The Mummy Proposal. Cathy Thacker Gillen

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      Chapter One

      “I hear you work miracles,” Nate Hutchinson drawled.

      “Sometimes I do.” Brooke Mitchell smiled and took the sexy financier’s hand in hers, shaking it briefly as she stepped into his downtown Fort Worth office.

      “Good.” Nate looked her straight in the eye. “Because I’m in need of a home makeover—fast. The son of an old friend is coming to live with me.”

      Still tingling from the feel of his warm, hard palm clasped in hers, Brooke stepped back. “Temporarily or permanently?”

      “If all goes according to plan, I’ll adopt Landry by summer’s end.”

      Brooke had heard the founder of Nate Hutchinson Financial Services was eligible, wealthy and generous to a fault. She hadn’t known he was in the market for a family, but she supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. Nate’s four best buddies were all married, with kids. It made sense that as he approached his late thirties, the dark-haired, six-foot-five Texan would want to enrich his personal life, too. Brooke had just figured that a man as successful and handsome as Nate would want to do so the old-fashioned way. By finding a woman to settle down with and then have babies. Not that this was any of her business, she reminded herself sternly.

      She turned her glance away from Nate’s broad shoulders and powerful chest. “So how old is this child?” she asked in a crisp, formal tone, trying not to think how the marine-blue of Nate Hutchinson’s dress shirt and striped tie deepened the hue of his eyes.

      “Fourteen.”

      Brooke sank into a chair and pulled out a notepad and pen. She crossed her legs at the knee and continued. “What’s he like?”

      “I don’t know.” Nate circled around to sit behind his massive antique mahogany desk. He relaxed against the smooth leather of the chair. “I’ve never met him.”

      “You’ve invited this kid to live with you permanently and you’ve never laid eyes on him?” Brooke blurted before she could stop herself.

      Nate flashed a charming half smile, the kind car salesmen gave when they were talking about gas mileage that was less than ideal. “It’s complicated,” he murmured. “But I’m sure it’s going to work out fine.”

      Obviously, Brooke thought, calling on her own experience as a parent, Nate Hutchinson knew as little about teenage boys as he did about decorating. But that wasn’t her problem. Finding a way to do the assignment and collect her commission without getting emotionally involved was. It seemed there hadn’t been a child born yet in this world who did not possess the capability to steal her heart … and that went double for a kid in any kind of trouble.

      The phone on his desk buzzed. Nate picked up. “Yes. Send him in. I want Ms. Mitchell to meet him.” He rose and headed for the door.

      Moments later, a tall, gangly teen sauntered through the portal of the executive suite. He wore jeans and a faded T-shirt he had clearly outgrown, and had peach fuzz on his face and shaggy dishwater-blond hair. His only nod toward propriety was the tender deference with which he treated the elderly white-haired woman beside him. She walked with a cane and looked so frail even a mild Texas breeze might blow her over.

      Brooke could feel Nate’s shock, even as he resumed the perennial smooth of someone who made his living charming people into investing with his firm. “Mrs. Walker. It’s been a long time.” He moved to help her into a chair. The youth assisted from the other side.

      The elderly woman gratefully accepted their help. “Yes. It has.”

      “And this must be your great-grandson.” Nate moved toward the fourteen-year-old boy, genially extending his palm. “Hello, Landry.”

      Hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans, Landry looked around the luxuriously appointed office, ignoring Nate entirely. Finally, with a disgruntled sigh, he cast СКАЧАТЬ