Wayward Dreams by Gail McFarland Page A

and his words were simple, but obviously practiced, when Tall and Gorgeous tried to invite himself back to the condo for dinner.
    â€œI don’t even know your name.” Bianca pulled her wrist back as the other movers trooped past, watching from the corners of their eyes, though none of them seemed surprised. They think I’m flirting with him. Guess that happens a lot.
    â€œYou can call me Baron, and you can tell me about you over dinner.” Tall and Gorgeous smiled.
    Oh, man. Why did he have to have a smile as bright as the morning sun? Bianca curled her fingers around the edge of the door. “I really appreciate all you’ve done, but I think I’ll pass.”
    He frowned, clearly not used to being refused.
    â€œTired? I can add a nice massage to that dinner.”
    I’ll just bet you could.
    Propping a shoulder against the doorframe, he rearranged his features and leaned toward her. “No? You’re trying to tell me a woman like you…”
    â€œI’m telling you that I really appreciate all you’ve done today, but I think I’ll pass.” She shut the door and waited a beat. She heard him swear softly before moving down the hall. Glad that Tall and Gorgeous Baron had taken rejection so well, Bianca walked over to the sofa.
    â€œFor a minute there, I thought he had you.”
    â€œSo did I, but never again.” Bianca flopped down and closed her eyes.
    â€œDidn’t know you were such a snob. What have you got against good-looking, hard-working blue-collar brothers?
    â€œNot a blessed thing. My problem is not with blue-collar brothers, or with honest hard work. My problem is with good-looking Men of the Moment. I already told you I was through making that mistake.”
    â€œNobody ever said turning over a new leaf was easy.” Julia’s leg swung gently and she chuckled. “Nobody can ever say he wasn’t a good-looking man.”
    â€œI never said he wasn’t good-looking. I’m just saying he wasn’t right for me.”
    â€œYou never gave him a chance.”
    â€œI didn’t have to; I know the game. I saw it the second he passed through the door.”
    â€œWould you recognize the right man if he came up and bit you on the butt?”
    â€œI’d recognize him because he wouldn’t bite me on the butt—unless I asked him to.”
    â€œI’m guessing that won’t be happening any time soon.” Arms lifted in a luxuriant stretch, Julia resettled herself. “At least you can sleep here tonight and get on with the rest of your plans tomorrow. Have you got any plans for tomorrow?”
    Bianca pushed into a full sitting position and opened her eyes. “I’ll begin pulling things out of storage, and then all I’ll need is that job.” Her stomach rumbled loudly. “Think we could eat?”
    Julia was more than ready with suggestions as they left the condo. At the elevator, she pressed the button. “Ever wish things were different? That things had happened differently?”
    â€œUh, yes. Have I told you about my life lately?”
    â€œNot that.” Julia pushed her hands deep into her pockets. “I mean, do you ever wish that maybe mom hadn’t been so infatuated with men in uniform? That maybe she had survived that boat crash on the lake, that maybe she had told the truth about my real father, or that maybe we hadn’t been left with our stepdad?”
    â€œYou mean that man who couldn’t wait for us to grow up and get out of his life?”
    â€œYeah, he would be the one. But really, do you ever wish things had been different?”
    â€œâ€˜If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.’” Bianca pushed the call button and wondered why the elevator was so slow.
    * * *
    Haru pushed the call button and scowled at the elevator. Doubting that the Museum Tower elevator was any slower today than usual, Akemi Jordan looked at his brother when