скачать книгу бесплатно
“This house cries out for children. If I thought there was a chance you might change your ways …”
His grandmother had been hoping to marry him off for years. He, on the other hand, had never been interested in marriage. His own parents hadn’t exactly been a shining example of the institution, and he had no intention of repeating their mistakes. Better to stay clear of all that and focus on things you could actually control. Like work.
Even if work hadn’t been very satisfying lately.
Rick leaned back in his chair, staring at his computer screen. If work was getting stale it was his own fault, and was therefore something he could fix. He owned the damn company, after all.
A marriage, on the other hand, wasn’t something one person could control. Two hearts, two minds, two egos—and way too much risk. Date for fun, that was his motto—and when the fun started to fade, end things quick and clean, before either party had too much invested. And yes, that meant that he tended to date women he wasn’t likely to fall for.
“I just want to see you happy, Richard.”
“I am happy.” Or content, anyway. He’d never expected happiness. His life was going according to plan, and he had no desire to make any changes. The only thing he wanted that he didn’t already have was Hunter Hall.
“Won’t you at least think about what I’ve said? It wouldn’t kill you to date a woman of character for once.”
Rick smiled at the old-fashioned phrase. “And what would a ‘woman of character’ want with me?” He’d meant it as a joke, but his voice sounded a little bitter in his own ears.
His grandmother sighed. “If you don’t know the answer already, it won’t do any good to tell you. I’m sorry about Hunter Hall, dear, but I need to believe that this house will echo with the voices of children someday.”
Rick looked at the opposite wall, where the original advertisement for “Magician’s Labyrinth” hung in a mahogany frame. He’d modeled the magician’s house after Hunter Hall, and the image had been part of the game’s cover art ever since.
“It’s your house, Gran. You can do whatever you want with it.”
“I just wish you’d consider—”
“Yeah. I have to get back to work, okay? I’ll talk to you soon.”
But he didn’t get back to work. He leaned back in his chair, frowning at his spreadsheet without really seeing it.
Maybe this was for the best. Wanting something you couldn’t achieve through your own efforts was a weakness, and Rick had never tolerated weakness.
His paperweight was a replica of the magician’s house carved out of stone, a gift from his gaming programmers a few years ago. He picked it up now, feeling the smooth, compact weight of it in his palm.
The thought of losing Hunter Hall made something clench inside him, as if his internal organs were being put through a wringer. His grip tightened. The peaks of the roof cut into his skin, and he knew this one childhood dream still had a hold on him.
His private line lit up. He set the paperweight back down on his desk and put his assistant on speaker. “What is it, Carol?”
“I’m sending a woman in to see you.” She sounded irritated, but then she always did. After six years, he still wasn’t sure if the irritation was for the world in general or him in particular.
He frowned. “You know I’m preparing for the product review tomorrow. Who is it you want to send in?”
“Someone from that foundation. The one that runs the Wish Upon a Star program.”
He felt a twinge of guilt. That girl—Jenny or Julie or something. She was undergoing cancer treatment, and she wanted to meet him. Her request had come in a letter from a nonprofit agency, explaining who they were and what they did, and asking if they could arrange a hospital visit on the girl’s behalf.
“I told you to decline their request and send them a check.”
“Which I did, mon capitaine. But someone has come in person to speak with you about the matter. A Ms. Allison Landry.”
“Ms. Landry is out of luck. Send her on her way.”
“No.”
His eyebrows drew together. “What do you mean, no?”
“Look, boss. There may be assistants out there who could turn away a righteous woman trying to help a girl with cancer, but I am not one of them. I’m sending Ms. Landry in.”
Rick felt another twinge of guilt, but he refused to give in to it. He had no desire to visit a cancer ward and his reasons were no one’s business. And he’d had it up to here with righteous women today, between his grandmother and Carol and now this latest interruption.
He pictured her as a woman with iron gray hair and an iron gray demeanor, and the thought of her invading his inner sanctum and scowling at him in disapproval was too damn irritating to deal with.
“I’m in a bad mood. If she comes in here I’ll just snarl at her.”
Carol snorted. “This one can take it. She’ll snarl right back.”
Definitely iron gray.
Rick sighed. “Fine. Go ahead and send her in.”
He barely had time to rise to his feet before his door opened and Allison Landry stepped into his office.
Never in his life had a preconceived image been so off the mark. The woman coming toward him was hardly more than a girl—a girl whose short, silky haircut made her look like an angry pixie.
She had a pixie’s body, too—at least what he could see of it. Her slender, understated curves weren’t exactly showcased by her jeans and flannel shirt.
This was not a woman who used her appearance to get what she wanted. She didn’t even wear makeup, he noted as she came to a halt in front of his desk, her eyes blazing and her cheeks flushed.
Not that she needed it. She had perfect skin—so clear and smooth he found himself wondering if it could possibly feel as soft as it looked.
Her eyes didn’t need any help, either. They were the color of—what was the name of that stone? Lapis lazuli? And fringed by eyelashes so thick they were like tiny black fans.
Her mouth … her mouth was pretty good too. Wide and full and sweet, even with the corners turned down as she registered her obvious dislike of everything about him.
She looked mad as hell. And the fact that he was a rich and powerful CEO was not going to stop her from telling him about it.
Allison rode her wave of anger right into the executive office. And there was Rick Hunter, rising to his feet to meet her, every hair in place and with no hint of stubble along his jaw.
He was all business, exuding the same power and sophistication as the mahogany and leather furniture that had probably set him back what Allison paid in office rent for a year. She couldn’t even imagine what the suit cost. She’d always thought that computer executives had a more casual look, but Rick Hunter obviously preferred formality.
Probably because it kept people at a distance.
“Mr. Hunter,” she began coldly. “I came here to—”
He came around to the front of his desk, and she backed up a pace or two before she could stop herself. He was tall, about eight inches taller than her five foot six, and the difference made her feel at a disadvantage. “You’re from the Star Foundation?” he asked.
“I’m the director. And I—”
“The director?” He leaned back against his desk. “You look about eighteen.”
“I’m twenty-seven,” she said in a voice like ice. “Want to see my driver’s license?”
A corner of his mouth twitched. “That’s all right. I believe you.” He studied her for a moment, his green eyes appraising. “You’re here because I turned down that girl’s request. I suppose you think I owe you an apology.”
Her spine stiffened. “You don’t owe me a damn thing, and I’m not interested in an apology. I’m only interested in knowing when you’re going to visit Julie. I know you’re a busy professional with demands on your time—” she didn’t even try to curb the sarcasm in her voice “—and that the request of a stranger doesn’t loom large on your to-do list. Especially when it would involve spending an entire hour devoted to something other than business or your own pleasure—”
He raised his hands, palms out. “Slow down, Ms. Landry. I don’t—”
“And I’m sure you’re not used to sacrificing even that much time to make someone else happy. But if you had any idea what these kids go through on a daily basis—the hell their families live through—”
“I do,” he said roughly, and when she stopped in surprise, staring at him, he looked away. That was actually a relief, as she found herself strangely distracted by those green eyes, which the photographer, good as he or she had been, hadn’t done justice to.
“I mean,” he said more quietly, “I can imagine. And despite what you obviously think of me, I didn’t turn down your request because I’m a selfish, uncaring bastard. My reasons—” he stopped. “My reasons are none of your business. But I’d be more than happy to make a sizable donation to your foundation, and if you choose to use some of those funds to get something for Jenny—”
“Her name is Julie.” She was so mad her skin felt hot. “It might interest you to know that most of our kids don’t wish for things. Most of their wishes have to do with people—wanting to meet a favorite writer or athlete or musician. Wanting to meet someone they admire.”
That made him frown. “Why would Julie admire me?”
“Didn’t you read her letter? You designed her favorite game, and she loves it. It’s helped her through a terrible time in her life. Something about the game connected with her, and because of that, she feels connected to you. She’d like to meet you. Why is that so hard to understand? And why on earth can’t you take an hour or two out of your day to—”
“No,” he said abruptly. “I’m sorry to disappoint you—and her—but that’s not going to be possible. Now, why don’t we discuss that donation I mentioned? I’m sure an agency like yours needs every—”
“I’m not interested in your money.”
The words came out impulsively. She knew she’d regret them tomorrow. Even now a voice was telling her not to be stupid, not to be proud, and to take Rick Hunter’s guilt money. People who ran nonprofits couldn’t afford to be choosy, and plenty of donations were made for publicity, or for the tax deduction, or for any number of reasons that had nothing to do with the foundation’s mission. And she’d been grateful for every dime, and never let herself judge other people’s motivations.
Until now. For some reason, she wasn’t willing to let Rick Hunter off so easily, even if refusing his offer hurt her more than it annoyed him.
She took a deep breath. “You can’t fix this with money. You’re just going to have to deal with the fact that you’re disappointing a girl who’s already had enough disappointments to last a lifetime.”
Something flashed in his eyes, there and gone. “I’m sorry about that, I really am. But I can’t believe you wouldn’t benefit from a financial contribution. I know nonprofits have been struggling the last couple of years.”
That was a hit to her solar plexus.
“Try to get this through your head, Mr. Hunter. I don’t want your money. But since that’s the only topic you’re willing to discuss, I might as well go.”
“Wait,” he said gruffly. “Don’t storm out, all right? Just—wait a second.”
She’d been on the point of turning away, but now she hesitated. His eyes were on her face, and once again there was something in his expression she couldn’t decipher. It held her in place for a moment.
“Look, how about this,” he said after a long pause. “I’ll send you a check next week, to give you time to …” He hesitated. “To think things through. I won’t hold you to anything you said here today, and I hope you’ll accept the donation. Okay? I’m sure you could use the money.”
He was making it easy for both of them. She could storm out in self-righteous anger, take a few days to calm down, and deposit his check without having to back down from her lofty position. Not to his face, anyway.
Her jaw felt stiff. “Yes, we could use the money. The Star Foundation is struggling right now. But money is only part of what keeps us going. The heart of what we do is help people. When our kids make wishes, they’re specific. They’re personal. Anyone can donate money, Mr. Hunter. But Julie wants to meet you.”
She was trying to reach the man she’d glimpsed so briefly behind the facade. Instead, her words only made him withdraw again.
“I’m sorry.”
“But—”
“I don’t like hospitals,” he said, as if that ended the discussion.
Allison stared at him. “No one likes hospitals. That’s why it’s so important to help the people who are stuck in them.”
“I’m sorry,” he said again. His expression was blank and cool.
Had she only imagined seeing a real human being behind that mask? “I’m sorry, too,” she said after a moment. “Parents feel so helpless when a child is diagnosed with cancer. Every instinct tells them to protect their kids, and then along comes a situation completely outside their control. That’s why it’s so frustrating when someone like you could actually do something—take some small, positive action to make a difference—only you won’t.”
Another flash of emotion showed through. “Ms. Landry—”
She wouldn’t be drawn in again. “Goodbye, Mr. Hunter.”
She left his office without looking back.
In the privacy of the elevator, she took a deep breath. When the doors opened she hurried across the elegant lobby, relieved to step outside again into the fresh air.
She walked quickly, impatient at every crosswalk. Her heart was beating faster than usual. After several blocks she realized she’d gone right past the garage where she’d parked.
She stopped, turned, and went slowly back the way she’d come.
She was supposed to be good with people. It was her job to get them involved, to persuade them they could make a difference.
But she’d failed to make even a dent in Rick Hunter’s armor. She’d felt at a disadvantage from the moment she walked into his office, and that wasn’t something she was used to.
And she’d ended up with nothing. No visit for Julie, and no money for the foundation. He’d offered, and she’d turned him down. She’d never refused a donation before.
She slid behind the wheel of her truck and turned the key in the ignition. He’d probably still send a check—he seemed like the persistent type. She’d just have to swallow her pride and accept it.
Pride had no place in her work. Nothing, and certainly not her own ego, could be allowed to get in the way of her mission to help families.
So why had she let Rick Hunter get to her? Why had she taken their encounter so personally? She’d swallowed her pride before—why did this feel so different?
She remembered those moments when she’d seen something underneath his coldness … something like real emotion. Like he really did feel badly about Julie. Like he really did want to help her.
That was the only reason she’d stayed as long as she did. Once she realized he wasn’t going to budge, she should have left. But a part of her had wanted to stay, to see if maybe, just maybe, she could get him to change his mind.
Not just for Julie’s sake, but for his, too. It would have been nice to see those two meet—the icy CEO and the irrepressible Julie, who managed to radiate enthusiasm for life even when she was exhausted by cancer treatments. There was no way Rick could meet her and not smile. Not unless the man truly lacked both a soul and a heart.
And somehow, in spite of everything, she didn’t think that was the case.
She slammed on her brakes for a red light she’d almost missed, adrenaline prickling her skin.
When the light turned green again she stepped carefully on the gas. It didn’t matter why her interaction with Rick Hunter had gotten under her skin. Maybe it was just the accumulated stress of a bad day. But from now on, she’d think of him like any other donor. When his check came, she’d cash it. She’d add him to the foundation’s mailing list and send him a thank-you card.
And she’d never have to see him again.
Chapter Two
