Oh, damn, this is going to really mess me up, she thought in near despair.

She wanted this. She had wanted this for years. She had so wanted to be held, to be loved, to not be lonely, to have ballast in her life, to have someone who really cared. The wanting made her weak and his arms went around her, holding her. For years she had dreamed of loving a wonderful man. She’d dreamed of him.

He didn’t take too much of her. He slowly eased his lips away, giving her a parting lick on her upper lip. Then he kissed her cheek, her eyes and her forehead.

“I wish Winnie hadn’t called yet,” he said. “But you’d better go see what she needs.”

“Uh-huh,” she said.

“We’ll talk about that date.”

“Uh-huh.” And she turned away. He opened the door for her and she pulled the jacket up, over her head, walking briskly to the house next door.

* * *

Blake went back into his living room. He left the tray of mugs on the coffee table but pushed it aside while he sat in front of the fire. He kicked off his shoes and put his feet up. He settled back to relax, a long way from satisfaction. Kissing her had only made him want more. Much more. As soon as possible. And he’d better meditate on that because even though it was evident Lin Su had similar longings, she wasn’t ready to act on them. She was a long way from trusting him.

Blake had a great deal of respect for nature, for human instinct, not that he understood it at all. He was thirty-seven and had always been drawn to tall, athletic women. They were usually blonde, which was unsurprising since his mother had been blonde. But the moment he saw Lin Su he’d been fiercely attracted to her. She was small, soft, dark, bred of another culture. She was the most stubborn woman he’d ever known. She was going to resist him no matter how right it felt to her.

She had responded to him; she wouldn’t be able to deny it. It was probably nothing more complicated than fear. After all, she’d been without a man in her life. In fact, though he knew nothing about Charlie’s father, he knew he hadn’t done much to protect and care for the little family he’d made. He’d let her down. She would naturally be afraid of being let down again. Who wouldn’t?

She couldn’t open up to him, but that was all right. Someday she would explain things to him, things he already knew. You don’t have an ideal childhood in an upscale family only for them to cast you out for something like an accidental pregnancy. There had been much about her years with that adoptive family that had been lacking; he’d bet his right leg on it.

She would be worth the wait. He would have to be more reassuring than he’d ever been before so that she knew she was safe with him, that Charlie would be safe.

Meanwhile, he headed for the gym. The treadmill would help him get through the frustration he was feeling.

Fifteen

Grace was standing at the counter, adding up her list of floral orders, when the shop door opened and Ronaldo walked in. He stopped just inside the door and they smiled at each other.

“When you didn’t respond to my email, I thought maybe you’d had a change of heart,” Grace said. “Or even found something else.”

“I wanted to look you straight in the eye and thank you for taking a chance on me.”

“I’m assuming you’re going to be wearing the nice personality.”

“Absolutely. Can I just apologize again?”

“Unnecessary, Ronaldo. And do you understand my plan?” she asked.

“I believe I do, but why don’t you just give it to me from the top in case I misunderstood anything.”

“Sure. Although I advertised for a manager, I’m offering you a job as a shop employee on a trial basis. Let’s say a month. You will probably find yourself taking on manager’s duties as well as clerk and shop chores, but I’m not ready to commit to full-time manager with benefits until I’m sure we’re compatible.”

“I understand. Because I was a little pissy at our first meeting...”

“A little?” she asked. “I thought someone peed in your diaper!”

“I’ve been told I have a moody side,” he said contritely. “When I’m stressed, that is. But I promise you, it is something I can control.”

“Well, I’ll believe it when I see it. And I believe I’ll see it within a month.”

“I think so,” he said, smiling.

“I wasn’t expecting you today so I made arrangements to have my mother’s nurse babysit the shop for a couple of hours while I keep a doctor’s appointment, but if you think you’re capable and want to stay awhile, maybe I’ll call her and let her have the time for herself. She gets precious little of it.”

He took on a pained expression. “Your mother’s nurse?”

“Didn’t I explain? Winnie has ALS. She’s still getting around a little, slowly and very wobbly, but she also uses the wheelchair a lot. She comes across like an indomitable matron, but she’s fragile. We’re all a little surprised she’s doing as well as she is. She’s known about the ALS for a few years.”

“I’m so sorry to hear this,” he said. “You have a lot on your plate.”

“Except for the ALS, it’s all by choice. But at least we have this time together now. There was a time not very long ago I didn’t think we’d ever work things out.”

“Of course I’ll stay,” he said. “You trust me with your shop?”

“Ronaldo, you grew up in the house you now live in with many of the same neighbors you had growing up. The house you recently sold was yours for several years and you’re well liked. There are no judgments pending, your credit score is lousy but you don’t appear to have much debt. And you haven’t been convicted of any crimes.”

“There was a speeding ticket a few years ago, but I think he was lying, that cop. I think he had a quota to meet. I never speed. I drive like an old woman.”

She laughed at him. “Let me call Lin Su,” she said, pulling out her cell. When she was done with that conversation she put her work cell on the counter. “All I need from you is to answer this phone, take orders as best you can or take messages and I’ll return the calls. And if there are any purchases, prices for everything in the cooler should be marked.”

“What if someone walks in and asks for an arrangement?”