Читать книгу Cinderella Story - Elizabeth August, Elizabeth August - Страница 8

Nina sat cross-legged on the floor of her living room. It was late afternoon. The sandwich Helen had insisted on packing for her when Nina had picked up the children was lying uneaten on a plate on the coffee table. Tommy had made a small attempt to eat his, but he’d only managed a couple of bites. Helen had been supportive, and at any other time Nina would have stayed with her during the afternoon, gaining strength from their combined hopefulness. But today she’d felt the need for some time alone with her children. She’d also sensed that Helen needed a little time on her own. Her mother-in-law had been as shaken as she had. So, leaving Helen to break the news to Ray, she’d left and come home.

Beside her, Pete was building with his Legos. Elizabeth had set out her toy tea service on the near end of the coffee table and was hostessing a tea party. She’d set places for Pete, her mother, Tommy, herself and her dolls, Sarah Jane and Mary Beth. Nina had provided juice in place of the tea, and there were homemade cookies provided by Helen Lindstrom for all.

Pete, who had already eaten his cookie, periodically stopped his building to take a bite out of Sarah Jane’s. Elizabeth, having finished hers, was nibbling on Mary Beth’s.

Tommy, still looking drained and pale from the trauma of the MRI scan, was lying on the couch watching television. He was only nibbling at his cookie, and Nina was certain his bouts of dizziness were getting worse.

A knock on the door brought a mental groan. She was not in the mood for visitors. All of her energy was being expended in not letting the children guess how terrified she was for Tommy.

A second knock brought her to her feet. Its firmness let her know that whoever was there was not going to leave.

As she headed to the door, it occurred to her that it was probably Ray and Helen coming to check on her and the children. And their company would be welcome. The children loved their grandparents, and both Helen and Ray were good at putting on cheerful faces for them in times of adversity. As for herself, having Helen and Ray here might help keep her mind from the more morbid paths it kept trying to follow.

In case she was wrong about who was on the other side, she opened the door only partially. A gasp of surprise escaped. Standing there, looking totally out of place in this low-rent district, was Alex Bennett.

“I thought I’d stop by and see how Tommy is doing,” he said, thinking she looked even more drawn and vulnerable than she had this morning. Clearly the strain of worrying about her son was wearing her down. That could be to his advantage, and hers as well.

“He’s fine. He’s watching television.” Embarrassed by how shabby she knew her apartment would appear to him, she continued to keep the door mostly closed.

It was obvious she didn’t want to invite him in, but Alex refused to be deterred from the purpose that had brought him here. “I was wondering if I could speak to you.”

Nina had to admit she was curious about why he was taking such an interest in her and her son. His manner wasn’t that of a man pursuing a woman he found attractive. He was polite but cool, almost formal. Her place, she told herself, was clean, and although the furnishings were not quality, they were functional. Still, she remained uncomfortable about inviting him in and continued to block his entrance. “What is it you want to speak to me about?”

“You mentioned to Dr. Genkins that you’d been out of work since the storm.”

Hope that he might have a job for her bloomed. “I worked at the Grand Springs Diner. It had extensive damage done to it during the storm and has been closed,” she confirmed.

Alex’s gaze narrowed in recognition. “Yes. That’s where I’ve seen you before. I knew your face was vaguely familiar.”

Mentally she patted herself on the back. She’d been right in assuming he’d never have given her a second glance if she’d simply waited on him the night of the canceled reception.

“I have a business proposition for you.” Alex glanced up and down the public hallway and frowned. “However, I prefer to keep my business private.”

Her hopes grew stronger. Maybe he needed a maid or a housekeeper. Either would suit her. Stepping aside, she allowed him to enter.

Alex passed her, then stopped short. “Are all of these children yours?”

Nina had been closing the door. Now she turned to find him surveying her brood with a stunned expression. Her shoulders stiffened defensively, and motherly pride glistened in her eyes. “Yes.”

Alex frowned at himself. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. I was just surprised. I thought you only had the one child.” Try to be more diplomatic in the future, he chided himself. He wanted her cooperation. Making her angry wasn’t going to achieve that.

“You said you had a job for me?” Nina reminded him sharply. “Or has my having three children caused you to change your mind?”

For a moment he hesitated. Three children would be a shock to his grandfather. However, William had no need to know about the other two. “No. No, it hasn’t,” he replied. He looked toward the children and saw recognition in Tommy’s eyes. The other two were watching him as if fearful of trouble. Their mother’s curt manner was causing them to be apprehensive. He smiled at them encouragingly, but they continued to remain guarded. Great first impression you’ve made, he told himself dryly. Glancing back at Tommy, he saw the boy push himself further into the pillow, the anxiousness of his siblings registering on his face, as well.

“I’ve had a very long day, Mr. Bennett. If you would just tell me about the job…” Nina left off the “and leave,” but it was in her voice. She knew she should be grateful for any work, but she was tired, and his reaction to the discovery that she had three children was still grating on her nerves. His momentary hesitation hadn’t been lost on her, either.

Recalling that children were not good at keeping secrets, he asked, “Could we speak in private?” He read the refusal in her eyes. “Children sometimes repeat what they hear and this is a very personal matter. It involves my grandfather. He’s very ill, and I’ve come to ask you for a favor…a favor I’m willing to pay for.”

Nina had to admit the affection she heard in his voice when he spoke of his grandfather was genuine. That he had referred to what he’d come to ask of her as a favor intrigued her. She could think of no favor a person in her position could do for one in Alex Bennett’s position. It can’t do any harm to listen to what he has to say, she reasoned. “The kitchen is as private as you and I are going to get.” She looked to her daughter. “Elizabeth, keep an eye on your brothers.”

Elizabeth nodded.

Noticing the young girl’s shoulders straighten, and her manner become instantly adult, Alex experienced a sense of kinship. Like him, this child had been forced to grow up more quickly than others, accepting responsibilities beyond her years.

Pete was on his feet, moving toward his mother. Squatting to his level, Nina kissed him lightly on the tip of his nose. “Go back and build something really special for me. I’ll bring you another cookie.”

Remaining by his mother, the boy stared up at Alex anxiously.

“I just want to talk to your mother,” Alex assured him.

“Go on and play.” Nina turned Pete around and gave him a light nudge back toward his toys.

“Come on, Pete. I’ll help you build something,” Elizabeth coaxed, seating herself in the place her mother had previously occupied.

Pete cast a backward look at Nina.

“Run along,” she said, this time sternly.

Still looking unhappy, he obeyed.

Following Nina, Alex glanced back over his shoulder to see Elizabeth and Pete sitting on the floor together, but neither was building. Both were watching him suspiciously. Tommy was studying him, as well, the worried expression on his face causing the circles under his eyes to seem even deeper. Alex gave them an encouraging smile, but the three pairs of eyes continued to cause a prickling sensation on the back of his neck as he entered the kitchen.

Inside the small room, Nina wished she’d had an alternative. It was barely large enough for two people to move around in, and Alex Bennett seemed to dominate what space there was. “Now, what is this favor you want to hire me for?”

“I need a fiancée for a short while.”

Nina stared in disbelief. “A fiancée? Me?” Anger replaced her disbelief. “Look, Mr. Bennett, I’m having a rough time right now. I’m not interested in playing any game or being the brunt of some joke one of your high-society friends has cooked up. What is it? Some kind of scavenger hunt…find the most unsuitable match?”

The woman has fire. Alex blocked her attempt to exit. “This is not a scavenger hunt. I told you, it involves my grandfather. He’s dying. I want him to leave this world in peace, and he says the only way he can do that is to know I’ve found a wife.”

Nina continued to regard him skeptically. “Why me?” she asked again. “I’m sure you have plenty of sophisticated women friends who would gladly pose as your fiancée.”

“You come fairly close to matching the description I gave him.” Alex refused to admit he’d described her. That could give her ideas, and he wasn’t seeking to get involved with her. Admittedly, if she’d been the type to have an affair he might have considered pursuing a short liaison—he still didn’t think he’d ever seen a more kissable pair of lips. But she didn’t strike him as a woman who would be interested in casual sex. If she was, she wouldn’t have fled the night of the storm. No, Mrs. Lindstrom was more the “wedding ring first” type. “And I figured we’d both be doing each other a favor. You pretend to be my fiancée and I’ll pay for your son to have the very best medical care money can buy, plus living expenses until you find a permanent job.”

“You want me to help you fool a dying man?”

Alex scowled at the disapproval in her voice. “Better I find a fake fiancée than marry on his whim and end up with an expensive divorce and a lot of bitter feelings.”

“You have a point,” she conceded.

“I spoke to Dr. Genkins after you left. He wouldn’t discuss Tommy’s case specifically, but we talked theoretically. There’s a gifted neurosurgeon in Denver. He’s one of the best in the world.”

“Denver?” Nina paled. “I thought someone here…”

Time for the hard sell, Alex decided. “There is a surgeon here who can perform the operation, and if you don’t accept my offer, you can stay here and he’ll probably do an adequate job. But I’m sure you want the best for your son. You want him to have every chance of a full recovery. I’m offering you that opportunity.” Alex knew, even as he attempted using her son to blackmail her into agreeing to his scheme, that no matter what she said, he would pay for the boy to go to Denver. But life would be a lot easier if she would play along. Otherwise, he’d have to find someone else who matched her description.

In her mind’s eye, Nina saw her son lying on the couch. Everything had happened so fast that she hadn’t even considered how she was going to pay for his surgery. He trusted her to take care of him. Besides, what harm could playing along with Alex Bennett’s scheme cause? “All right. You’ve got yourself a fiancée.”

Triumph flowed through Alex. “Shake on it?”

As his hand closed around hers, heat traveled up Nina’s arm. It had a curiously sensual feel to it and wove through her until it reached her toes. Inside her shoes, they curled with pleasure. Immediately, Tom’s image popped into her mind and she experienced a rush of guilt.

Tom’s gone, a little voice reminded her. She recalled her ringless finger. A year ago she’d removed her wedding band because she’d decided it was time she started getting on with her life. Still, her body tensed. She wasn’t entirely ready to tie Tom’s memory up with pink ribbons and store it away. Besides, even if she was, Alex Bennett wasn’t an option. He would never consider her a real possibility for a wife, and she wouldn’t settle for anything less.

Alex was a little surprised by the strength of her hand. He was used to women whose grasp was delicate, as if they were too fragile to participate in a real handshake. In the past, he’d considered that light touch seductive. Now it seemed insipid. The firm contact spread through him, reminding him of how good she’d felt in his arms. He had to fight the urge to pull her to him. Reminding himself that he’d already determined that she was the marrying kind, he released her. “I’ll go with you to see Dr. Genkins tomorrow, and we can begin making the arrangements to take Tommy to Denver.”

Nina nodded.

“We’ll need to make arrangements for your other children as well.”

“They can stay here with their grandparents.”

Alex breathed an inner sigh of relief that the problem was solved so easily. “That’s probably for the best. Three instant great-grandchildren might be a little too much for my grandfather to take at one time. In fact, it might be best if he was led to believe you only have the one child.”

Nina scowled at him. “I will not deny my children.”

“I’m not asking you to deny having them. I’m merely saying that if the subject doesn’t come up, we don’t have to bring it up.”

They were playing this charade to ease his grandfather’s mind, she reminded herself. “You have a point,” she agreed stiffly. “He could think you were taking on too much paternal responsibility.”

Alex caught the cynical edge in her voice, suggesting he wasn’t capable of carrying so great a load. He chose to ignore it. “And what will you tell your parents about us?”

“My parents are dead. It’s Tom’s parents, and I’ll tell them the truth. I don’t like the idea of lying to them. They’re good people and I trust them.”

Alex wasn’t happy about too many people knowing of his ploy, but he could tell she had her mind set on this. “What about your children? What will you tell them?”

“I’ll tell them that you’re a friend who’s going to help me see that Tommy gets well.”

“Since they’ll have no contact with my grandfather, that should work just fine. What time is our appointment with the doctor tomorrow?”

“One o’clock,” Nina replied, already feeling uneasy about the bargain she’d made.

Alex read her nervousness. “We’re both doing the right thing.”

Again she thought of Tommy. “I suppose.”

Exiting the kitchen, Alex intended to leave, call one of the available women he knew, then have a quiet dinner and an intimate evening. But as he entered the living room to find himself the focus of three worried gazes, he heard himself saying, “How about if I treat you to some pizzas and soda for dinner?”

“That really isn’t necessary,” Nina said quickly, wanting some time on her own to get used to the idea of the arrangement she’d agreed to.

Alex had noticed a gleam of excitement in the children’s eyes at the mention of pizza. Now he saw them look to their mother with a plea on their faces.

Her uneasiness about the arrangement was replaced by embarrassment. Takeout pizza and soda was a treat she couldn’t afford very often. And from her children’s reaction, she knew Alex Bennett had guessed that. Her shoulders straightened with pride.

Watching her, Alex realized that Nina Lindstrom didn’t like accepting anything she considered charity. “All of us should spend some time together,” he said before she could refuse his offer. “My grandfather will expect me to know some details about you and Tommy.” That he found himself honestly wanting to stay and spend the evening in the company of three children, rather than having a romantic tryst, surprised him. He told himself that he was doing this for William and to test his own feelings about fatherhood.

“Mom?” Elizabeth said hopefully.

He was right, Nina conceded. Besides, she was going to have to get used to having him around. “All right. Sure.”

Alex had to admit to feeling insulted by her less-than-enthusiastic acceptance of his company. Generally women enjoyed his presence. As before, he found himself thinking that when he came back to Grand Springs in search of Nina, this was not the woman he’d expected to find or anything even remotely resembling the situation he’d expected to find himself in.

Elizabeth was studying him with interest now, her mouth pursed into a thoughtful pout. “Tommy said he thinks he saw you at the hospital, but he’s not sure. He says it could have been a dream. Are you a doctor?”

“No, I’m not a doctor. But I was at the hospital.”

A haunted look came over Tommy’s features. “That machine was scary. They put me way up inside.” His voice trembled. “It was loud, too.”

He’d barely spoken since she’d brought him home. Now Nina realized he’d been so afraid, it had taken this long for him to be able to voice his trauma. “But the machine didn’t hurt you,” she said soothingly, hurrying to him and drawing him into her arms. “In fact, it helped the doctors. Now they know how to make you feel better.”

“I don’t want to do it again,” he pleaded, crying quietly into her shoulder.

Nina was tempted to lie but knew that would shake his faith in her. “I can’t promise you that.”

“If you do have to do it again, it’ll be easier the next time,” Alex said confidently. “You’ll know what to expect.”

Tommy stopped crying and lifted his head from his mother’s shoulder to look at the man. “It was really loud.”

“But the noise can’t hurt you,” Alex replied.

Tommy drew in a long breath, then asked, “Can I have pepperoni on my pizza?”

“Sure,” Alex said, startled by the child’s sudden change in subject. Then he recalled some proud parent he’d been cornered by at a party talking about how a child’s mind could jump from one thing to another. Clearly the boy had decided to forget the machine and concentrate on a more pleasant subject.

“Pete likes plain cheese,” Elizabeth spoke up.

“And what do you like?” Alex asked, looking her way.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Hamburger, I guess.”

Alex turned to Nina with a questioning look. “What about you?”

“Anything but onions and green peppers,” she replied, amazed by how calm his words had made Tommy. She was certain that if she’d said the same thing, her son would still be sobbing on her shoulder. She frowned. It had to be one of those male bonding kind of things…if a man says it, then it must be true.

“I’ll be back soon,” Alex promised, heading for the door.

Watching him stride out, Nina wondered if he was having second thoughts. That he’d chosen to go get the pizzas, instead of having them delivered, suggested he wanted to escape. Her children had behaved well. Both Elizabeth and Pete seemed to sense Tommy’s trauma acutely and were more subdued than usual. But they had stared, and a crying child usually made most men nervous. She half expected him to send the pizzas back with a messenger and a note saying some important business concern had come up. However, in the event that he did return, she needed to make the atmosphere a little more comfortable. “Mr. Bennett is a friend. He’s going to be around a lot for a while, so I don’t want you staring at him as if he has an eye in the middle of his forehead.”

“Is he a boyfriend?” Elizabeth asked.

Nina bit back an emphatic no. “He’s a friend,” she said firmly, hating to lie to the children. She doubted that she and Alex Bennett would ever be anything other than passing acquaintances. But she’d agreed to this charade for Tommy’s sake, and for him, she’d see it through. Wanting to end this discussion, she headed into the kitchen to get the plates.

Alex used his car phone to call his favorite Italian restaurant and order an assortment of pizzas. He added some ravioli and pasta to the order, as well. Seeing a bakery ahead, he stopped and bought a cake. At a quick-stop shop he purchased sodas.

He had expected to feel relieved to be out of that apartment with its bevy of children. Instead, he was anxious to return with his gathered goodies. Must be that Good Samaritan syndrome or maybe some primitive instinct that being the male, it makes me feel good to be bringing dinner home to someone, he mused sarcastically.

A little later, when Nina opened the door for him, her eyes rounded in surprise. “You got takeout from Fredrico’s?”

Her amazement pleased him. Carrying the boxes of hot food inside, he paused only long enough to put them on the table, then headed back to the door. “There’s a few more things in the car,” he said over his shoulder.

Nina began to frown as she opened the containers. He’d bought enough for days, and knowing the prices Fredrico’s charged, she guessed he’d spent nearly as much on this one meal as she budgeted for food for a month.

When he entered carrying the bakery box and a case of sodas, her pride again bubbled to the surface. She followed him into the kitchen, closing the door behind her. “We’re not a charity case,” she said in lowered tones so that her children would not hear. “You don’t have to feel you have to feed us as if we haven’t eaten in days. I have managed to keep food on the table.”

Alex scowled. “That wasn’t why I bought all of this. I thought you deserved a treat. You’ve obviously been through a rough time lately. And to be honest, I have no idea how much children eat.” He thought of the woman he’d met the night of the storm. That she had disappeared so completely bothered him. “I was hoping to make you smile. As I recall, you have a very nice smile.”

Nina drew a harsh breath. She’d overreacted. She should consider him Tommy’s guardian angel; instead, she seemed to be trying to find fault in everything he did. “I’m sorry. My pride can get a little out of hand at times.” She smiled a crooked, embarrassed smile. “Thank you. This was very kind.”

Alex glimpsed the woman from the night of the storm and smiled back, hoping to encourage her to emerge further. “You’re welcome.”

Nina’s smile stiffened. She knew now why she’d been so guarded with Alex Bennett. She was afraid of him. When he turned on his charm, he stirred emotions within her she didn’t want to feel toward him. They would only lead to trouble.

Seeing the woman from the storm disappearing again behind shuttered eyes, Alex frowned. “I get the feeling you’re fighting very hard not to like me.”

“I don’t dislike you. I just don’t see us remaining friends after this arrangement is over. You’ll go back to being a guest at parties, and I’ll go back to being one of the serving people. I figure it’s best if we both remember our places and stay in them.”

Alex had never thought of himself as a snob, and he didn’t like the picture she painted of him as one. “You’re overly class conscious.”

“I’m realistic. Just wait and see.”

What he saw was that her resolve was firm. He’d already determined that keeping a distance between them was the right thing to do, he reminded himself. “Have it your way,” he said without further argument.

“Mom, when can we eat?” Elizabeth called from the other side of the door.

“Right now,” Nina replied, exiting the kitchen. She waved the children toward the table. “You can all sit down, and Mr. Bennett can help you get what you want while I get the drinks.”

“Alex,” he corrected her. Then, in lowered tones for her ears only, he added, “My grandfather is never going to believe you’re my fiancée if you keep addressing me as Mr. Bennett.”

“Alex,” she conceded, fighting to ignore the erotic effect his warm breath on her neck was having on her senses.

Ordering himself to forget how much he’d wanted to nip her earlobe, Alex joined the children at the table. Pete was reaching for a slice of pizza, and he quickly helped the child get it onto his plate. Immediately the boy began to eat, ignoring all the others.

“My mother says you’re a friend,” Elizabeth said, regarding him speculatively as he dished her up a slice of pizza and some ravioli.

“That’s right,” he acknowledged, marveling at how much more intense a child’s gaze could be than an adult’s.

“Are you going to ask her on a date?” Elizabeth persisted.

“As a matter of fact, I consider this our first one,” he replied, wondering if the girl was going to object.

Elizabeth smiled with satisfaction. “Grandma will be happy to know Mommy is dating. Our dad’s been in heaven a long time. Pete doesn’t even remember him. He was only one. I don’t remember him real well, but Grandma says I take after him. He had blue eyes and blond hair, too.”

Alex realized she didn’t expect any response, as she abruptly stopped talking and turned her full attention to her food. Children, he mused. They simply say what’s on their minds, then move on to other topics. No small talk for them. Turning his attention to Tommy, he saw the boy sitting, his chin propped in his hands. “How about a piece of pepperoni pizza,” he offered, putting one on the boy’s plate.

Tommy forced a tired smile but continued to remain leaning into his hands. Concern for the boy flowed through Alex. “You need to eat,” he said.

“In a minute,” Tommy replied.

Nina brought in the drinks, and Alex saw the worried look on her face when she saw her eldest son staring lethargically at the food he’d been looking forward to having. “Try to eat a little,” she encouraged.

Tommy picked up the slice and began to nibble at it.

Concern for the boy foremost on his mind, Alex joined her in coaxing Tommy to eat. By the time the meal was over, he thought he’d never had so exhausting an experience.

After a couple of bites, Tommy had turned pale and looked as if he was going to be sick. Nina had carried him to the couch and laid him down. Alex’s worry that the boy was in much more immediate danger than the doctor had led them to believe increased.

Pete, clearly having inherited his mother’s bold independence, wanted to serve himself. The others had all tried to keep an eye on him, so that when he suddenly stood in his chair and made an attempt to reach something outside of his grasp, they were there to help. But none had been quick enough when he made a grab for another slice of pizza and spilled his soda.

Although Elizabeth was polite and ladylike at all times, Alex felt her watching him. He’d been sized-up by some very powerful men in his time and many a calculating female. None of those inspections unnerved him the way the little blonde’s did.

Helping Nina clear the table, he wondered how she’d had the energy to care for three children and hold down a job. It was a heavy load for such a delicate set of shoulders, he thought admiringly. He’d considered leaving soon after the meal. But the tiredness and the strain on her face brought out a protectiveness in him. He would stay awhile longer and help with the children, he decided.

Putting the leftovers in the refrigerator, Nina was sure Alex Bennett had had enough of her and her children. He’d never relaxed, but remained tensely alert in order to aid Pete, especially after the spilled soda episode. And Elizabeth hadn’t been able to keep her eyes off of the man. Knowing that a child’s nearly constant stare would make anyone uneasy, Nina had cast her daughter several reproving glances and Elizabeth had tried to behave herself. But, Nina had to admit, Alex Bennett was the kind of man any female would be drawn to study. She, herself, had found her gaze wandering to him several times, but she quickly jerked it away. Then there had been Tommy’s bout of threatened nausea.

Nina was used to active mealtimes and her children watching her, especially when they were anxious. But she was certain Alex was accustomed to a more sedate dining atmosphere with much more comfortable companions. Returning to the living room, she found him on the floor helping Pete build while Elizabeth introduced him to her dolls. She expected him to rise, make a polite excuse about business he needed to take care of and leave. Instead, he ruffled Pete’s hair playfully and added another block to the tower they were constructing.

Her jaw firmed. Even if he wasn’t tired of them, his presence was wearing her down. She needed some time alone with her children to absorb the impact of the events of the day. But politeness kept her from ordering him out. After all, he had provided dinner. She’d give him another fifteen minutes. If he wasn’t ready to leave by then, she’d politely but firmly send him packing. Seating herself in a nearby chair, she gave in to fatigue, leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

It seemed only moments had passed when a strong hand, gently shaking her shoulder, woke her.

Alex hated disturbing her sleep. She’d looked so peaceful. But he knew the children wouldn’t allow him to tuck them in, and he was ready for them to go to bed. Their company had been interesting but tiring. Both Elizabeth and Pete had vied for his attention, and he’d tried to give it equally. Tommy had continued to study him warily, and he’d sensed that all three were trying to decide if it was all right to like him. The effect put a strain on his nerves different from any he’d experienced in a long time. It was, he thought dryly, a lot like his first day in school when he wasn’t certain where he would fit in or if he would fit in at all. “Elizabeth tells me that it’s Pete’s bedtime,” he said when she opened her eyes.

Nina glanced at the clock. She’d been asleep for nearly two hours. “I’m so sorry,” she apologized, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment.

She was cute when she was flustered, Alex noted. “You obviously needed the rest.”

She saw a softness in his eyes that sent a curl of warmth through her. He’s way out of your league, she chided herself, and jerked her gaze to her children. “Time for baths,” she announced, rising and picking up Pete.

For the next hour, she washed backs, read stories and tucked all three kids into bed. Returning to the living room, she found Alex reading the newspaper. “I would have thought that you’d had enough of me and my family for one day,” she said, as surprised to find him there as she was by how at home he looked in her living room.

He laid aside the paper. While she’d been away, he’d had a stern talk with himself. He couldn’t deny he was physically attracted to her, but he vowed to keep the attraction under control. Having spent the evening in her home, not only was he more certain than ever that she would want more of a commitment than he wanted to give, but he wasn’t ready to take on the role of father to three children he hadn’t even sired. Not that they weren’t nice kids, he just wasn’t in the market for a ready-made family. Ignoring the curve of her hips, he kept his mind on business. “We don’t have much time to get to know each other.”

She noted that the warmth she’d seen earlier in his eyes was gone, and his cool, calculating tone let her know there was nothing personal in his inquiry. A few second thoughts about the reality of getting physically or emotionally involved with a woman with three children have obviously dampened any ardor he was experiencing, she thought cynically. It was just as well, she added. She would never be a wealthy man’s playmate, and that was all he would ever offer her. “What do you want to know?”

“Elizabeth filled me in on her age and those of her brothers. From that I figured out you’ve been widowed approximately three years.”

“Yes,” she replied when he paused, clearly expecting a response.

“You mentioned that your parents are deceased.”

Realizing that this twenty-questions game could go on forever unless she began to elaborate, Nina said, “My father had a small one-man, one-plane charter service. When I was sixteen, he and my mother were flying to Las Vegas for a short vacation. The plane got caught in a storm and crashed. My father’s mother was widowed and lived here. I didn’t want to leave Grand Springs, so she took me in. She died five years ago. My only close living relatives are my maternal grandparents. They live in a retirement community in Florida. We write but rarely see one another. Tom was my high school sweetheart. After my parents’ deaths we became even closer. As soon as I graduated from high school, we married. He worked with his father as a mechanic at a local garage. A drunk driver caused the accident that killed him.”

Tom’s image came strongly into her mind. Too tired to keep her emotions under control, tears welled in her eyes. “I thought he’d always be here. I let myself rely on him too much.”

She’s still in love with him, Alex noted. That explained why she’d fled when he’d started to kiss her. And another very good reason not to get involved with her, he added. Only a fool would compete with a ghost. “What kind of music do you like?”

She pushed Tom from her mind and ordered herself to concentrate on the business at hand. “All kinds. Country, mostly.”

“Movies?”

“I haven’t seen any in years. I don’t know.” Her nerves wearing thin, she frowned at him. “Do you really think your grandfather is going to grill you so closely about me?”

Alex had to admit he’d only continued to question her out of curiosity. He already knew enough to satisfy his grandfather. And curiosity did kill the cat. “You’re right. I know all I need to know.”

Her tiredness suddenly lessened as she realized that it was her turn to ask questions. “What about you? I’ll need to know something.”

“My father died before I was born. My mother preferred the jet-setting life to motherhood. As soon as I was born, she left me in my grandfather’s care and took off to lead her own life. She married several times. I lost track. About five years ago she drowned in the Mediterranean. I didn’t know her. I was raised by my grandfather and Matilda Hastings. Matilda was hired as my nanny and has remained as my grandfather’s housekeeper.”

Nina found herself picturing him as a lonely child. “I’m sorry about your parents.”

Alex shrugged. “My grandfather gave me all the attention any child could want. And Matilda was as protective as a mother hen. I figure I didn’t miss much.” But even as he made this declaration, a deep-rooted anger stirred within, and he scowled. He didn’t normally allow his mother’s desertion to awaken emotion. Long ago, he’d vowed to remain as indifferent to her as she had been to him. He glanced at his watch. “I think we both need to get some rest,” he said, rising. “I’ll come by and pick you up in time for your appointment tomorrow.”

“I need to drop the children off at their grandparents’ house. I’ll meet you at the doctor’s office,” she countered, then gave him directions.

He nodded and, bidding her good night, left.

As the door closed behind him, Nina frowned thoughtfully. If Alex Bennett had been truthful, and she had no reason to doubt him, he’d been loved and well cared for. But she’d seen the flash of anger in his eyes and knew his mother’s desertion had bothered him. “At least I know one subject to avoid,” she muttered, and headed into the bathroom to take a long, hot shower.

* * *

Alex’s knuckles whitened around the receiver of the phone as he fought to keep his temper in check. Soon after arriving back at his mountain retreat, he’d called his grandfather’s house to tell Matilda to expect him, Nina and Tommy. He’d also told her about the boy’s need for surgery. He would decide after he saw what condition his grandfather was in if it was necessary to tell the old man about the seriousness of the boy’s condition. “No need in causing him any grief in his last days,” he’d said.