by Robyn Grady
Well, Xander Drake was right.
While Heather was away visiting her folks in Seattle this week, she could use some help.
Brooke was sitting in the recliner, bouncing Chance on her lap, when Xander stuck his head in the door.
“I flipped the sign,” he said.
She gave into a weary smile. “I should thank you for taking care of things.”
“You look like you’re ready to drop.”
“The secret is to keep moving. I stopped.”
Studying her face, the dark circles under her eyes, he added, “Probably good you don’t need to drive.”
“Convenient, right?” But then her gaze sharpened. “You know I live here on the site?”
He dashed a look around the space. “I’m guessing there’s more to it than this.”
“There’s another bedroom, a bathroom. A main room, too. Everything we need.”
Xander registered the defensive tone in her voice. At the same time he contemplated his own penthouse overlooking the ocean. He’d figure that one out later. In the meantime, he got back on track.
“I sold two bunches,” he said. “Want to come out and lock up the register?”
A moment later, he and Brooke, who was holding the baby, stood behind the counter.
“One lot of long-stemmed red roses,” he said, as she eyed the receipts, “and a mixed arrangement.”
“So, you know flowers?”
“Nope. But I can read a ticket, answer the phone and charge a credit card.”
She half grinned. “Lowly stuff for such a big deal in the business world.”
“I did make use of my other talents, namely accounting.” He brought up a file on her laptop. “You have unpaid bills.”
Her gaze hardened. “You looked through my personal figures?”
“I needed an idea of where we are at.”
“We?”
“The rent’s overdue two months.”
Shushing the baby when he mewled, she turned away. “Thanks for pointing that out.”
“Do you have anything in reserve?”
“Right now I’m running pretty low on everything…including patience.”
“I’ll forward on that rent and get the landlord off your back.”
She angled back around. “A. Why would you do that? And, B. You must have tap-dancing mice in your attic if you think I’d let you.” She headed toward the shop’s front door, showing him out. “Thanks for watching the counter while I was busy.”
“Ignoring your problems won’t make them go away.”
She narrowed her eyes as if she were trying to see past a mask he wasn’t wearing. “I don’t accept gifts from strangers. And I don’t believe in fairy godmothers, particularly when they wear five thousand dollar Italian suits.”
“Who knows? I might look good in a pair of wings.”
Ah. There it was. A twinge of a grin.
“Brooke, I have a proposition for you.”
Before he could explain, the front door rattled and a knock sounded on the glass.
“The closed sign’s up,” he said.
She gave him a Yeah, I know look before peering through the door’s glass pane. “It’s a regular. I can’t turn Mrs. Cornwall away.”
Fine. Cutting the distance between them, Xander put out his arms. “We’ll tag team.”
“You mean…you look after Chance?”
Xander smiled. Cool name. “He’s fed and changed, right? So it’s playtime. I’m good at that.”
“You don’t have kids of your own…do you?”
“I have nieces and nephews. Word is they actually like me. Crazy, huh?” He waited for a response. “I can provide references.”
When that knock came again, Brooke drew down a breath and finally handed her bundle over.
“He likes when you to talk to him,” she said. “Make lots of noises.”
Bringing the baby and his big blue eyes close, Xander assured her. “I can do that.”
“And if you need me—”
“We’ll holler. Now open the door,” he winked before walking away, “and bag that sale.”
Chapter 5
Holding the baby snugly against his chest, Xander moved into the back room and shut the door quietly with the sole of his shoe. He laid the baby horizontal in the sling of his arms and peered into eyes that were wide and inquisitive. Obviously intelligent.
“How you doin’, little man?” he asked in a soft, best buddy voice.
The baby’s near invisible eyebrows edged together.
“Guess it must be kinda boring lying on your back all day.”
The baby blinked and then put out his arms. He was wearing a coverall—blue with a fluffy lambs print. Xander would have preferred to see racing cars, but the kid looked freaking cute just the same.
“So, what do you want to do?”
As if he’d understood, Chance began cooing and then goo-ing.
Xander laughed. “Good work. How about this?”
Xander wet his lips and then blew a classic raspberry, the kind that went on and on.
The baby’s eyes widened as he wiggled. After kicking his bootee-ed feet, he seemed to wait for a repeat raspberry performance. Yep. Xander had known he was smart.
“Why the heck has she got you back here?” Xander eased into the recliner. “You’d be a huge drawcard. Particularly coming up this time of year. In fact…” Xander leaned back against the cushion at the same time an idea clicked into place. “How do you feel about wings? White and fluffy, like those lambs. Bet you’d make one pretty cool cupid.”
After Mrs. Cornwall received her usual chrysanthemums and confirmed that she would be back next week, Brooke closed the shop for real and hurried into the back room.
Why would a guy like Xander Drake want to help a no one like her? He had said he had a proposition for her. What exactly was he after?
While he was charismatic and obviously handsome, he was also nosey and downright pushy. Must come with the successful tycoon gig. But that aside…he liked babies. She saw it in his smile—he really did. After Jake’s take on the subject, that was a huge plus.
Still, she and Xander Drake had only shared two conversations. Brooke hadn’t wanted to turn a regular like Mrs. Cornwall away, but leaving the baby with a man she barely knew must be irresponsible.
Or was she overreacting? He had a sound reputation. He was an uncle. If Chance were her flesh and blood, would she be less protective or more so?
“Hey, sweetheart,” Brooke said, making her way over to the pair and putting out her arms. “Was he any trouble?”
Xander carefully handed over the baby and then found his feet. “I’ve been instructing him in the fine art of raspberries blowing.”
She grinned. “I think that’s supposed to be a five month milestone.”
“Chance is a clever kid—aren’t you, chum?”
She twirled Chance around so that his little back rested against her stomach and he could see Xander, too. She said it again. “Thanks for your help today.”
Those amazing eyes sparkled as he grinned. “Today isn’t over yet.”
Her stomach muscles fluttered. God, he was so tall and built and unbelievably persistent. “I won’t accept any money from you for the rent. It’s not right.”
“Becoming partners would make it right.”
“What are you talking about?”
“My proposition. I invest in businesses and people with the aim of making ventures profitable for both parties.” He shrugged. “It’s what I do.”
Now her stomach was pitching. “This joke isn’t funny.”
He tickled the baby under his chin. “Oh, I don’t know. Chance seems to like the idea.”
Brooke wanted to shake her head, wake herself up. This kind of stuff didn’t happen in real life. And, on top of no sleep and making sure that all Chance’s needs were met…frankly, she was feeling off balance. Was he serious?
“So,” Xander clasped his hands together, “are you i
nterested?”
She gave him a wry look. “I’m waiting for some rug to be pulled out from under my feet.”
“There’ll be renovations happening,” he said, “including new floor coverings, if that counts. All you have to do is say yes.”
When he smiled encouragingly, masculine heat seemed to reach out and wrap around her. Her focus dropped to his mouth—that full, kissable lower lip—and something shifted inside of her. This offer was too good to be true. Xander Drake wasn’t her guardian angel come down to earth.
But he had said this was a business proposition. If she went ahead, he would expect a dividend. Brooke never liked to rush a decision, but, come on. Shouldn’t she at least listen?
The smile in his eyes brightened more, like he knew she was bending. Then he headed for the door and Brooke’s heart thumped harder.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked quickly. “There must be a thousand businesses you could work with.” Ones that weren’t limping nearly so bad.
Turning back, he butted one big shoulder against the doorjamb. “I have my reasons.”
“I’d like to know what they are.”
“For one…I guess I like you. I know I like Chance.”
Emotion rose and swelled in her chest. “You do?”
A bone-melting smile eased across his face. “Who wouldn’t?”
Chapter 6
“Two whole weeks,” Xander said, flipping the closed sign on the door. “And things are really starting to move. We need to go out and celebrate.”
Brooke agreed.
For the most part.
Since becoming a partner in I Hart Flowers, Xander had shown up at the shop every day, at first only in the afternoons. Then Heather had phoned apologizing and asking if she could have more time off with her family. Heather’s father had suffered a heart attack; he was still in hospital and her mom needed support. Brooke had assured Heather to take as long as she needed, and then explained about the changed circumstances in the business.
After that, Xander had arrived at the shop around opening and stayed until close. He’d swapped those impressive dark business suits for a pair of mouth-watering jeans, a white tee that highlighted his dynamite physique, and one of her aprons. Didn’t get better than that. Except…it did.
In between helping with customers and caring for Chance, Xander had made it his mission to learn about wholesale produce, floral supplies, handling cut flowers as well as the art of floral design. An uber masculine man like Xander…he’d actually said it was fun. On top of that, he’d made phone calls. Lots and lots.
The rent was taken care of, and his lawyer had drawn up a contract. Xander insisted that Brooke have her own attorney look over the terms of their partnership agreement; he was fine with her deducting that fee from the operating account he’d set up. That account sat on more cash than she earned in a year.
Xander was also sourcing possibilities for a new premises here, as well as looking into opportunities for a second shop in L.A. Finally, he’d let her know that, even though they had never gone on a “date” as such, given the time they’d spent together, he felt justified in having met the terms of that contest’s requirements. Consequently, he’d passed on his donation to the charity. Brooke suspected he’d have done it anyway.
As he joined her now, looking like a vision from a girl’s hottest dream, Brooke smiled at his suggestion.
“How should we celebrate?” she asked, coiling ribbon around a finger—which she hadn’t chewed in over a week.
As he circled behind her, Brooke imagined she felt the sear of his gaze on her shoulders then her hips.
His voice was close enough to make her quiver. “How about dinner out?”
“You mean take the baby to a restaurant?”
“It’s been done before. Or, you’ve said your sisters are desperate to have a sleepover.”
Brooke had spoken with Xander about her sisters, particularly Ella’s pleas to have the baby overnight.
“It’s probably too late to organize tonight,” he said. “But maybe later in the week? It’d be good for you both to get a change of scenery.”
When the warmth of his breath stirred her hair, Brooke got her ready-to-party hormones under control and crossed over to see Chance. Xander had set up a playpen enclosure, and associated security cameras, behind the counter. Not only was the baby well supervised one hundred percent of the time, suddenly he was sleeping less through the day and better through the night. Bonus!
Now Chance lay on a big, thick quilt. Recently he’d discovered his hands. Brooke watched as he spread his fingers and then, making a loose fist, tried to plant his hand in his mouth. Hunkering down, leaning over the rail, she wriggled his foot. He cooed and then sucked again.
Xander crouched beside her. Brooke tried not to focus on the powerful bronzed arm resting an inch away from hers. And that subtle musk scent literally made her mouth water. Once, when he was changing in the back room, she’d seen him sans shirt. Damn, was that body ripped! Chests like his belonged on billboards. Sometimes she caught herself imagining him bench pressing, hitting the bag…
Holding her close.
“You on for scissors, paper, rock?” he asked.
She grinned. Strange way for a rich dude to make decisions and yet, at least once a day…
“What for this time?” she asked.
“Who gives Chance his bath.”
Xander wasn’t angling to ditch a chore. They both got a kick out of seeing the baby splash around in his suds.
She and Xander pumped their hands twice then both delivered paper, and then scissors, and then paper again. By the time Xander’s paper finally covered and squeezed her rock, they were laughing. And his nose was a hair’s breadth away from hers.
Their expressions eased but his hand over hers tightened more. Then he leaned that bit closer and suddenly her eyelids grew heavy. Beneath her tee, her nipples seemed to swell, rubbing against the lace of her bra. Her heart was beating so hard, she wanted him to kiss her so bad, the physical longing was an ache beneath her ribs.
His gaze dropped to her lips...her eyes drifted shut…and then….
Then the heat of his hand fell away.
Reality flooded back.
Brooke smoothed her hair and cleared her clogged throat. Beside her, talking to the baby about his bath, Xander appeared unaffected.
What the heck was she trying to do? Ruin everything? Xander might find Chance irresistible; he obviously felt for their situation and, for whatever reason, believed in her business. That did not mean he wanted to get romantically involved. Not on a long-term basis anyway.
She wasn’t that naïve.
Brooke pushed to her feet as a knock sounded on the door. It was after closing time but another sale was another sale. Besides, she needed time and space away from Xander and his pheromones. Every day those deeper feelings seemed to grow.
As Xander scooped Chance up and headed for the back, Brooke crossed to the shop’s street entrance. Before she could open the door, she caught a glimpse of the person waiting outside. When she recognised the jacket, the color and cut of the hair, an ice-cold veil settled over her.
The man on the street had turned to study the traffic. Now, as he angled back to face the door, Brooke grabbed the window’s blind and wrenched it down. With every muscle braced, she counted three beats before that knock came again. And again. To her soul, she wanted to charge out there and tell him to go to hell and never come back. But, even more, she didn’t want to cause a scene. She wouldn’t give him that kind of power or satisfaction.
From behind her, a deep voice broke into her thoughts and she spun around. Xander was looking at her, questioning.
“Brooke, did you hear me? Are you okay?”
She forced a thin smile. “Sure. Fine.”
“Are you going to let them in?”
She hesitated. “I think they’ve left.”
With Chance balanced in the sling of one arm, Xander walked over. When h
e studied her face, she pressed her lips together. She didn’t want to get into this. She’d rather never discuss it at all.
Xander’s eyes narrowed before he reached and pulled up the blind. Brooke held her breath while he peered out that window. Finally, she looked again, too. No one was there.
Thank God, Jake Bentley had gone, hopefully this time for good.
Chapter 7
The next afternoon, ten minutes before shutting up shop, Xander experienced a close encounter of the zany kind.
Brooke was out back with the baby when a young woman came in. Seeing him behind the counter, the woman clapped both hands over her mouth and then shook her head as if to clear her vision. Her hair was palest blond, cut short and mussed up with a whole pile of product. She wore tatty jeans, a tee that read “Admit One,” and a pair of ankle boots encrusted with crystals.
Xander shifted his spray bottle to one side. “Can I help you?” he asked.
“I’m sure you can.” The woman’s gaze traveled down the column of his throat then over his chest before gliding back up to settle on his mouth. “How did my sister land you for an assistant?”
Sister? Ah, now it fit.
“You must be Ella,” he said.
“Brooke’s told you about me?”
“She certainly has.”
Ella tried to look contrite. “Only half of it’s true.” Then her expression changed. “Hang on a minute. I bet I know who you are. Mr. Blistering.”
“Blistering?”
“As in hot. Sizzling.”
He joined the dots. “Brooke called me that?”
Striking a slightly pigeon-toed pose in those crystal boots, Ella crossed her arms and studied him hard. “This’ll sound like a scam, but haven’t I seen you somewhere before?”
“Thought I recognized the voice.” Brooke had emerged with Chance from out back. “Ella, meet Alexander Drake.”
Ella tipped sideways and almost fell off her heels. “Holy balls. I don’t believe it. Of course I know you. Everyone does. But what’s a billionaire doing behind a counter wearing an apron? Not that I’m complaining. I’m sure Brooke’s not complaining, either.”