The Bachelor Boss

by Judy Baer

  Before his mind could spin off in the direction of business and keep him awake despite his respite from Lily, he tried to think of something else. But the images that came to mind were almost as distracting as the import/export business. Hannah St. James, crashing into his Mercedes, enthralling Lily, cooking dinner on his stove, warming his kitchen with food and laughter. Smelling of lavender and cookies. None of it was what he’d expected.

  He flipped from his side to his back and stared at the ceiling. Having Hannah around made him think about Anita. He’d imagined many scenes like tonight, but with her, not Hannah. He’d believed they were a match made in heaven, one much like that of his grandparents, which happened only once in a lifetime. When she’d died five years ago, he’d never expected to have feelings like that for another woman again. That was, after all, why he’d plunged himself so deeply into the business. There was little room for grieving over what he’d lost.

  Besides, he’d created the business he’d desired and it took most of his time and his thoughts to keep it running at this fast pace. He couldn’t let anything get in the way right now. The attraction he felt for this new addition to their family would have to go on the back burner. For the time being, at least, he had to keep his nose to the grindstone no matter how appealing Hannah St. James might be.

  * * *

  The next morning he woke up at five-thirty feeling refreshed. It was the first time since Lily had broken her foot that he’d felt he could have a run before work. Lily never got up early. How could she when she refused to go to sleep at night? Ty pulled on his running clothes and tread softly down the stairs. He usually took a path that started by the kitchen patio and circled most of the neighborhood. It was only three miles, but at least it got his blood pumping in the morning.

  Ty was surprised to find Hannah already in the kitchen in navy sweats and a lime-green jacket. She was tying her running shoes and glanced up as he entered.

  “I didn’t expect anyone to be up.” Pillow wrinkles were pressed into her cheek and her hair had been pulled back carelessly. She looked like a teenager with her rusty-red hair pulled tightly away from her face and her ponytail thrust through the back of a lime-green baseball cap. Tendrils slipped out to frame her makeup-free face.

  “Neither did I.” She was even more beautiful without artifice. Women wore makeup for other women, Ty had decided long ago. He loved her naturalness and lack of pretension.

  “I usually try to run before I wake Danny up for school. After that the day usually gets away from me.”

  “Do you want to run with me this morning so you get to know the trails?” He pulled his own jacket from the closet. The weather had been good for Denver in late March, but a jacket was still a definite necessity.

  “I’d like that. If I’m too slow for you, feel free to leave me behind. I’ll find my way home. I always do.”

  They started out slowly, chatting about the weather and the landscape.

  “Thank you for inviting me to run with you. It’s nice. I’ve run alone for years, but I find it good to have a companion, at least on a new path,” Hannah said.

  “Anytime,” Ty surprised himself by saying. He and Anita had run together often. He’d liked the feel of her by his side. It had been difficult to continue running after the funeral, but he’d forced himself. He, too, had felt alone on the trails for a long time. What’s more, Ty was supremely aware of Hannah’s small presence next to him. He was even more aware that he liked it.

  Chapter Eight

  The next few days passed quickly as she and Danny grew accustomed to the Matthews’ household. She was late today in bringing Lily her breakfast tray. Lily liked to sleep in on Saturdays. The old woman was frowning when Hannah entered the room. Her phone was next to her on the bed.

  “You don’t look very happy this beautiful morning,” Hannah observed. “Are you feeling okay?”

  “It’s not me—it’s my friend Clara. Something is wrong.” She barely glanced at her tray, on which Hannah had made sure to put a fresh flower in a bud vase.

  “What’s the problem?” Ty asked. He’d followed Hannah upstairs with a carafe of coffee and mugs. It was his custom to have coffee with his grandmother on Saturday mornings.

  It pleased Hannah to know that she was freeing him up to work, but she was glad for his presence on the weekends. Lily was demanding. She reminded Hannah of Danny as a toddler—always wanting to be entertained, becoming easily bored and having a short attention span.

  She hadn’t heard much from Trisha, and Hannah didn’t know whether to be grateful or concerned. She seemed to be having a good deal of fun with Emily and Jane but often sounded scattered and disorganized on the phone.

  The only time Hannah had been to the house, Trisha had been out. The girls weren’t pristine housekeepers, but the place was relatively neat. It was good for her sister to be on her own, Hannah told herself, and it was about time. She’d peeked in the rolltop desk for unpaid bills. It was messy, but she hadn’t found anything to suggest Trisha wasn’t on top of things. She was probably worrying unnecessarily.

  Ty sat down in a recliner across from his grandmother and poured a cup of coffee. “Care to join us, Hannah?”

  “Oh, I shouldn’t.”

  “Of course you should!” Lily said emphatically. To do anything else, her tone implied, would be utterly impolite.

  Ty smiled, she noticed, as he poured her a cup of coffee. A crease in one cheek looked suspiciously like a dimple. Hannah had always been a sucker for dimples. One more reason Ty Matthews was one of the most handsome men she’d ever met.

  Hannah was developing more and more sympathy for him every day. He was a champ to have lasted this long with his imperious grandmother. Without even realizing it, Lily had had Hannah on her toes all day long every day.

  When she was entertained, Lily was as charming and delightful a woman as Hannah had ever met. But when she was displeased, Hannah had feared a magazine or hairbrush might sail past her head.

  Despite these fits of temper, Hannah loved Lily more every day. She was clever, funny and generous to a fault. And she adored Danny, who, as soon as he’d had his after-school snack, went directly to Lily’s room to tell her about his day.

  Hannah settled on a straight-back chair next to the recliner and Ty handed her a mug. When their fingers touched she felt his warmth. Something lurched within her. That simple motion was the type of thing she’d missed most about not having a man in her life—not the showy public gesture, but the tiny, cozy moments that no one else knew about.

  “My grandmother and Clara were in school together when they were girls,” Ty was saying. “They’ve kept in touch ever since. About six months ago, Clara moved back to Denver to live with her sister and nephew. She and Lily were able to renew the friendship.”

  “Such as it is,” Lily snorted. “We never see each other in person. Poor thing. She’d been crying when I called her this morning. She tried to pretend she had a cold, but I don’t think so. She’s not telling me everything.” Lily looked directly at Ty. “You’ll have to go over there and see if she needs help. What if she’s sick and hasn’t been to a doctor?”

  “She lives with her sister, doesn’t she?”

  “Her sister doesn’t drive. They depend on Clara’s nephew to take them wherever they need to go.” Lily turned to Hannah. “Something’s wrong, I tell you. I won’t rest until I assure myself she’s okay.”

  Hannah recognized that tone of voice. Lily would not be dissuaded.

  “I baked two batches of cookies yesterday. Perhaps you’d like to send some over to your friend?” she said mildly.

  Lily clapped her hands. “Excellent idea! No one will question why you’ve come if you’re delivering something from me. You can go right now, Ty. Take Hannah with you. Both Danny and Irene are here. I’ll be fine.” She promptly shooed them away.

  Out in the hall, Tyler asked, “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  “One, it will set Lily’s mind at ease.
Two, I make really great cookies and it might cheer up her friend. It’s a small thing and won’t take long. What’s the worst that can happen? We waste an hour and an elderly person gets a couple dozen cookies as a gift? Besides, you hired me to make her happy, didn’t you? Do you want me to drive?”

  “Your car doesn’t have enough leg room for me.” Even his frown couldn’t do any damage to Ty’s good looks.

  “I’ll get the cookies.” Hannah hurried to the kitchen, glad to get away. She had to admit to herself that she was attracted to Tyler Matthews and it made her very, very nervous. The last thing she needed to leave here with was a broken heart.

  * * *

  The five-mile ride was filled with awkward silence.

  She didn’t know what had come over her the past few days. She’d grown more shy around Ty rather than less, no doubt because of the pull she felt toward him. It was more than physical, although that, too, was disconcertingly strong. She found herself wanting to be in his orbit whenever he was home, feeling glad when he spent time with her and Lily, wishing he didn’t work quite so hard so he could be at home more often.

  She liked to talk with him. He was quick, smart, clever and had a droll sense of humor. He surprised her with his knowledge about so many things, his understanding of the world of business and, particularly, with his compassion. She’d never met a man with such a capacity to love. It all centered around his grandmother, of course, but she could see that he had enough to share with a wife, a family and oh-so-many more and yet never be depleted. It seemed odd that he had chosen not to have that in his life.

  All their conversations centered on Lily, which was as it should be, but it unnerved her when she felt him studying her with those piercing blue eyes. She felt revealed under his gaze, as if, when he knew her better he’d be able to read her soul.

  Once they’d spent some time together, she hoped she’d learn the thoughts behind those compelling eyes. Perhaps when he became less mysterious to her, she would feel less drawn to him, she consoled herself.

  Hannah asked the first question that popped into her head. “What was Lily’s marriage to your grandfather like?”

  It took him a moment to answer. “Like living inside a valentine.”

  “How is that?”

  “Roses, chocolates, frills and ruffles, kissing, hugging, simpering smiles. All that stuff that horrifies a little boy. I had a lot to get used to.”

  “Really? They actually behaved that way?”

  “Theirs was a true love story. My grandfather ruined Lily for any other man, of course. No one else would have the energy to keep it up. Besides, she was never interested in anyone else.”

  She and Steve had had their own true love story, Hannah knew. She understood Lily’s unwillingness to attempt to replace a love like that.

  “The standard they set is high.”

  “But you’ve attempted to step into your grandfather’s shoes where Lily’s care and happiness are concerned.”

  He shifted in his seat and rolled his shoulders back, as if to make himself more comfortable. “I was young when my grandfather died,” he said obliquely.

  “What does that mean?”

  “I hadn’t had much experience with deathbed requests at that time.”

  She stared at him. He stared straight ahead at the road, his profile somber and chiseled. “I don’t understand.”

  “My grandfather died at home. He asked me to come to his room only hours before he died. I was pretty broken up at the time, naturally. When he asked me to take care of Grams, what else could I say but yes? Then he added, ‘Keep her happy, Tyler. It’s going to be hard on her when I’m gone. Do all you can, will you?’ Of course I agreed.”

  “And you’ve been doing so ever since?” Her respect for him went up another notch. It was something she, too, would have done, had she had the chance, even though the cost could be high.

  “I would have anyway. My grandparents were very good to me. But in my mind, I hear my grandfather’s voice. That’s what keeps me going when Grams is being particularly challenging. I loved him very much. What was important to him is important to me.”

  “Do you do it because you are a Christian or because your grandfather told you to do it?” Hannah asked curiously.

  “Both. God and Gramps have both given me instruction. Who am I to mess with that?”

  They were both quiet as they pulled up in front of the house at the address Lily had given them.

  “Here we are.” It was a simple white house with red shutters and a lawn badly in need of attention.

  Hannah was surprised by the simplicity of this home compared with the Matthews house. She supposed she’d assumed all of Lily’s friends would have been from the same social class. Hannah was pleased that Lily and Ty didn’t seem to find that important.

  “Let’s get this done,” Ty muttered. “I’m not good at being a busybody.”

  “Only for Lily, right.”

  “Only Lily.”

  Chapter Nine

  Hannah took the big box of cookies she’d packed out of the backseat of the car. “Think of this as bringing a little sunshine into someone’s life,” she said to Ty.

  “Look after widows and orphans in their distress?” He quoted James.

  “Exactly.” She pressed the doorbell and heard a grating, unmusical sound coming from the back of the house. The door was thrown open and a thirtysomething man with uncombed hair and a scruffy beard appeared.

  “We’ve come to visit Clara,” Hannah said. “We have a gift for her from her friend Lily Matthews.”

  “Let them in, John.” An elderly woman in a walker was slowly making her way to the front of the house. Her hair was pulled back in a bun from which flyaway gray hairs had escaped. She’d been pretty once, but time and pain had etched deep creases in her cheeks and around her mouth.

  Inside, the place felt grubby. The windows hadn’t been washed in some time and were a filmy, cloudy gray.

  “Are you Clara?” Hannah asked.

  “No. I’m Margaret. Clara is my sister.”

  Ty stepped forward. “I’m Tyler Matthews. My grandmother Lily and your sister are friends. We have got some baked goods for her.”

  “She’s in her room.” The woman pointed toward a hallway. “First door on the left.”

  Clara was in a rocking chair by the window. Hannah went immediately to the chair and knelt down. “Lily Matthews thought some cookies might cheer you up. I’m Hannah, her caregiver, and this is Ty, Lily’s grandson.”

  Ty reached out a hand to the older woman. “Clara and I have met, but it’s been a long time.”

  “So nice to see you again. This is lovely of her! I did need a pick-me-up today,” the white-haired, sweet-faced woman said. “Please sit down and visit a minute—if you can find a place, that is.”

  Every space was covered with clutter.

  “I’m not able to pick up around here, so it’s a bit of a mess. My sister said her son, John, should help me, but I’d rather not ask him. It makes him crabby.”

  “Who is here to care for you and your sister?” Hannah inquired, keeping her tone easy and pleasant.

  “No one, except John. Margaret does a little cooking. John’s supposed to do the rest. It’s to be in lieu of rent because he’s living here while he’s looking for work.”

  “Then a little homemade baking will taste good,” Hannah said brightly. “Let us tell you about Lily.”

  They chatted for a bit. Then when they got up to leave, Clara had tears in her eyes. “Thank you so much. You don’t know how much your visit has meant to me. Tell Lily thank you.”

  “Maybe you can come over for a visit one day,” Ty suggested. “Lily would love that.”

  When they got back into the car, Ty was somber. “That poor woman is living a life that’s the antithesis of my grandmother’s. And I’ve been thinking I had it tough keeping up with Lily!”

  “Clara’s not complaining. Perhaps she has no money or resources to go elsewher
e. Maybe she doesn’t want to rock the boat.”

  Lily, however, could wield both her tongue and that cane of hers with the precision and elegance of a rapier. Someone would have received a tongue-lashing a long time ago if those two had changed places.

  “In this life, the hardest part is saved for last—aging, illness, failing mind and body,” Hannah said softly.

  “My grandfather said something almost exactly like that about himself once. Age has a way of diminishing a person, stripping one of strength and vitality. He’d become an old man, looked and acted nothing like the man who had built businesses, fought in wars, done heroic deeds and been a sterling husband and father. Funny, but I hadn’t thought about it quite this way before—not, at least, until after Lily broke her foot.”

  Impulsively, he turned to her. “I’m hungry. Maybe we should get something to eat.” He surprised himself at the words coming out of his mouth. He knew all about keeping a professional distance between employer and employee. Yet he’d just asked Hannah to lunch. He assured himself it wasn’t a date or anything, just practical. He was hungry. She was probably hungry, too.

  “Thank you. That would be very nice.”

  He drove toward a place that he hadn’t been to in years.

  “What is this?” Hannah asked as they drove through a parklike setting toward a large white farmhouse with several outbuildings scattered around it.

  “A place from my childhood. I haven’t been here in years, so I can’t promise you the food is good, but the atmosphere is pleasant.”

  On one side of the road was a miniature golf course, and on the other was a pasture containing miniature goats.

  “This is The Farmhouse.”

  “It certainly is.” Hannah stared at the big four-square house with its double-hung windows and green shutters.

  “No, I mean, that’s its name. The Farmhouse. When I was a kid we’d come here because the food is just like home-cooking. Then my grandmother would go to the gift shop—” he pointed to a building that looked suspiciously like a fancy chicken coop “—while my grandfather and I played miniature golf. We could only play one game, however. Grandfather said that he couldn’t afford to let Lily spend any more time in a retail establishment. She usual had a half-dozen packages with her by the time we left as it was.”