Chapter Five #2
“There’s a playpen in the lunchroom,” Flo continued.
“It’s the kind that folds up flat, so we tucked it behind the door.
When you want to have the baby in the office with us, we can set it up between the desks.
We get a nice bit of morning sun. It’s not too bright, but your daughter would probably like to play in it. ”
Heather took in the furniture and the decorations. Having just decorated a baby’s room herself, she knew the cost and time involved. A mixture of sensations flooded through her. It was too much, and she wanted to say so, but something in her heart told her that this had been a labor of love.
“I’m overwhelmed,” she admitted.
Flo picked up a teddy bear and shrugged.
“I’ll admit I went a little over budget, but I couldn’t help myself, and Jim said he didn’t care.
” She gave Heather a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I always wanted a dozen kids of my own, but I couldn’t have them.
Plumbing problems. I’ve been spoiling my sister’s kids since they were born, not to mention those in my neighborhood.
So I hope you don’t mind if I start right in spoiling your baby. ”
Heather stared at the woman’s perfect makeup, too tight clothes and tentative smile.
She wondered how much pain this wonderful lady had endured in her life and how she’d come to be so strong.
“Thank you for making my baby and me feel so very welcome. I would love for you to spoil Diane as much as you’d like. ”
Flo grinned. “I might not get a lick of work done.”
They headed out to the main office. “I’d better get her settled so I can get to work,” Heather said, then paused. “Would you like to put her down?”
“Thanks.” Flo unstrapped the baby from her carrier with an expertise that told of years of practice. “Oh, that box right there is the baby monitor. The one in her room is bolted to the wall. Just hit that pink button to turn it on.”
Heather couldn’t believe all that they had done for her and was still confused as to what was going on.
Little more than a month ago, she hadn’t met Jim Dyer and now he’d become an important part of her life.
She wasn’t sure whether she should be scared or grateful.
Then a soft sound came over the baby monitor.
She heard Flo singing a lullaby to her daughter.
Heather thought about how gentle Jim was with her child and how this job was an answer to her prayers.
Obviously, after a run of bad luck where men were concerned, she’d finally started getting it right.
* * *
Jim walked into the office, a clipboard in his hand. He tossed it onto Flo’s desk. “The 197 charter is back. We’re about ten hours away from an overhaul,” he told her.
Flo made a note in her book. “I’ll make sure it gets scheduled.”
“Thanks.” Jim walked to his desk and looked through the pile of messages. He couldn’t actually concentrate enough to read them, but he made an attempt to act normal. He didn’t want Flo to know how pleased he was that Heather had started work today.
He’d arrived long before her day had begun and he’d been out with a charter until a few minutes ago. But when he landed, he’d noticed her small, sensible sedan parked on the far side of the building, and despite the fact that he told himself they were just friends, his body had gone on major alert.
Finally, he tossed the messages onto his desk and looked at Flo. “Did Heather get here?” he asked casually.
“Don’t pretend you didn’t know. I heard that skip in your step when you walked into this office. She’s in the nursery.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “She was feeding Diane, but they should be done now.”
“I’ll just go make sure she’s settling in all right.”
“You do that.”
He ignored Flo’s knowing gaze and walked toward the rear of the building. Once he entered the hall, he knocked on the door on the right. “Heather, it’s Jim.”
“Come on in,” a soft voice called.
He pushed open the door. Heather sat in the rocking chair with Diane in her arms. The baby was upright against her shoulder, her plump pink fists resting on a towel that protected Heather’s light green dress.
“We just finished our snack,” Heather said with a smile.
She looked great. He’d seen her dozens of times in the past month, but this was the first time she’d been dressed in something more formal than leggings and a baggy T-shirt.
The soft fabric of her dress draped over her body, showing the fullness of her breasts and the narrowness of her hips.
She wore makeup that emphasized her green eyes and made her mouth look all pouty and tempting.
His gaze roamed over her familiar features, visiting his favorite places—her mouth, the sweep of her eyebrows, the way her hair—
“You cut your hair,” he blurted out, noticing for the first time that the blond strands fell just to her shoulder instead of a little way down her back.
She still had her bangs, but now her hair had a little wave to it as it drifted around her face.
She looked mature and sophisticated in a soft and sexy kind of way.
“Do you like it?” she asked, self-consciously touching the ends. “I treated myself to a cut yesterday. Sort of a confidence booster before starting my new job.”
“You’re beautiful,” he said sincerely.
He told himself he wasn’t supposed to notice things like that.
She worked for him, they’d agreed to just be friends, and he wasn’t looking to get involved.
He could come up with a dozen reasons, but none of them mattered.
The more time he spent with her, the more he liked her…
and wanted her. Thoughts of her slender body touching his, under his and welcoming him home had kept him up for more than one night.
“Thanks.”
Diane gave a very unladylike burp, then cooed with contentment.
Heather chuckled. “Better, sweetie? You ready to say hi to your uncle Jim?” She stood up and settled the baby into his arms.
He adjusted her with an ease born of practice, then touched her soft nose. “How’s my best girl?” Bright blue eyes stared up at him. He tickled her tummy. “Are you happy? Do you like coming to work with your mom?”
“How could she not?” Heather asked. “If I’d known this was what you planned when you said I could bring Diane with me—”
“What would you have done?” he asked, interrupting her. “I want you to be comfortable here.”
“You went overboard.”
“Don’t look at me. Flo did most of the work.”
“Then she did too much and you paid too much.”
“When Diane doesn’t need it anymore, I’ll donate it to a women’s shelter. Don’t worry about it.” He saw the questions in her eyes, questions and concerns about his real motives. He wanted to reassure her. “I did this because I wanted to. It makes me happy,” he said.
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“Because you’re naturally suspicious. I, on the other hand, am an open and trusting person.”
She smiled. “Yeah, right. We all believe that.”
“My other employees would. Just ask them.”
She gave him a skeptical glance but didn’t pursue the subject.
“Are you getting settled?” he asked. “Finding everything?”
“Yes. Flo’s been very helpful.”
Jim nodded. “I knew she would be. My accountant should be here in about an hour. He’ll go over the computer system with you and explain how he wants things done.
You should be up and running with the books fairly quickly.
” He glanced down at Diane. “I’ll be in the office for the rest of the afternoon so don’t worry about this one.
If she gets fussy, I’ll take care of her. ”
“Gee, Flo said the same thing. I guess the two of you are going to have to fight over who will be looking after Diane.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m beginning to think she’s the real reason you hired me.”
He took a step back in mock dismay. “Oh, no. You’ve found me out.”
“I thought as much.” Heather then went on to make a comment about already having started reading the book on the computer program.
As he listened, he thought to himself that it would have been better if his affection for Diane was the real draw because caring about a child was relatively safe. Unfortunately, he was far more interested in her mother. He wanted Heather in ways he hadn’t let himself want anyone in a long time.
Maybe it was the way they’d met. They’d formed an intimate bond before he’d had a chance to close himself off to her.
He was paying the price now, allowing himself to stay in this too-small room, to be close enough to smell the scent of her body.
It would have been safer and smarter to go out into the main office where an interested audience would force them to talk about business and nothing else.
“I should get started on that paperwork on my desk,” he said. “Do you want me to set up the playpen for Diane?”
“No, she was up most of the morning, so she needs another nap. I’ll settle her down. You go on.”
But it was surprisingly difficult to leave the room, and even after he returned to his desk and stared at the work in front of him, he couldn’t stop thinking about Heather and how dangerous it would be for her if they were ever to get involved.
* * *
Friday morning, Heather showed up with doughnuts. She took two dozen out to the hangar and left them there for the guys, then brought half a dozen inside to share with Flo and Jim.
Flo had just finished brewing coffee, and when she saw the pink box she made a low moan in her throat. “Oh, God, and I was doing so good on my diet, too.”
“I’m sorry,” Heather said quickly. “Let me take them outside to the guys. Just pretend you never saw them.”
Flo took the box from her and clutched it to her chest. “Take these away from me and I’ll be forced to kill you.
” She sighed again, then lifted the lid.
“Oh, chocolate and jelly doughnuts.” She winked at Heather.
“I might need a few minutes alone with these two. If it gets too embarrassing for you, feel free to step into the other room.”