you out next week. Part days, definitely. And if you do this, there won’t be any of that cleaning. I can always get somebody to do that.”
Lori sighed. “Oh, all right. But I still think I should pitch in around here once in a while. I’m not pulling my weight.”
“Says who?” Mike challenged, entering the conversation whether they wanted him to or not.
The same look of amused tolerance seemed to pass over both the women’s faces. “Ah, your knight in shining armor,” Gloria chimed in. “Michael, did you know this young lady was better on the computer than you are? And you were going to let her scrub floors around here instead?”
How did this get to be about him? Mike felt like backing off. “It just came up today. And I told her to talk to you about it. I mean, you are still the boss around here, as far as business is concerned.”
“Not that I wouldn’t like to change that. And maybe bringing in another person into the office is just the way to start the process.”
Mike felt walls closing in on him somehow. “What do you mean?”
“Maybe with good help, somebody astute in the paperwork area, you’d be more comfortable with the rest of the business. I know it’s not what you’d rather be doing. But it’s the family business, and we’re it as far as family, if you haven’t noticed.” Her mouth quirked up in one corner. Mike felt a pang of guilt.
He’d never be the businessman his father was. Even at six he had recognized that his dad liked things about the wheeling and dealing of the business world that just bored him silly. Playing in the creek was more exciting. Training his first puppy kept his attention ten times longer than math atschool. And those feelings hadn’t ever really changed.
“I know, Mom. And maybe you’re right.” Mike looked at the two of them at the table.
“So you don’t mind? I know it’s not what we agreed on originally, but I’d really like to try this.” Lori stood and shifted Mikayla higher on her shoulder. “I want to do everything I can to help out around here. And to get back on my feet as quickly as possible. I owe you so much.”
“No, I don’t mind. Not that I believe that you’d turn around and go back to your original plan if I did.”
Lori had a beautiful smile. That dimple in her left cheek got impossibly deep when she was happiest, making Mike want to touch that sweet spot. Or kiss it. Whoa, where was that coming from?
“You know me too well already, Mike. You’re right, I wouldn’t back down. But it is important that you approve. Especially if we’re going to be in the office together every day.”
Oh, this was going to be a challenge. Not only evenings now with Lori and Tyler sharing the kitchen table, and their lives. But now most of his day would be spent with the attractive young widow on the premises, as well. Mike could tell his answering smile was weak. “It will be great, likeMom said.” The funny part was, he believed it. He was a fool for putting himself in this tempting woman’s company for that many hours a day, but he couldn’t think of anyplace he’d rather be.
Chapter Ten
I t had only taken one weekend to get Tyler registered for preschool at Faith Community Church just two blocks from the office. Lori envisioned walking the short distance to have lunch with him once the weather got a little better. Right now she was willing to stay in the warm office and keep Mikayla sheltered in her corner near the radiator. It was a cozy spot for both of them.
Tyler hadn’t fussed much this morning at being left at the preschool. Lori was all set for first-day jitters, or even some waterworks, but Tyler surprised her. He was friendly with his teacher, thrilled to see all the art supplies in the room and all the other kids. When he discovered the classroom also had guinea pigs, he could hardly conceal his readinessto get on with his day…without Lori as a distraction.
“I’ll be back before one,” Lori told
Lori sighed. “Oh, all right. But I still think I should pitch in around here once in a while. I’m not pulling my weight.”
“Says who?” Mike challenged, entering the conversation whether they wanted him to or not.
The same look of amused tolerance seemed to pass over both the women’s faces. “Ah, your knight in shining armor,” Gloria chimed in. “Michael, did you know this young lady was better on the computer than you are? And you were going to let her scrub floors around here instead?”
How did this get to be about him? Mike felt like backing off. “It just came up today. And I told her to talk to you about it. I mean, you are still the boss around here, as far as business is concerned.”
“Not that I wouldn’t like to change that. And maybe bringing in another person into the office is just the way to start the process.”
Mike felt walls closing in on him somehow. “What do you mean?”
“Maybe with good help, somebody astute in the paperwork area, you’d be more comfortable with the rest of the business. I know it’s not what you’d rather be doing. But it’s the family business, and we’re it as far as family, if you haven’t noticed.” Her mouth quirked up in one corner. Mike felt a pang of guilt.
He’d never be the businessman his father was. Even at six he had recognized that his dad liked things about the wheeling and dealing of the business world that just bored him silly. Playing in the creek was more exciting. Training his first puppy kept his attention ten times longer than math atschool. And those feelings hadn’t ever really changed.
“I know, Mom. And maybe you’re right.” Mike looked at the two of them at the table.
“So you don’t mind? I know it’s not what we agreed on originally, but I’d really like to try this.” Lori stood and shifted Mikayla higher on her shoulder. “I want to do everything I can to help out around here. And to get back on my feet as quickly as possible. I owe you so much.”
“No, I don’t mind. Not that I believe that you’d turn around and go back to your original plan if I did.”
Lori had a beautiful smile. That dimple in her left cheek got impossibly deep when she was happiest, making Mike want to touch that sweet spot. Or kiss it. Whoa, where was that coming from?
“You know me too well already, Mike. You’re right, I wouldn’t back down. But it is important that you approve. Especially if we’re going to be in the office together every day.”
Oh, this was going to be a challenge. Not only evenings now with Lori and Tyler sharing the kitchen table, and their lives. But now most of his day would be spent with the attractive young widow on the premises, as well. Mike could tell his answering smile was weak. “It will be great, likeMom said.” The funny part was, he believed it. He was a fool for putting himself in this tempting woman’s company for that many hours a day, but he couldn’t think of anyplace he’d rather be.
Chapter Ten
I t had only taken one weekend to get Tyler registered for preschool at Faith Community Church just two blocks from the office. Lori envisioned walking the short distance to have lunch with him once the weather got a little better. Right now she was willing to stay in the warm office and keep Mikayla sheltered in her corner near the radiator. It was a cozy spot for both of them.
Tyler hadn’t fussed much this morning at being left at the preschool. Lori was all set for first-day jitters, or even some waterworks, but Tyler surprised her. He was friendly with his teacher, thrilled to see all the art supplies in the room and all the other kids. When he discovered the classroom also had guinea pigs, he could hardly conceal his readinessto get on with his day…without Lori as a distraction.
“I’ll be back before one,” Lori told
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