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“It’s one of mine, too” he said, staring in surprise. “When I’m in Austin, I eat here. I can’t recall seeing you. I’d remember.”
As she shook her head, she smiled. “No, you wouldn’t. We were strangers until today. Even though this is a favorite restaurant, I come at odd hours and not often.” She closed her menu. “I do eat here often enough that I know what I want.”
“It’s always good when you know what you want,” he said, watching Ava as the waiter returned and she ordered a Cobb salad and raspberry iced tea.
He ordered a hamburger, and as soon as they were alone, Will added, “On the flight here, I looked over the resumes of the teachers you recommended.”
“I’ve given you highly qualified, experienced teachers who have very successful track records in raising children’s reading levels.”
“I know, and I appreciate that. But it’s more difficult to choose a tutor than I realized. I’m worried about kindergarten because Caroline is going to have to participate and show her teacher what she can do. She’ll be in a private school and they’ll work with her, but there’s just so much they can do. When she doesn’t respond at all, people give up trying to help her as much.”
“Hopefully the right tutor might make a difference.”
“Right now, Caroline is the most important person in my life. Before we go further, I’d like to fly you to Dallas and have you meet Caroline. I think it would be better if you know her. Once you meet her and spend a little time with her, you might be able to better assess the situation. Since time is valuable, I’ll make the trip worth your while. Two thousand a day plus expenses, and I’ll fly you to Dallas and back to Austin.”
“That’s an enormous amount to pay,” she said, not hiding her surprise.
“I can afford it, and this is top priority,” he stated, determined to get what he wanted.
“You know there are excellent private schools where you can board her and they work with the children all day and have activities at night.”
He could tell the question was a test, but one he knew he’d pass. “I’m not sending her away.”
Her green eyes flashed. “That’s commendable.”
“Will you come to Dallas?”
While he waited for her answer, his pulse sped. He wanted her to accept his offer, and it wasn’t altogether because of Caroline. This morning he had expected to fly to Austin, have lunch, go over the candidates and fly home, mission accomplished. Instead, from the first moment he looked at Ava, he had scrapped his original plan and purpose and was going by instinct, determined to get help for Caroline but also to get to know Ava.
“When are we talking about?” she asked.
“Whenever you want. You can fly back with me now. Fly tomorrow or next week. Whenever you can work the trip into your schedule, but the sooner, the better.”
As she gazed beyond him while she thought it over, he took the opportunity to study her again. Her silky hair was meant for a man’s hands to tangle. Thick, long sandy lashes framed her seductive eyes. The sight of her mouth made his temperature climb. All he wanted to do was flirt, ask her out, take her to dinner and then kiss her until they were both on fire. She didn’t want to be entangled with anyone and he didn’t, either, so passion would not lead to complications.
The waiter brought their orders. As soon as they were alone she leaned forward. “What time are you returning to Dallas?”
“I have one appointment at three this afternoon to stop by the office of one of my customers. It won’t take long and then I planned to fly home. I can change my schedule easily.”
“In a couple of hours I can be ready to return with you tonight if you’d like. The weekend is coming up, plus I have a few days with nothing scheduled.”
“Excellent. We’ll fly home and you can meet Caroline. Stay a week if you can.”
She smiled. “It won’t take that long to get to know Caroline a little. I’ll stay tonight and tomorrow night and fly back Saturday. I just got my doctorate and I plan to spend the summer and this next year working on opening my own private school.”
“That’s admirable,” he replied, his pulse humming because she would be at his house for the next three days and he could get to know her.
“I assume you read to Caroline,” she said. “If you can give me a list of some of her favorite books, I might be able to add to them with a new book or two.”
“Sure. Better yet, when we finish lunch, I’ll take you to a bookstore and we can look things over and get what you want.”
“As long as you still leave me a couple of hours to get ready to go.”
He couldn’t imagine what she would have to do that would take a couple of hours because she looked ready now except for packing clothes and necessities. “You take all the time you want.”
“You’re very determined about this.”
“I’d do anything to help Caroline. I know what she was like before she lost her father.”
“I think I’ve misjudged you. I had preconceptions built by tabloids and television,” she admitted.
“It’s good news to discover your opinion of me is improving. Hopefully, we’ll get better acquainted.”
She smiled. “I’m flying to Dallas to get to know Caroline.”
“I’ll have to work on my image. I’m not accustomed to having someone I’m with tell me she is not interested in getting to know me.”
“It really isn’t important that we become buddies,” she said, pausing over her salad.
“It will be far more fun, and you might be surprised what you discover. I know I want to get to know you,” he said, his voice lowering a notch.
“I ought to tell you no flirting,” she said, shaking her head, “but I suspect that’s impossible. I imagine at this point in your life, it’s as much a habit as breathing.”
“And where a beautiful woman is concerned—as necessary. You’ll be gone in two days, so what does a little flirting hurt?”
“Maybe you deserved your media coverage after all.”
“Forget the media. I really don’t know that much about you except you’re excellent in dealing with children and reading. You’ve taught and you said you recently earned a doctorate.”
“Correct.”
“What do you plan to do with the degree?”
“I publish texts on teaching reading, children’s books on reading and games. Hopefully, the degree lends more credibility. I plan to open a private school—at this point, limited to first and second grade—and use some of my own methods for reading instruction. I’m working on securing grants. I have limited funds for this.”
“Opening a school is ambitious,” he said with admiration, reassessing his opinion of her. “A woman with drive.” And one who hoped to get grants for the financial backing—a bargaining point that gave him an advantage.
Beautiful, driven and intelligent—an enticing combination that excited him.
“A lot of the praise I received about you was about your ability to work with children,” he stated.
“I like kids and feel at ease with them. I have younger siblings. I try to make all this interesting and appealing to kids. Not necessarily easy, because learning isn’t always easy. I love working with kids and want to dedicate my life to them.”
“How many siblings?”
“I have two younger sisters, Trinity and Summer. Trinity is a technical writer for an exclusive Austin clothing store chain. My youngest sister is home for the summer. She’ll be a sophomore in college and wants to teach.”
“Parents? And where’s home?”
“My dad has a feed store in Lubbock and my mom is a dental hygienist. So what about your family other than Caroline?”
“Besides my late brother, Adam, I have two other brothers. Zach, who is rarely home because of his job, and the youngest, Ryan, works in Houston. My parents divorced years ago, and my mother is twice remarried and lives in Atlanta now. My dad recently passed away and his estate isn’t settled yet. That’s it.”
“Your brother who is rarely home—does he have any responsibility in Caroline’s care?”
“No. I’m her guardian and I’ve always been closer to her and to Adam. He was born three years before I was. Zach is thirty-two, four years younger than I am. He’s in demolition and travels because he works in Europe and Japan—all over the world, actually. He’s good at what he does, but rarely home. Ryan is twenty-nine. He’s the one who lives in Houston and has taken over a drilling company we own. None of us are really daddy material.”
“So tell me about Caroline, as well as her nanny. What does she like to do? All kids have something they like.”
“Swimming. If you like to swim, bring your swimsuit. It’s a way to interact with her. Also, she likes to read.”
“She’s five and can read—that’s early, and it’s good news.”
“She won’t participate at school, so they don’t know how well she reads. I tell her teacher that she reads at home, but since she won’t read at school or say what she’s read, her teacher is skeptical.”
“Do you think Caroline is really reading?”
“I know she is. She started reading very simple books before her dad was killed. The beginner Dr. Seuss books, for example.”
“She was young to be reading like that.”
“Her dad doted on her and worked with her. She’s a sharp kid, so that makes her withdrawal painful. If it was a book she liked, she would talk at length about what she read. I give her books because that’s one thing that seems to please her.”
“I take her reading as a hopeful sign. If she likes to read, it will give her tutor a chance to reach her.”
He glanced at their plates. “We’re both finished. Would you like dessert? They have great ones.”
“No, thanks. We’ll head for the bookstore. There’s one close.”
He escorted her to a waiting limo. At the bookstore Will held the door for her, watching the slight sway of her hips as she entered, momentarily forgetting his mission while he thought about Ava. He wanted to ask her out for an evening where no business would be discussed.
She led him to the children’s section and began to pick out books. “How about this one?”
“Caroline has that book and likes it,” he said, looking at a familiar story. “I can’t remember everything she has. Get what you want and I’ll call Rosalyn and ask her.”
“I can bring it back if she already has it.” While Ava strolled along the row of books, Will watched her, catching up with her when she stopped to pull out a book.
“That you have no men in your life surprises me. And six years is a long time.”
“I’m not interested in going out with anyone. Actually, I’m too busy.”
“No one is that busy.”
She paused to smile at him. “And you’re offering to fill the void? Let’s stick to finding a tutor for your niece and then we’ll go our separate ways. Unfortunately, I don’t know many single, cute young tutors.”
“Under different circumstances, I would agree with you about going our separate ways, but there’s something going on here that prevents that,” he said, lowering his voice and stepping closer to her. Her eyes widened a fraction as she gazed at him.
“The electricity. You feel it the same as I do. Deny that,” he challenged softly, reminding himself in two days she’d be out of his life. This woman was too earnest for him. Ambitious, serious—not his type. But the next two days could be interesting.
She inhaled deeply and her cheeks flushed as she looked away. “Be that as it may, we’re sticking to books and reading and business,” she whispered. “There’s no place in my life for a brief affair. If I ever get involved with another man, it will have to be a deeply committed relationship. I doubt if that’s what you’re looking for.”
“Definitely not. I’m not into a strong commitment, a lasting relationship or marriage. No male in my family has done well in those situations.”
“Then we shouldn’t start even a casual relationship.” She moved along the row of books. “Does she have this?” she asked, withdrawing a first reader with bears on the cover.
His hand closed over Ava’s as she held the book. At the instant of contact she drew a deep breath, causing his pulse to speed a notch. She reacted to every personal remark or gesture, each touch.
“No. Not that I can recall,” he replied, looking at the cover.
“It’s a cute story. I’ll get this one.”
“You know your children’s books.”
“My doctorate is in early reading. I should know them.”
“If you’re getting more, I’ll hold the books you want while you look.” It occurred to him that she might be the perfect tutor for Caroline. A doctorate degree, dedicated to children—she was imminently qualified.
“Oh, yes,” she answered, moving away from him. He watched her, something easy to do. She would be at his house for two days. He made a mental note to clear his calendar and stay home with her the entire time. He would get past the barriers she had thrown up. If she hadn’t dated in six years, she was long overdue. He had not been fabricating the sizzling tension that existed since the first moment he saw her. She felt it as much as he did; she had not denied feeling it.
“What about this book?” she asked, holding out one with puppies on the cover.
He held one corner. “Let’s see the pictures,” he said, moving closer and catching the scent of her perfume. She turned the pages while he enjoyed standing close. As far as he knew, Caroline did not own the book, but he was savoring the moment. “I don’t think she has this one.”
“I love this story. Put this with the other one,” she said, handing the book to him and continuing her search. After she selected four books, they had a brief argument about who would pay, which he won.
“When do you want me to come pick you up?” he asked as they headed out and toward her home.
“Early evening. I’ll be ready,” she said.
He nodded. “Good enough. I’ll take the books because they’re going home anyway.”
“Fine. Thank you, and thanks for the lunch. I’ll see you soon,” she said at the door. He watched her step into the building before he returned to the limo.
She was flying home with him, and he would have the next couple of days to try to talk her into staying this summer and tutoring Caroline herself. He had already made a decision about who he wanted to tutor Caroline. None of the tutors on her list were as qualified or had the great references that Ava did. She was the best possible person, and he had long ago learned it was usually worth more to get the best. Whatever Ava decided, he intended to get to know her. The challenge she presented was irresistible when it involved a beautiful woman who had drive and intelligence.
Ava stood at the window and watched the limo disappear down the street. She wasn’t ready for the complication of a man in her life, and William Delaney would be a big-time complication. Sparks had flown from the first moment they saw each other in the restaurant lobby—something that hadn’t happened to her since Ethan. Something she hadn’t wanted to have happen now. She could vividly recall the moment: taller than others in the lobby, Will had stood out from the crowd as he walked through the door. She had seen pictures of him in Texas magazines, the newspaper, local news, but they hadn’t done him justice. He had to be six-four. His compelling chocolate eyes, fringed with thick, slightly curly lashes had taken her breath. His thick wavy black hair was as appealing as his other features and together—eyes, hair, firm jaw—all made a lethal combination that packaged seduction. A supremely confident man with good reason. Born into wealth, life had been on his terms—most of the time. She suspected the problems with his niece had really thrown him. Caroline was a lovable frustration he was totally unaccustomed to facing.
Ava pulled her list of tutors out of her purse. It started with the one she thought the most qualified and the best to work with a traumatized child. Becky Hofflinger was wonderful with children and a highly successful tutor. Becky could use the money, and Ava guessed Will would be extremely generous.
She thought about the two thousand she would get paid for each day in Dallas. She could have stayed a week and he would gladly have paid her. She shook her head. The man had more money than one human needed.
Fly to Dallas, meet his niece and assess the little girl. From the first moment her heart had gone out to the child. It was heart-wrenching to lose a loved one, and for a child to lose her only parent in a tragic accident had to be devastating. Ava empathized. Her heartbreak and grief had diminished somewhat, although there were moments it hit again.
She didn’t want another relationship; she couldn’t imagine having one. Her own reaction to Will had shocked her. For the past six years she had lived in memories and hurt, trying to overcome loss. No one had held the tiniest bit of interest for her. Until Will Delaney came into her life.
As she showered and then dressed in red slacks, a matching red silk blouse and high-heeled red sandals, she had to admit she admired Will’s concern for his niece even more so because she had never expected that of him. She’d jumped to hasty conclusions.
Only time would tell.
