was fun, but…He wasn’t in the habit of falling too hard for women, but just because it hadn’t happened before, didn’t mean it wouldn’t. Considering the circumstances, this was the wrong woman to be the first.
She was the first to regain her composure. “I—I think I’ll leave those to you, if that’s all right.”
“Yeah,” he said, still stunned. “I think I can handle it myself.”
She slipped from his grasp and took a few steps away from him, then turned back. “When you’re finished, we’ll take care of the purchases.”
He started for the dressing room, only to see his reflection in the mirror, surprised that he looked like the same old Hank, only…different. Behind him, Lizzie stood watching. Their gazes met, and once again his heart skipped. Damn!
Before he had a chance to think of something to say to lighten the moment, she spun on her heel and found the nearest clerk. “We’ll take what we’ve already chosen and everything in the dressing room,” he heard her say.
The clerk glanced from her to Hank, then hesitated before ringing up the assortment of items. Letting out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, Hank returned to the dressing room and quickly changed back into his familiar jeans and shirt.
When he had finished, he met Lizzie at the counter and gave the purchases to the clerk. While the young man tallied their total, Hank reached for the pen Lizzie held poised to sign the receipt and slipped it from her fingers.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“They’re my clothes, I’ll pay for them.”
“It’s part of the agreement,” she replied and attempted to retrieve the pen.
“I’m taking care of it anyway.” He placed the pen on the counter far enough away so Lizzie couldn’t reach it. Digging in his back pocket, he pulled out his wallet and slipped out his credit card.
“Hank—”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got it covered. If we’re going to argue about every penny, then you’ll have to find another guy.”
Pearly teeth scraped her lower lip, her eyes narrowed and frown lines appeared between them. “All right,” she relented. “This time. But really, Hank—”
He gave her a look that silenced her, then signed the receipt the clerk slid across the counter. “There,” he said, grabbing the bags in one hand and taking her arm with the other. “That’s all settled. Now we can get those jeans.”
Lizzie glanced at her watch. “We’ll have to do it tomorrow. You have a date at the fitness center.”
“Fitness center? You’re kidding.”
She swept past him to the door. “You’ll need to keep fit,” she said as she stepped outside. “And the gym is the perfect place to meet people. You’re new in town. You’ll want to make some friends you can—”
“Hang out with?” he finished for her.
“Exactly.”
He caught up with her on the sidewalk and Bailey took the packages from him. “Wait just a minute, Lizzie. I’ve played a little pickup basketball in my life and lifted some barbells, but I doubt I’ve ever stepped foot in the kind of place you’re talking about. I’ll be a real fish out of water.”
She slid him a glance he couldn’t read, then slipped into the open door of the limo. He followed her, but couldn’t help glancing at the curve of her thigh as he settled across from her. It was getting to be a bad habit. One that needed breaking as soon as possible. Lizzie was far too tempting for his peace of mind. If this kept up, he wouldn’t last two weeks.
They rode a few blocks in silence before she spoke again. “You need to understand that being a member of this particular center is important,” she said, stubbornly refusing to budge on the subject. “Your membership at the fitness center and at other places throughout the city are key to becoming a part of the Kansas City business world. Even more importantly, it gets you into the heart of Kansas City society.”
“Kansas City society doesn’t interest me, and I’m taking the foreman’s job, not CEO’s. I’m a simple guy, Lizzie. I want to improve myself, but not that much. That’s not where I’m headed.” Besides, the idea of a gym was to help a person get fit. He was fit. He didn’t need any of those newfangled machines to keep him that way. Hard, physical labor was what kept a man in top condition. And he told her so.
“Not everyone has the opportunity to do that kind of work. Most successful businessmen spend the majority of their time behind a desk. I’m sure you’ll find that a visit to the center several times a week will be a big help.”
He considered it. True, his job wouldn’t be physical, like the work he had done for most of his life. He would spend most of his time behind a desk dealing with subcontractors and suppliers and only overseeing the work on the site. The lack of physical labor could have a bad effect on him. But just the thought of working out in a gym left him cold.
“Do you go to a gym?” he asked.
“Not this particular one. But, yes, I do visit a fitness center at least once a week. And I try to run or walk when I can.”
Hank shook his head and grinned. “All that and assisting me. Where will you find the time?”
She gave him a stern look. “I’ll find the time to work out. I like to stay in shape.”
He made himself comfortable and looked her up and down. “I’d say you’ve managed to do that. Very well. Now, about that gym…”
She leaned forward, her frown marring her pretty features. “You agreed to put yourself in my hands. You paid good money to hire me. Why don’t you let me do my job?”
He had a feeling he was going to be trying her patience to the extreme. But she was right. He had hired her to do a job. He might as well let her do it and get his money’s worth. “Tell you what. I’ll go to this gym on one condition.”
She leaned back in the seat again, hesitancy and a glimmer of distrust in her eyes. “And what might that be?”
He was ready to bounce the ball in her court to see how far she was willing to go to do her job. “I’ll climb on every last one of those machines, I’ll even have one of those massages if they give them there, but I want you right beside me. Is it a deal?”
“I…Hank, that isn’t fair. I’m not accustomed to some of the exercise equipment.”
“And I’ve never used any of it.” He let a slow smile spread over his face. “It’s the only way you’re going to get me in the door,” he challenged her.
She turned to gaze out the window, and he could almost hear the wheels in her mind churning. Just when he thought he’d won, she turned back, her eyes bright and her smile wicked. “I don’t have my exercise clothes with me.”
This time, his smile was sincere. “I don’t have any, either.”
“We’ll buy them—” Her mouth snapped shut.
Hank crossed his arms on his chest, leaned back against the plush leather of the interior of the limo and chuckled. Now that the notion to share the experience with her had struck, he liked the idea of seeing her in a set of exercise clothes. “I think my bank account can accommodate some for you, too.”
Lizzie instantly forgot about how uncomfortable she was in a leotard when she saw Hank in a T-shirt bearing the gym insignia and a pair of way-too-snug-for-her-sanity shorts.
She gasped, then swallowed and tried not to stare. Muscled men weren’t her style, but she would have had to have been blind not to react to the sight before her. And she was far from blind.
“Okay, Lizzie, what do you want to try first?”
She blinked.
“Lizzie?”
Two more blinks, and she snapped out of the fog to look him in the eye. “Huh?”
Hank’s dimples deepened to craters. “You know more about these contraptions than I do. Where do we start?”
Her knees grew rubbery and she gave herself a mental shake. Being attracted to this man would be hazardous. And very wrong. She’d already failed with men in the past, and although the first had left her with the best thing that had ever happened to her, she wouldn’t make that mistake again. Nor would she repeat the second one. She quickly reminded herself that Hank was a client and nothing more than a construction worker from New Mexico who was simply stepping up into a foreman’s position. He obviously wanted to better himself, but would he stick with it? Not exactly the kind of man she should be attracted to, if she had the inclination. She didn’t. And she didn’t have the time. She needed to keep that in perspective.
“Here comes Tony,” she said, spying one of the trainers. “He can show you how to use the equipment.”
After introducing the two men, she followed behind them while they made the rounds of the gym. It irked her that the sight of Tony’s extremely well-toned body didn’t bother her in the least, whereas just a peek at Hank’s sent her heart rate zipping.
Hank climbed off the gym’s latest mechanical acquisition and turned to her. “It’s your turn.”
She took a step back to avoid being too close to him. No reason to tempt her hormones. “Thanks, I’ll pass.”
Before she knew what was happening, he scooped her up in his arms. “Nope, can’t do that. We have an agreement,” he said, placing her on the padded bench.
And she’d thought her heart was racing just watching him! Her skin burned where he gripped her calf to move it into position and slip her foot into the stirrup. She meant to protest, but her voice had deserted her. All she could do was make certain she was still breathing. That wasn’t nearly as simple as it should have been.
“Hold these,” he said, pressing a pair of grips in her hand. “Now, pull and glide.”
Without thinking, she did as he instructed. The effort took all her concentration, and she forgot Hank was near. She’d never used the exercise equipment before. Her method of keeping her body toned consisted of a weekly aerobics class and walking whenever possible. But the machine wasn’t bad. In fact, she found it almost enjoyable.
A hand touched her shoulder.
“Unless you’re used to this, you’d better stop.”
She looked up into Hank’s eyes and lost her bearings. When his hand remained in place for a moment too long, she shifted her position. “You’re right. I’ll pay for this tomorrow.”
His shrug sent his muscles rippling beneath his shirt. “You’ll be fine.”
Lizzie could only nod. He reached out a hand to assist her, and she took it. Big mistake. Her gaze met his, and it was as if her soul were exposed to him in full view.
She reclaimed her hand as gently as possible. “Thanks,” she murmured.
Tony interrupted them to ask Hank a question, giving her a brief reprieve and the chance to pull herself together. She escaped to the fruit bar where she ordered a bottle of water, then turned and leaned back to watch Hank and Tony.
A small crowd had gathered around the machine where Hank worked out. Lizzie occasionally glimpsed him through the bodies blocking her view. Those brief peeks were more than enough for her, and she silently sent up thanks that she couldn’t see more.
Hank didn’t resemble Mr. Universe. His physique wasn’t that extreme. But the thought of professional bodybuilders still flashed through her mind while she watched. Sweat darkened the fabric of his T-shirt and glistened on his skin. Biceps bulged and strained. She could hear his slightly labored breathing and soft grunts of exertion. His dark hair, too long to suit her usual tastes, stuck to his neck in individual curls. And that was only the top half of him.
She dared to lower her gaze to his legs. Powerful thighs bunched and stretched as he raised and lowered himself. Men’s legs had always fascinated her. Hank’s mesmerized her.
The sound of counting reached her ears. “One hundred fifty-three, one hundred fifty-four, one hundred fifty…”
Holy cow! She tore her gaze away and slammed the water bottle on the bar. Enough. Without another look, she retreated to the dressing room and changed back into her suit, all the while berating herself for her weakness. She’d make sure to keep her distance and not put herself in a position like this again. Any attraction to the man would be disastrous, and she’d almost gone way beyond that. She had her business to think about. And Amanda. Her daughter had been hurt once because of an attraction to a man. She wouldn’t let that happen again.
Lizzie wanted so badly to give Amanda the best. She had done all she could, but so much of her money went to daycare for Amanda and the rest had gone to pay most of her mother’s medical bills. The stroke her mother had suffered had been severely debilitating, but her mother had worked hard for months in the rehab center to regain much of what she had lost.
Since her husband’s death, three years earlier, Lizzie’s mother had relied on family. Even more on Lizzie than she had on Lizzie’s sister, who was six years older. At thirty, Vicky had her own family and the perfect life, as she’d always had. With the added expense of their brother’s college fees, they’d struggled. But even more, Lizzie wanted to be a success, not a failure. Her parents had tried to curb her wild streak, but she hadn’t listened to them. She understood now that it was simply her way to gain attention. Her sister, Vicky, had just married the perfect man and was planning the perfect family and life. Lizzie had always been the younger and less perfect daughter. She had come home from college to announce that she was pregnant and the father had left her high and dry. She had broken her parents’ hearts and, even though their disappointment and disapproval had been evident, they had stood by her. She’d learned her lesson the hard way. Her father had died before she could prove to him that she had changed, but she could still show her mother that she was a responsible woman and mother.
“Giving up?”
Lizzie jerked her thoughts from the past and looked up to see Hank standing in front of her, a white towel draped around his neck. “It’s a little more than I’m used to,” she told him with a smile she didn’t feel.
“Hungry?”
She nodded. “A little.” In fact, she realized she hadn’t eaten a thing since breakfast.
“Good,” he said, his dimples deepening. “Bailey told me about a great place to eat. I’ll have a quick shower in the locker room and we can—”
“Hank,” she said, reaching out to lay a hand on his muscled forearm. A shiver of heat ran up her arm, but she ignored it. “We can’t have dinner tonight.”
He turned to her, his expression one of confusion. “Why not? I thought it would be the perfect chance for you to tell me which fork to use and how I’m not supposed to tuck the napkin under my chin.”
She wasn’t sure if she should tell him the truth. She rarely told men about her daughter. Another hard lesson learned, and at Amanda’s expense. And she never revealed her private life to clients. But for some reason she knew she had to tell Hank.
“I promised my daughter I would have dinner with her tonight.”
For a moment, he was silent. “Your daughter?”
Lizzie recognized his disappointment, so like the other men she’d known in the past. She knew better. Even worse, she was disappointed. It shouldn’t have bothered her, but it did.
“A daughter,” Hank repeated, feeling as if he had been sucker punched. He had never asked for any particulars about Lizzie’s family, but he hadn’t thought it was important. Apparently it was, even though he wanted to deny it.
With a quick—and he hoped discreet—glance at her left hand, he assured himself that she wasn’t wearing a ring. He hadn’t noticed one before, but he hadn’t paid much attention and didn’t trust his memory.
“I’m sorry about dinner,” she said.
He shook his head. “No, it’s okay.”
She lifted her gaze to his and he saw a touch of sadness in her blue eyes. Because they couldn’t have dinner? He had no way of knowing.
It didn’t matter. Things were now changed. Lizzie was no longer simply a beautiful woman he was attracted to. She was a mother. A woman with the responsibility of a child. A family. Something he had only vague memories of and no plans to have for his own.
But his curiosity was getting the better of him, even though he now saw her in a new and very different light. “How old is she? Your…daughter.”
“Four.” She glanced around the crowded gym as if she were looking for the way out. “Maybe we should leave.”
Nodding, he slipped the towel from his neck. “I’ll grab that shower and meet you at the car. Unless you want to wait for me here?”
She shook her head. “I’ll go on and let Bailey know you’ll be out soon.”
All he could do was nod again and head for the showers. The fact that she was a mother didn’t make her less attractive. It made her more attractive because of his curiosity. But if she was married—No, he was certain she wasn’t. She would wear a ring. Wouldn’t she?
It took him less than fifteen minutes to shower and change, then he met Lizzie in front of the building, where Bailey waited with the limo. Still wondering how to handle the change in circumstances, he climbed in to take the seat across from her. Bailey slid behind the wheel and the car merged into the traffic.
“We have a full day scheduled tomorrow,” Lizzie said without looking at him. “The apartment is furnished and will be ready to move into. I’ll explain the details later so you don’t need to worry. You’ll be able to move in first thing in the morning. Do you have your belongings stored somewhere, or do you plan to send for them?”
Thinking of his meager collection of belongings stowed in the dilapidated pull-behind trailer he’d lived in for years, he couldn’t think of a single thing he hadn’t brought with him that would suit a sub-leased apartment. “I won’t be needing anything.”
“I’ll let Bailey know we need to pick you up around eight in the morning.”
Checking his watch, he realized it was earlier than he thought. So what was he supposed to do with himself for the rest of the evening? He hadn’t made any plans.
“I thought we were on some kind of accelerated schedule,” he reminded her.
“We are,” she agreed, “but I always spend at least one evening a week with my daughter, whenever possible.
He was hesitant to ask the next question, but he had to know the answer. “I understand, but what about her father? Couldn’t he take her, considering our schedule?”
She was silent for a moment. “She doesn’t have a father,” she said in a voice so soft he nearly missed it.
Hank let her remark sink in before asking the next obvious question. “Does that mean you don’t have a husband lurking in the shadows, ready to clobber me if I step out of line?”
“No, no husband.”
Her direct gaze spoke volumes. She was a single woman. A single mother. Even though his memories of his own mother had faded with time, he had an idea of what it took to be a mother. Time. Lots of time. And money. He suspected that wasn’t something Lizzie had an abundance of, in spite of appearances.
“You said you have family here in Kansas City,” he said, steering the conversation in a different direction.
Startled, she turned to look at him. “Why, yes. There’s my mother, my sister and brother.”
“Older or younger?”
She folded her hands neatly in her lap. “My sister is six years older, married, with two children. My brother is attending college.”
“Sounds like a nice family.”
“It is,” she answered with a soft, loving smile that struck his heart. But her smile vanished. “I—I wasn’t the easiest daughter to raise.”
He saw pain clearly reflected in her eyes and heard the sorrow in her voice. It was another view of her that caused him to wonder why. “It happens to a lot of people,” was all he could say.
They rode a few blocks, both lost in their own thoughts, and an idea began to form in Hank’s mind. He really didn’t want to spend an entire evening alone in his hotel room, and he wasn’t in the mood to sightsee. “Where are you and your daughter having dinner? Maybe you could both teach me which fork to use.”
Lizzie’s laughter was so soft, he barely caught it. “The last time I checked with Emily Post, pizza is eaten with the fingers.”
“Pizza? Hey, I love pizza! But some people do eat it with a knife and fork.”
Eyes narrowing, she cocked her head to one side and looked at him. “Are you by any chance hinting at an invitation?”
He knew he should be ashamed or even a little embarrassed. He wasn’t. “So can I come along?”
Her laughter rang out clear and loud in the padded and plush interior of the limousine. “I doubt you’d want to spend an evening eating pizza with a four-year-old. There are times she would try the patience of a saint, even though she’s usually an angel.”
He didn’t doubt that for a minute, not with Lizzie for a mother. And he didn’t know why he felt this need to join them, other than not wanting to spend the evening alone, staring at a television screen in his hotel room. He had often spent evenings watching TV in his trailer. It wasn’t something as simple as nervous energy, either. He’d spent that in the gym. No, it had to be curiosity. What kind of woman really existed beyond what the eye saw? What was her story? He had heard all kinds, so nothing would surprise him. And what kind of mother was she? He hadn’t expected this added twist. And although it ought to put him off, it made everything even more intriguing.
“Kids don’t bother me,” he said with a shrug. It was true, because he didn’t really know kids. He’d never wanted to be a family man, so he hadn’t been around them much. But he was willing to do it, for the sake of curiosity and to spend a little time with Lizzie.
“I don’t know…”
It was better than a refusal, and her hesitancy gave him the courage to push. “You can explain the sublease to me tonight and save some time tomorrow. I’ll even spring for the pizza.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Then we’ll go Dutch,” he pushed on.
“Well…”
“Good, it’s settled.” He turned and rapped on the tinted glass separating them from Bailey. When the glass came down, he gave the driver instructions. “Drop me off at my hotel, then take Miss Edwards to her home and wait. When she and her daughter are ready to leave, pick them up, and then come by the hotel for me.”
“Yessir.”
Before Hank could remind him that he wasn’t a “sir,” Bailey had raised the window again. Pleased that Lizzie hadn’t interrupted with excuses, Hank leaned back in his seat and studied her. He had to admit she didn’t look all that happy about being railroaded, but she didn’t look like she’d go off like a cannon, either. In fact, she looked more astounded than anything. Fine with him. Whatever it took. Even if it meant spending an evening with a four-year-old.
Chapter Three
“Are you my mommy’s cwient?” Amanda asked, her mouth surrounded by tomato sauce. Lizzie knew it wouldn’t do any good to try to clean her daughter’s face until the pizza was gone or her child had had enough to eat. In thirty seconds, the angelic mouth would bear another red ring.
Hank swallowed the bite he’d just taken and smiled at Amanda. “I sure am. Her friend, too, I hope.” Directing his gaze at Lizzie, his dimples deepened.
Lizzie tried to shield herself from reacting to his smile, but she hadn’t found a way yet. He had more charm than any man should. Unfortunately his charm tended to turn her knees to the consistency of pudding.
“Are you my fwiend, too?” Amanda asked.
And didn’t it figure that he was winning her daughter over with the same charm? If he could bottle it, he’d make a fortune.
“Only if that’s okay with you,” Hank answered with a note of sincerity Lizzie couldn’t help but believe.
She watched as he stuck out his hand and wondered if her daughter would remember what the gesture required. If she did, Hank was a brave man, considering the smear of grease, tomato sauce and cheese covering Amanda’s miniature hand.
Amanda hesitated for a moment, studying Hank’s offer, then placed her hand in his. “Sure. We can be fwiends.”
Hank didn’t even flinch at the gooey mess he encountered. Instead he gave Amanda one good shake, but didn’t let go. “You know, Amanda, you’re even prettier than your mommy. Smart, too, I’ll bet.”
“I know my affabet,” she said, her face serious.
“Really? Then you are smart. So what do you do for fun?”
Lizzie smothered the groan that threatened. Fun seemed to be Hank’s favorite pastime.
Her face scrunched in puzzlement, Amanda turned to Lizzie, then back to Hank. “Well…I visit my gwamma and sometimes I get to play wif Denny and Woger, but they’re boys, so they get mean.”
“Denny and Roger are my sister’s boys. Amanda stays with her when I have to work in the evening,” Lizzie explained. “They’re a little older and sometimes get carried away.”
Hank’s eyebrows knitted in what was obviously concern when he looked at Amanda. “Do they hurt you?”
She shook her head, sending her carroty curls dancing. “No, but they make me mad and I cwy sometimes.”
“Maybe I should teach you a few—”
“Hank,” Lizzie interrupted, placing her hand on his arm. The warmth that shot through her made her pause for a moment to catch her breath. Hoping he hadn’t noticed her reaction, she did her best to ignore it and continued. “Hank, believe me, Amanda takes care of herself. Sometimes they torment her a little, but they adore her.”
Instead of relieving his worry, his frown deepened. “They shouldn’t do that. Torment her, I mean. But it’s easy to see why they adore her.” His frown instantly turned to a smile when he looked at Amanda.
Lizzie felt her heart warm toward him, which was the last thing she wanted. Most men, when they met her daughter, talked to her from an adult level. But something about Hank and the way he related to Amanda was different. And a bit scary, considering how much she, herself, was attracted to him.
“You were an only child, right? She can hold her own,” Lizzie replied, knowing she could use a few pointers on how to protect herself from Hank’s charm.
“Can her mother?” he asked.
His gaze met hers and she nearly melted into a puddle. There was no way she could answer, and when she started to pull her hand away, he covered it with his, trapping her. It felt so comforting, she couldn’t do anything more than sit staring into his eyes.
“I need a nakkin,” Amanda announced.
It took a supreme effort for Lizzie to drag her gaze and her hand from Hank’s. “I’ll get some, sweetie,” she said in a shaky voice and rose from her chair.
“Mind if I have another piece of that pizza?” she heard Hank ask her daughter.
Lizzie missed Amanda’s answer as she retrieved several napkins from an empty booth. She was glad for the interruption. She’d expected her daughter to be a solid distraction from Hank’s charisma, but instead, Amanda seemed to draw out more of his charm. Lizzie chided herself for being glad he had joined them. She shouldn’t be. It wasn’t right, no matter how much his hand on hers had made it feel like it was. She had been through this once before and had vowed, while dealing with Amanda’s tears, never to repeat the mistake.
Hank is a client, she reminded herself. Probably not a man with much staying power, if his past was any indication. And it always was. If she’d learned one thing in her business, it was that she might be able to change a few things about people, but their general disposition and character remained static.
But maybe…No. Learning to pick the right clothes and knowing the correct thing to say in a given situation was one thing. But turning someone from a person who never settled in one place for long to a homebody wasn’t possible. She needed to remember that whenever Hank’s dimples scrambled her senses.
Feeling only a little better, Lizzie approached the table and heard Hank telling Amanda about the pony he had once owned when he was a boy.
Amanda’s elbows were propped on the table, her face cupped in her sticky hands, as she stared at him in awe. “Did he pwance like the ponies in the circus? I wuv them! They have pwetty feathers on their heads.”
“No, but he could run like the wind,” he answered.
The wistful look on his face nearly undid Lizzie, and she had to stop herself from reaching out to give him a comforting hug. What was she thinking? She needed to keep her distance, both physically and emotionally, from this man.
Instead of giving in to her urge, she approached her daughter. “Let’s get you cleaned up a little, then we’d better head home.”
“Alweady?” Amanda asked, clearly disappointed that her mother would bring an end to her enchanted evening.
Lizzie wiped her daughter’s hands and face as best she could, and Amanda didn’t protest. It was one thing Lizzie had always been proud of in her daughter. Amanda knew better than to argue when told it was time for the fun to be over. Denny and Roger weren’t always so easy.
As she worked to gather the mess, Hank left the table, headed in the direction of the cash register. “Where do you think you’re going?” Lizzie called out to him.
“Just taking care of the tab,” he answered over his shoulder without stopping.
She dropped the wad of napkins and hurried after him. “We agreed this would be Dutch treat.”
“I changed my mind,” he said with a shrug and kept walking.
Grabbing his arm in hopes of bringing him to a halt, a vision of him pumping iron at the gym popped into her mind, and she had to force herself to breathe. “You can’t.”
He slowed, but he didn’t stop. “No big deal.”
“It is to me.” When he came to a halt and turned to look at her, she let go of him and did her best to hold her ground. “I can’t let you go on paying for things, Hank. You haven’t even started your new job yet.”
“I invited myself along. I know that’s a little on the rude side, but I’m glad I did. You saved me from spending a boring night in my hotel room. Why not let me make it up to you by paying for the pizza? It isn’t like twenty bucks is going to bankrupt me.”
The reminder of where she would be if she lost Hank as a client struck home. Besides, she needed to watch her pennies, in spite of the hefty chunk he had already paid to Images, Inc. But to let him pay for their evening out was another thing.
Hank leaned close and whispered, “Next time it’s your treat, I promise.”
The sound of his deep voice skipped over every nerve in her body, even though she knew she shouldn’t let it happen. How many times in her life had men made her feel this wonderful? Only two that she could recall, and neither had affected her with the potency Hank did now. But one had led to trouble…and Amanda. The other had caused heartbreak for a two-year-old. She wouldn’t let it happen again. She couldn’t.
She took a step back, out of his range. “I’ll hold you to that.”
He tossed her another one of his winning smiles. While he was busy paying their bill, Lizzie went back to the table and finished cleaning the mess, both on the table and on her daughter.
“Is Hank coming home wif us, Mommy?”
Lizzie jerked her head up, rendered speechless by her daughter’s question, and stared at her. Amanda didn’t take to men. Not since Ken had broken her heart. And here she was, asking if Hank was coming home with them. Lizzie was in trouble.
“Hank is going back to his hotel room.”
“Is that where his family is?”
Lizzie swallowed the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. “N-no. Hank doesn’t have any family, sweetie.”
“He doesn’t?” She tugged on her mother’s sleeve. “Can we take him home wif us then?”
Sighing, Lizzie shook her head. “Amanda, you can’t bring home stray people like you do stray kitties,” she tried to explain. “But it’s very nice of you to think of him. He’ll be fine at the hotel tonight, and then I’ll take him to his new apartment tomorrow. Does that help?”
Amanda’s lower lip quivered and her eyes filled with tears. “I guess so,” she said in a sad whisper.
Lizzie gave her daughter a hug, her heart filled with pride at Amanda’s caring generosity, but she knew she needed to be cautious. “All ready?” she asked, when Hank returned.
“You bet.” He helped Amanda down from her seat and held her hand as they walked to the exit. With her other, she grabbed Lizzie’s hand. Just like a family. Lizzie shook the thought from her mind to focus on her daughter’s chatter about her cousins’ new rabbit, the neighbor’s new kittens, and how she would have a zoo when she was bigger. Hank’s attention was riveted on the child, and Lizzie wasn’t sure what to do about this new situation. When Amanda made someone a friend, it was forever. Hank would only be a client for a few weeks, and after that there would be no reason for Lizzie to see him again. She could accept that. But could Amanda say goodbye to him when the time came? And did Lizzie really want her to?
Hank watched Lizzie fit the key into the lock of the apartment he would be trying on for size. She had explained to him earlier that after the month was over, he would decide if he wanted to continue to live there under a sublease, or whether he would find another apartment. As far as he was concerned, it didn’t matter one bit where he lived, as long as he had a roof over his head and a bed to sleep in. He had spent most of his life in some sort of portable home, or at least a temporary one. None had been much to brag about. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been in a place as nice as his hotel room.
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