by Pamela Bauer
He stared at her, those penetrating brown eyes making her want to squirm. She didn’t. She stood her ground, arms folded, chin up, meeting his eyes squarely. She was twenty-eight, not fourteen. She didn’t need to run and hide from any man.
“I can do that,” he told her with a grin that made her stomach do a funny little flutter.
“Good. Then we start over,” she stated evenly.
“We start over,” he repeated.
She wondered if that meant he’d finally pick up the coleslaw and leave, but he didn’t. He said, “I know we agree on one thing.”
“And that would be—?”
“We want my mom to be happy, right?”
“Right,” she agreed.
“You must know I didn’t come home to upset her,” he said with a questioning look in his eyes.
“And I haven’t lived with her the past year and a half so that I could take advantage of her.” The look in her eyes dared him to challenge that statement. He didn’t and she added, “That is what you were thinking, isn’t it? You don’t like the fact that your mom and I are close, do you?”
“I didn’t say that,” he denied.
“You don’t have to.” She took a deep breath to steady her emotions. “Dylan, your mother’s not some helpless, naive widow. She not only runs a boardinghouse, but she runs her own business, too. She’s nobody’s fool.”
To her surprise, he said, “I do believe you’re right.”
“I am.”
He grinned then and Maddie’s heart skipped more than one beat.
“You and I managed to live under the same roof without any problems when we were teenagers, Maddie. We should be able to do the same as adults, don’t you think?”
She almost said no. Every instinct in her told her Dylan Donovan could be big trouble for any woman.
“I don’t see why not,” she lied.
As if he knew she wasn’t sincere, he said, “It’s a big house.”
Not big enough.
“And it’s only temporary,” he added. “Who knows? My shoulder may heal faster than expected and I might not even be here this time next month.”
She should be so lucky.
“I’m used to living alone, fending for myself. I don’t need to be entertained,” he continued.
As if she was even interested in trying to entertain him.
“I only say that because, knowing my mom, she may have different ideas.” He smoothed a hand over the back of his neck. “It’s going to be embarrassing if she tries to arrange social activities for me.”
“She hasn’t done it for any of your brothers, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” she assured him. Not that he needed any assistance from anyone in that department. She doubted he had trouble finding female companions.
Noticing a customer approaching, Dylan finally picked up the small container of coleslaw. “I’d better pay for this. I’m glad we cleared the air, Maddie,” he said with a grin that gave her a glimpse of the charm he could exude if he chose.
She didn’t like what that smile did to her insides. She had no doubt that Dylan Donovan, should he choose, could be one irresistible man.
“Me, too,” she said, grateful for the customer waiting for her attention. “It’s good we settled this.”
“Yes, it is.” He extended his hand to her.
Unlike the first time their fingers had touched, his hand was warm. She’d barely placed hers inside his when she pulled it back. She hoped he thought the brevity of their handshake was due to the fact that there was a customer waiting for service. What she didn’t want him to know was that it’d been an instinctive defense mechanism. She didn’t like the pleasant sensation that contact had created.
She wasn’t fourteen and he wasn’t some heartthrob who could make her go weak in the knees. He was nothing at all like the kind of man she wanted to arouse her interest.
If he thought she’d be seeking his company while he was home, he was sadly mistaken. She’d do whatever she could to avoid having to spend any time with Dylan Donovan, even if it meant volunteering for extra hours at the co-op.
“How much is the farmer’s cheese?” A voice interrupted her musings.
Maddie was forced to turn her attention back to the deli case, but not before she took one more glance in the cashier’s direction. She noticed Dylan was smiling at the woman behind the counter. Maddie was certain that the woman smiled back.
CHAPTER FOUR
Dear Leonie: I’m attracted to this guy and I don’t want to be. I’m doing everything I can to avoid running into him, but it’s as if fate keeps putting him in my path. What can I do?
Signed: Wishing I could be invisible
Leonie says: Are you sure you really want to get out of his way?
ONE OF THE THINGS Maddie liked best about living in Leonie’s house was that Leonie made her tenants feel as if they were part of her family. Although Maddie and Krystal both had their own rooms on the second floor, there were many nights when all three women would gather downstairs in Leonie’s living room. It’s where Maddie and Krystal were when Leonie returned from the hospital the following evening.
“How’s Dylan?” Maddie asked when she entered the room.
“He’s doing fine. The doctor says he’ll be able to come home tomorrow,” Leonie said, shrugging out of her coat.
“We were just going to watch a chick flick. Want to join us?” Krystal asked.
Leonie glanced at the big bowl on the coffee table. “Is that popcorn buttered?”
Maddie grinned mischievously. “Yes, and we’re drinking real Coke, not diet. It’s so much fun to be bad.”
“Come on, Leonie. Join us,” Krystal urged. “We’ve rented a romantic comedy starring Joseph Fiennes. He is sooo cute.” She sighed. “And when the popcorn’s gone, we’re going to have hot-fudge sundaes.”
Leonie chuckled. “Oh, you girls do want to be bad, don’t you?” Maddie could see her resolve weakening. “All right. You convinced me, but first I need to take care of a few things. Will you give me fifteen minutes to change my clothes?”
“Take your time,” Maddie called out to her departing figure.
But she didn’t take very long at all. And when she returned, she hadn’t changed her clothes.
“You’re never going to believe who I just talked to,” she said in a breathless voice. “The producer of the Rob Lerner show. He wants me to come to California and tape a Valentine’s Day segment.”
Krystal shrieked. “Oh my gosh, that is so cool! Do you know how many people watch that show?”
Maddie didn’t watch a lot of TV, but she did know that Rob Lerner was a comedian who hosted a late-night talk show that consistently scored high in the ratings. “That is good news, Leonie. What exactly did he say?”
“I’m so stunned I can hardly remember. Luckily I took notes.” Leonie waved a pink slip of paper in midair. “Apparently they’re going to be doing a special segment for Valentine’s Day and they want me to be a part of it. I’m supposed to give tips on how to make the day more special for the one you love.” She paused, pushing her finger to her lips. “Of course, just because I’m there for the taping doesn’t mean I won’t get edited out before the program is aired.”
“They wouldn’t fly you out there if they didn’t intend to have you on the show. They’d interview you over the phone,” Maddie said reassuringly. “When do they want you?”
Her face fell. “Well, that’s the problem. They want to tape the segment this weekend.”
Krystal looked at her anxiously. “You’re going to go, aren’t you?”
“How can I? Dylan’s going to be here,” she reminded them. “He came home mainly because I told him he could recuperate here.”
“Can’t he go to Shane’s?” Maddie asked.
Leonie immediately shook her head. “Oh, no. That wouldn’t work. The house is small and Jennifer works those odd hours. Besides, Dylan wouldn’t want me to ask Shane. No, that definitely wouldn’t w
ork.”
“What about Garret?” Krystal suggested. “You said he offered to let Dylan stay at his place when he first suggested he come home for the surgery.”
“He did, but realistically, it wouldn’t work.” Again Leonie shook her head. “You know the kind of hours Garret puts in as a resident. Dylan would spend most of his time alone.” She glanced down at the slip of paper and sighed. “This would have been fun, but the truth is I’m not the Hollywood type and I don’t need to be on the Rob Lerner program. Dylan’s probably right. I should decline.”
“You’ve already talked to Dylan about it?” Maddie asked.
She nodded. “I called him right away to get his advice. He told me the decision was mine to make, but he had his reservations.”
Maddie wondered if they weren’t motivated by his desire to have his mother nurse him back to good health. If they were, Leonie needed to hear another opinion.
“I don’t think you should pass up such an opportunity,” she told Leonie. “Do you realize what a few minutes of TV exposure could do for your business?”
Leonie nodded. “I know millions of people watch the Rob Lerner show and it would be exciting….” She trailed off.
“So why are you hesitating?” Maddie asked. “Leonie, you can’t not go just because Dylan doesn’t think it’s a good idea.”
“But I asked him to come here to recuperate. It wouldn’t be right for me to leave him alone so soon after he’s out of the hospital,” she said with a look of regret in her eyes.
“He won’t be alone. We’ll be here,” Krystal pointed out. “We can make sure he gets something to eat and anything else he needs, for that matter.”
Maddie wanted to say, Speak for yourself, but held her tongue. Krystal’s words produced a spark of hope in her landlady’s eyes that had Maddie remaining silent.
“It’s generous of you two to offer, but—” began the older woman, only to have Krystal cut her short.
“But nothing. With everything you’ve done for us, you’re not going to tell us we can’t do you a favor.” Krystal looked at Maddie. “Isn’t that right?”
“Yes,” Maddie had no choice but to agree because she knew it was the truth. When she’d twisted her ankle, Leonie had canceled her plans to spend a few days with friends at a resort in northern Minnesota so that she could take Maddie to physical therapy.
“What about work? You both have jobs to go to this weekend.” Leonie’s brow wrinkled in concern.
“The shop is close enough that I can come home on my breaks to check on Dylan,” Krystal stated.
Curious, Maddie asked, “How much care does he need?”
“With his arm in a sling, he only has use of one hand and unfortunately it’s his left one,” Leonie answered. “Plus he needs help with his exercises.”
“What kind of exercises?”
Leonie shrugged. “I don’t know. Whatever they have you do after shoulder surgery.”
“I’m sure we can do it.” Krystal’s voice had a confidence Maddie didn’t share. “Leonie, you have to go to California,” she stated emphatically.
Leonie hesitated, her teeth sinking into her lower lip. “You’re sure you don’t mind looking after Dylan while I’m gone?” She looked from Maddie to Krystal.
“Of course we don’t,” Krystal spoke for both of them.
“Do you really think it’ll be okay?” Leonie sought reassurance and Krystal gave her a gentle nudge in the back.
“Go make that phone call,” she ordered her landlady, who acquiesced with a smile and went scurrying out of the room. Krystal looked at Maddie and said, “This is so exciting, isn’t it?”
Maddie truly was happy for Leonie, but she had a hard time sharing Krystal’s enthusiasm. It might turn out to be a great weekend for her housemate and her landlady, but she didn’t see how it could be anything but a big headache for her—unless she left all the nursing duties to Krystal and saw as little of Dylan as possible.
But she knew that at some point during the weekend she was going to have to either help him with his exercises or get him something to eat. The latter would be the easier task, as she could prepare the food ahead of time and put it in the freezer. She smiled to herself at the thought of him sitting alone in the kitchen with a microwaved frozen dinner on his plate.
At least he’d get good frozen dinners. It was more than he deserved. Much more. Especially after trying to talk Leonie out of going to California. That still annoyed Maddie and she thought it would serve him right if no one lifted a finger to help him all weekend.
Except someone would wait on him—Krystal. Maddie should have been happy that her housemate wanted to play Florence Nightingale. It meant Maddie wouldn’t have to spend much time with him. And that was what she wanted.
Wasn’t it? That was a question she didn’t want to examine too closely.
NOT SINCE HE WAS A CHILD had Dylan needed anyone to help him put on his clothes or eat his dinner. For the past thirteen years he’d traveled the world, lived in foreign countries and worked a variety of jobs in which he’d relied on nobody but himself. And that’s the way he liked it. He didn’t want to be dependent on anyone for anything, which was why he hated being in the hospital.
He wanted to feel like his old self again. To be in control.
However, he discovered independence didn’t necessarily come with his signature on a hospital release form. The staff insisted he leave the building in a wheelchair, which made him feel even more helpless. Then his mother picked him up at the front door, fussing over him as if he were an invalid.
“You’re in pain, aren’t you?” she said, when he winced as he fastened the seat belt.
“Mom, I’m fine,” he assured her, determined not to let his shoulder prevent him from doing the simplest of tasks.
“I don’t think you are. Maybe I should cancel my trip to California.”
“No, you don’t need to do that. I said I’m fine and I mean it. I’m fine,” he barked at her and then immediately felt remorse. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I just hate that I can’t take care of things myself.”
She made a soothing sound and patted his hand. “You’re just like your father. He didn’t want to be dependent on anyone, either.”
The comparison to his father only fueled his frustrations. “You’re wrong. I’m not like him.”
She didn’t say anything but started up the car. The silence stretched uncomfortably and again he found himself apologizing. “I’m sorry, Mom. I should probably have had this surgery in Florida. You don’t need me grumbling.”
“You’ll feel better once you’re home,” she said in her usual cheery way. “Everyone gets a little testy when they’re in pain. They say the first few days after surgery are the hardest.”
“If that’s true, it’s a good thing you’re going to California this weekend. If I’m going to be ornery, I might as well be alone.”
“I’m still wondering if it’s a mistake for me to leave,” she said apprehensively.
“Don’t give it a second thought. I’ll be fine.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about. It’s Krystal and Maddie. If you treat them the way you’ve treated those nice nurses at the hospital…” She shook her head.
“There’s an easy solution. Tell them I don’t need their help.”
She clicked her tongue. “Now you’re being ridiculous. You know as well as I do that you need someone to help you with your exercises. You heard what the doctor said about the importance of doing them correctly.”
“It’s not that big a deal. I have the diagrams. I’m sure I can manage by myself.”
“And will you manage to cook for yourself, too? Seeing as it’s your right hand in the sling, how do you plan to do that?”
“I can eat frozen dinners. It only takes one hand to punch a microwave button. Mom, I just want to be left alone for a few days. I can take care of myself until you get back.”
“Now you’re being stubborn.”
“Maddie and Krystal won’t hover. They won’t even be around that much. They have work to do.”
He shifted in his seat, unable to get comfortable. “I just wish you hadn’t asked them to look out for me.”
“I didn’t ask. They volunteered.”
He cast her a sideways glance. “Are you sure Maddie volunteered?”
“I didn’t ask her to look after you, if that’s what you’re thinking. I don’t understand why you get so touchy whenever I mention her name.”
He knew there was no point in answering, so he simply leaned his head back and closed his eyes while she recited a list of Maddie’s virtues. He would have preferred to forget about his mother’s tenant, but he found himself thinking back to his encounter with her at the co-op.
He’d thought the reason he’d found her attractive the first night he’d come home was her belly-dancing costume. But then he’d seen her with her hair pulled back in a net and a large butcher’s apron covering nearly all of her, and he’d realized that it hadn’t simply been her state of dress that had aroused his interest.
She had an appeal that had nothing to do with her physical appearance. There was something in the way she looked at him, a silent message that told him if he wanted to do battle, she was ready. She wasn’t exactly feisty, but she certainly wasn’t the shy kid he remembered, either. It had been a long time since he’d met a woman who truly intrigued him.
And as much as he hated to admit it, Maddie did pique his curiosity. But that didn’t mean he wanted her nursing his injured shoulder. He shuddered. He needed rest, not to have his blood pressure rise—or to have any other kind of physical reaction every time she came in the room. It was the latter response that bothered him most.
“The next couple of days are important to your recovery, Dylan.” His mother’s voice broke into his musings. “You need to remember that and follow the doctor’s instructions. Maddie and Krystal have been kind enough to help you do that, so please be gracious and accept their help.”