She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with a nervous hand, and then lowered herself to the nearer of the two brown leather club chairs. She huddled to one side, leaving half the seat vacant.

“I’m sure you were disappointed I wasn’t gone by the time you got home, but I’d like to explain.” She shifted, crossing her legs. He tried not to look, but her hem rode up a few inches above her knees, capturing his interest.

“You see, your mother…” She hesitated, wrinkling her nose, no doubt searching for tact. “Well—”

“My mother could make Attila the Hun look like a cub scout when she has her mind set on something. You don’t have to explain.”

“But I do. I told you I’d be gone but she offered me the job of filling in for Ida and it seemed a great solution for both of us.”

“Of course. It makes perfect sense.”

“Then why do you look as though you want to bite my head off?”

David leaned back in his chair, admittedly feeling a little uneasy. Not angry. “I wasn’t aware I appeared that way.”

“It’s the clothes, isn’t it?”

“The clothes?”

She lifted her chin, tucked back her hair. “I’m paying her back every cent.”

“I’m not following you.”

“Your mother insisted we go shopping today. She bought me things.” Beth visibly swallowed. “Expensive clothes that may take me a while to repay, but once I get a real job I’ll send something every month.”

“What my mother does with her money is none of my concern. Even if she wanted to buy you a house, it still wouldn’t be my business.”

“But you are upset.”

“Not true. I had no idea you two went shopping today, although knowing Mother, I should have guessed.”

Beth cocked her head to the side. “So why are you in an icky mood? Was it the pork chops?”

He laughed. He couldn’t help it. “Dinner truly was terrific. If I’ve been ‘icky,’ I assure you it has nothing to do with you.”

She studied him, disbelief written all over her face. “May I have a piece of paper and a pen?”

“Of course.” He sat up and handed her a sheet of his personal stationery. “This all right?”

She nodded. “I’m writing you an I.O.U.”

“A what?”

“An I.O.U. It’s a promise to pay—”

“I know what it is.” His patience slipped. “Is that how you handled things back in Idaho?”

Hurt flickered in her eyes. “Back on the farm a promise and a handshake were enough.”

Dammit. He hadn’t meant to sound critical or as if he were belittling her. If anything, her earnestness and accountability impressed him. She could’ve accepted his mother’s generosity without a qualm, knowing they had money. In his business, he’d grown used to freeloaders and people looking for an easy buck.

Not Beth. She wanted to sign an I.O.U. And he hadn’t a single doubt she’d make good on it.

He exhaled, rubbed his eyes. “Beth, you’re not going to write an I.O.U. Whatever my mother bought you, consider a gift.”

“Back on the farm, we don’t accept charity, either.”

“I thought people helped their neighbors in small towns.”

She blinked. “You aren’t a neighbor. You’re a stranger, really, and I’m embarrassed enough that I’ve had to depend on you.” Her hand went to her stomach. “If it weren’t for the baby, I wouldn’t even—” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. If you think it’s a bad idea that I stay, I’ll leave first thing in the morning.”

His gaze lingered on the hand she had pressed to her slightly rounded belly. If she weren’t so slim, no one would be able to guess her condition. She could get a job somewhere. A potential employer wouldn’t have to know about her pregnancy.

David thought about his accountant. Didn’t he have a clerk out on temporary disability? Maybe the timing would work out. And then what? Once Beth delivered the baby, what would she do about child care and medical insurance and…

Dammit! This was not his problem.

“David?”

He looked up and met her troubled eyes. Worry lines had formed between her brows.

“You’re looking funny again.”

“I was just thinking.”

She took a deep breath, her breasts rising and falling and gaining his full attention. They weren’t too large, but round and high. “If you have to think about it that long, then there really isn’t anything to think about,” she said and abruptly stood.

“What?” He stared absently for a moment. “No, it’s not that. Please sit.”

She shifted, her stance and expression hesitant before slowly lowering herself back to the chair.

He didn’t understand his resistance. Filling in during Ida’s absence was truly the perfect solution for both parties. His mother needed the help. Her kindness, wisdom and support meant the world to him, but when it came to domestic duties, she was hopeless.

Clueless, in fact. She’d gone from rich parents to a wealthy husband and never worked a day in her life. Her efforts on behalf of her pet charities, however, were tireless and unrelenting. Which worried him. Beth wasn’t a project.

He understood his mother’s desire to want to rescue and protect her. Her youth, her situation. He noticed the fullness of her breasts again, and the way the vee of her dress exposed the top of her cleavage.

Okay, so she wasn’t that young. A totally inappropriate tug in his groin filled him with disgust and he forced his gaze away. Obviously he’d been celibate too long. Still, his reaction was inexcusable.

“David, if you’d rather I come back later—”

He straightened. “Why?”

She shook her head, while regarding him with curiosity. “You seem very distracted.”

If she only knew…He cleared his throat. “I was wondering about your medical insurance.”

Her expression fell, and she sighed.

“Or lack thereof…”

She nodded, her face miserable. “Lack thereof would be appropriate.”

“That’s a problem.”

“Well, no kidding, Sherlock. When did you figure that out?”

Taken by surprise, he laughed.

Beth groaned and covered her face. “That was rude,” she muttered. “I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. You’re right. That was an inane remark.”

“Am I fired?”

He frowned, and then saw the twinkle in her eye and realized she was teasing. “On the contrary, I’m thinking I should add you on as an employee of the firm so that you’d be eligible for medical insurance.”

Her eyes clouded with doubt.

“Of course you’d remain here to help my mother. Making you an employee would only be a technicality.”

“But what about Tommy? He’d find out, wouldn’t he?”

The surge of anger that assaulted David shocked him. He wasn’t a violent man, but he’d love nothing more than to have his hands around Snyder’s scrawny neck. “Tom isn’t going to hurt you.”

“I know,” she said quickly, her eyes wary. “I only meant that his co-workers might find out about me. I don’t want to cause trouble for him.”

David’s anger swelled. “Why the hell do you care if he’s put out? Have you forgotten what he’s done to you?”

Her hand went to her stomach again. “Hardly.”

He pushed a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I was out of line.”

“No, you weren’t. You’re trying to help.” She shrugged, a serene smile curving her lips. “But my dragging Tommy down isn’t going to change anything between us. No matter what, he’ll still be my baby’s father. I hope someday they can have a relationship.”

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