[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

"She was busy," he said curtly. "Get in."
Jeff shrugged. He wondered if he was ever going to understand adults.
Calhoun paused by Fay's desk, noticing her worn expression and trembling hands.
"J.D.'s been by, I gather," he said dryly.
She lifted her miserable eyes to his. "You might say that. He had Jeff with him."
"And left you here?"
She sat up straighten "I told him I didn't have any money. He left."
He whistled. "Not a wise move, Fay," Calhoun said gently. "Donavan's touchy about money. You knew
that his father ?"
"Yes, I knew," she cut him off gently. "It's for the best," she said. "He didn't really care about me. If he
wanted me at all it was because he had a better chance of keeping Jeff if I was around. I'm not stupid. I
know he doesn't love me."
Calhoun wanted to deny that, to reassure her, but it was patently obvious that she was right, J. D.
Langley wasn't the hearts-and-roses type, but he sure didn't act like a man in love.
"It's early days yet," he told her, wanting to say something positive. "Give him time. J.D.'s been a loner
ever since I've known him. He's a lot like Justin. Maybe that's why they get along so well. I have to
admit, he and I have never been particularly friendly, but that doesn't have anything to do with you."
"I guess I should apologize," she began.
"Oh, not yet," he said, smiling. "Let him sweat for a while. It will do him good to be on the receiving
end for once."
"You mean, he's usually the one who does the jilting," she said, sighing as she remembered how
experienced he was. "I guess he's done his share of breaking hearts."
"Be careful of yours," Calhoun said seriously. "There's something I want to mention to you. I told you
that this job was temporary, just until Nita came back." He hesitated, noticing her depressed look as
she nodded. "Well, I want to offer it to you permanently. I need a secretary of my own, and Nita works
a lot better with Justin than she does with me. What do you say? We've been thinking of adding a
secretary, but until you came along, we weren't sure exactly what we wanted. You suit me and we seem
to work pretty well together. Besides," he added on a chuckle, "Abby might divorce me if I let you go.
She thinks a lot of you."
"I think a lot of her." Fay brightened magically. "You really mean it?"
"I mean it. If you want the job permanently, it's yours."
"And Nita won't mind working just for Justin?"
"I've already asked her. She almost kissed my feet. It seems that she's only been putting on a brave face
about handling the workload for both of us. Getting some relief has given her a new lease on life. She
said she was actually thinking of staying home with the baby just to get away from the work."
"Then I'd love the job, thank you," she said brightly. "You have no idea how much I enjoy working
here. Besides," she confessed, not realizing that he already knew her situation, "I'm afraid I'm going
to have to work for the rest of my life. My parents didn't leave me anything. I'm flat broke."
"In that case, we'll be helping each other out," he said. "So welcome aboard."
"Thanks, Calhoun," she said, and meant it. "Thanks very much."
"My pleasure."
She turned her attention back to her computer with an improved outlook. At least she had a job, even
if she didn't have J. D. Langley. But that might still be for the best. She'd only have been letting herself
in for a lot of heartache. It was better not to even begin something that was blighted from the start.
And it wasn't as if he loved her. She had to keep remembering that.
The man driving back toward home was trying to keep it in mind himself, while he fumed inwardly at
Fay's attitude. He wasn't mercenary, but she thought he was. Like father, like son. He groaned
inwardly. Would he never be free of the stigma?
Jeff hadn't said a word, and Donavan couldn't bring himself to tell the boy why Fay wouldn't come to
lunch with them. She thought he'd only been keeping company with her because of her money, when
he'd already told her he didn't like rich women.
But in all honesty, he had to admit that he'd given her no real reason to think she was of value to him
as a person. He'd talked much more about getting custody of Jeff than of wanting her for herself. He'd
made love to her lightly, but even that could have convinced her that it was desire mingled with the
need for a woman to aid his case to keep Jeff.
He frowned. He hadn't given her any chance at all. To compound it, he'd told her that he'd been back in
town for almost a whole day and hadn't even bothered to phone her. He groaned inwardly. He'd made
so many mistakes.
Worst of all, he hadn't considered her feelings. She'd just been told that she'd lost everything. All she
had to her name was a Mercedes-Benz that she was going to have to sell. It was more than an
inheritance she'd lost it was her whole way of life. She had to be terrified at being responsible for
herself. She was only twenty-one, and so alone, because she and her uncle weren't close. She'd needed
comfort and help, and he'd told her to go to hell.
"You look terrible, Uncle Don," Jeff broke the tense silence. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Not yet. But I will be," he said, and abruptly turned around in his own front yard and headed right
back toward town. It was quitting time, so Fay would most likely be at home. He didn't know what he
was going to say to her. He'd think of something.
Chapter Six
Fay had thought about staying late at the office, just to keep her mind busy, but in the end she decided
she would be equally well-off at home. She said good-night to her co-workers and drove the short
distance back to her apartment house.
The Mercedes felt uncomfortable now that she was a working girl. It was just as well that Mr. Holman
was going to help her sell it. There would be no more luxury cars, no more shopping sprees that
didn't include looking at price tags. There would be no more designer clothes. No bottomless bank
account to fall back on. She could have cried. She would make it. She knew she would. But getting
used to her circumstances was going to take a little time.
She got out of the car and was walking onto the front porch when she heard the roar of a vehicle and
saw Donavan driving up next to the Mercedes with Jeff beside him.
Not another fight, she prayed silently, her wan face resigned and miserable even if her eyes did light
up helplessly at the very sight of him when he got out and approached her.
He stopped just in front of her, his own expression somber. She looked bad. The camouflage she'd
hidden her fears behind had vanished now, because she was tired and her guard was down. He reached
out and touched her mouth, dry and devoid of lipstick.
"I'm sorry," he said without preamble. "I didn't think about how you must feel until I was back home."
The unexpected compassion, on top of the emotional turmoil she'd been through, cracked inside her.
Tears poured down her cheeks.
 I m sorry, too," she managed brokenly. "Oh, Donavan, I didn't mean it...!"
His breath caught at her vulnerability, and he was glad he'd made the decision to come back. Without a
word, he bent and lifted her in his hard arms and started back toward his car, kissing the tears away as
he went, whispering comforting things that she didn't quite hear.
Jeff saw them coming and, with a grin, moved into the back seat. Donavan winked at him before he
slid Fay into the passenger seat and trussed her up in her seat belt.
"Stay put," he told her. "We're kidnapping you."
"What will my landlord think?" she asked with a watery smile. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]