Chapter Seven #2
“Six years. Sometimes I make Jim crazy because he finds me these terrific jobs and I turn them all down. But I’ve told him I’m not going anywhere until I’m ready. He doesn’t get to set my timetable. If he’s unhappy with my work, he can fire me, of course.”
“Flo, he adores you and you do a terrific job. He would never fire you.”
The older woman winked. “I know. So he’s stuck with me.”
Heather stroked her daughter’s cheek. She had the feeling that she’d just been given an important piece of information. That if she could put it all together, she would have learned something important about Jim. The problem was that she couldn’t get the pieces to fit yet.
Jim liked to hire people, train them and then move them on. What did that mean? That he was a fool? Or a hero? Everybody adored Jim, but how did Jim feel about everyone else? Was there still a deep, dark secret, or was she looking for monsters under her bed? Monsters that existed only in her mind?
* * *
Jim walked into the hangar close to six. The party was in full swing. He could hear music blaring and the sounds of conversation and laughter. The place was jammed because most of the employees came to the going-away parties. Even the charter pilots stopped by if they were in the area.
He waved to several of the maintenance guys but found his gaze relentlessly searching the room until he’d found what he was looking for. Heather stood with her back to him, talking to Harry.
She’d kept her hair short, the layered cut falling just to her shoulders.
While he’d liked the longer length, he had to admit this style was very flattering.
Even from behind, he could see how the blond strands moved with her and caught the light.
She wore tailored slacks and a long-sleeved pink blouse.
Her hips were narrow, her legs long. Over the past few weeks, the last traces of her pregnancy had faded, leaving her looking lean and trim.
If the truth were told, she was a little thinner than he usually liked his women.
In the past, he’d been a fan of curves. While Flo was a little older and not his type, he’d always admired her figure.
But Heather’s leanness was growing on him.
Besides, she was more than just a body. With her, he wanted the whole package.
She touched Harry’s arm, then turned and spotted him.
Instantly, her face lit up in a smile. Jim told himself not to read too much into that.
That it didn’t mean anything. But he couldn’t help responding in kind, knowing that anyone watching him would be able to figure out that he had it bad for this woman.
“You’re here,” Heather said. “We were beginning to wonder.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” he told her, then glanced at her plate. He raised his eyebrows. “Two pieces of cake.”
“Uh-huh.” She licked her fork.
“I thought women were always on a diet.”
“Not me. I have one of those bodies that won’t let me put on weight. Which isn’t as pleasant as it sounds. I’ve looked like a waif all my life and I’ve never had breasts.” She glanced down at her chest. “Except now that I’m breast-feeding.”
Jim found his gaze straying to her chest even as he told himself he should turn away. Heather was slight, but her torso was just shapely enough to be interesting.
“How did it go with Brian?” she asked, bringing him back to earth with a thump.
“The interview was good. He’s a bright kid, and motivated.
His father ran out on the family about three years ago and rarely makes an appearance.
His mom works hard and isn’t around much.
His older sister takes up the slack, but she’s got a husband and a new baby, so Brian’s not getting the attention he needs, nor does he have a male role model in his life. ”
“So you’re going to hire him.” It wasn’t a question.
He nodded. “At first he’ll just clean up around the place.
Wash down the helicopters, that sort of thing.
But I’ll work with him myself. He’s smart and he’ll pick things up quickly.
He’s starting his senior year of high school in September.
He doesn’t have a lot of money for college, but if things work out here, I know people who can help. ”
He stopped talking when he realized Heather was staring at him with a strange look on her face. She’d paused with her fork halfway to her mouth and was looking at him.
“What?” he asked.
She shrugged. “You’re into misfits,” she said. “People who are lost. You take them in and fix them. Then—” she pointed to the party going on around them “—when they’re all better, you send them on their way.”
It hadn’t taken her very long to figure him out. He wasn’t sure if he was annoyed or relieved. “And if I do?”
“Why?” she asked. “Why do you do it?”
There was no way to answer that question truthfully. No one really knew what was in it for him. If they did, they would be shocked. He didn’t want to see that look of disgust on Heather’s face. So he talked around the truth, getting close to it without actually having to say it.
“I like helping people,” he said. “I’m in a position where I can, so I do. I like getting people to a better place in their lives. I want to give back.”
“Hmm.” She didn’t sound convinced. “I suspect there’s more to it.”