Wonders Of The Heart. Ruth Scofield

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СКАЧАТЬ arms showed a body used to regular workouts, and he’d been somewhere recently to maintain a healthy tan.

      She felt a bit wary at her own response, and hugged a bright melon-hued pillow against her chest.

      He let out a gusty sigh as he sat down on the leather couch, leaned back, and simply stared at her for a long moment. She felt the force of his gaze all through her body.

      It was all she could do to sit still and remain silent.

      “All right,” he said finally, and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

      The red pillow became a real shield. She tugged at its corners.

      “I’ve checked with Walter. He’s happy with your references, and since he knows this minister and his wife that you and Honor think walk with the angels, I’m willing to let you stay on in the capacity of housekeeper. For a while. If things work out, maybe we can come to a more permanent agreement. But I still have questions…”

      “That’s fair enough. Fire away.”

      “How long have you been in New York?”

      “Not quite three months. I came in April.”

      “What brought you here? Job? Family? Ambition?”

      “Oh, I guess you could say all three.” Her fingers became more sensitive to the pillow stitching, and she imprinted the corner against them. “I want to study dress design with a lead designer if I can, and perhaps go on to Paris someday. Even Italy, maybe. But New York…” She waved a hand, letting her excitement show. “Oh, I just wanted to spend time here. I love American designers, and sure hope to find a niche with one. For a year or two, anyway.”

      She dared to meet his gaze momentarily, wondering what lay beyond the tired depths, wondering how much he was really interested in hearing of her plans. But he didn’t interrupt, and she didn’t know what to do but keep on chattering.

      “But it’s hard to get a decent appointment, you know? Oh, I could get a job as support personnel, I suppose, and maybe I’d be smart to do that, get my foot in the door and all that. But I’d like to find someplace where they appreciate my designs, too. Where they’ll give me a chance.”

      Glimpsing his face, she abruptly hushed. He drew a deep breath.

      “Okay… And you did say ‘family’? You have family in New York?”

      “No. I mean, I have family. A twin sister, Autumn. But not in New York. She lives in Kansas City. She, um, didn’t want to come.”

      “I don’t follow. Why would that bring you to New York?”

      “Well, you see, Autumn and I have never lived apart. Except for a few minor choices, we’ve always done things as a twosome and rarely been separated.

      We thought it time for each of us to, uh, sorta find our own identity.”

      “And you had to come to New York to do that? Wasn’t that a little drastic?”

      “Mmm, my goodness, yes. Er, no, not drastic in that sense. But I have a better chance at finding my place in the design world here, and Autumn’s a hometown girl through and through.”

      He looked a little weary.

      “Got that. But why would a young single woman, who’s after a career of any kind, want to hire on as a housekeeper, of all things? Away from the singles’ scene. And further, with the limitations and responsibility that looking after a young girl would bring? I’d think it would cramp your…ambitions.”

      “Well, not all that much. I mean, I don’t feel confined. Not yet, anyway. We’ve had too much fun doing the tourist thing to hurry, both of us being new to the city. I haven’t pushed it. Up until now…well, I’ve had time during the day to make a few rounds while Honor attends school. But lately we’ve been talking about summer plans, and that will change our routine.”

      She glanced at him with sudden inquisitiveness. “You do know she completes her classes this week? The private school is on a little different schedule than the public system.”

      “Actually, that’s one thing I did know. That’s the main reason I returned early.”

      “Oh.”

      “So tell me, Spring. How and why did you take the job here? If you moved to get away from always pairing with your sister, haven’t you merely changed the person and the locale if you and Honor are always together?”

      “It really isn’t the same. I am nine years older than Honor, and we aren’t viewed as a set. Here, there’s only one of me.”

      “Ah, I see. Well, what is this bargain you and Honor Suzanne have both mentioned?”

      “Oh, that.” She traced the pillow stitching, back and forth. “As you must know, New York apartments are very expensive, and while my Uncle William left me enough money to live modestly for a year or two without worry, he also taught Autumn and me to live rather frugally when we could and not to squander money.”

      He raised a brow. “The point being?”

      “So, when I began attending the church, I thought it would be a good place to find a roommate. I didn’t want to just pick someone from the ads or anything, you know—that’s not always safe in New York these days, is it? Anywhere at all, I suppose. Then Dana and I began to talk, and she introduced me to Honor.”

      “And?”

      “We made our bargain. I’d be her companion and resident adult, and in exchange, I live here rent-free. We pooled our resources for food and other cash demands.”

      “But if Honor wasn’t getting her allowance, what cash resources did she have?”

      “Oh, we told you that. Baby-sitting and other odd jobs.”

      “Ah, yes, the baby-sitting…”

      “And the other things. Like organizing and running that birthday party for the busy mother. You know, that could become quite a nice little business, if you ask me. Honor and I have been talking—”

      “Oh, no, you don’t.” He put up a hand, palm out, and leaned against the couch once more. “I don’t want my home turned into a business center. Besides, you can’t, remember? No business may be run from this complex.”

      “That’s a shame. We could—”

      “Whatever you wish, Spring, it won’t happen here.”

      Spring sighed. “All right.”

      “Now we need to come to a better agreement over your terms of employment.”

      “My terms of employment?”

      “Yes. If you are to remain in this apartment as housekeeper and Honor’s…uh, helper companion, we have to have a firm understanding about what to expect from each other, don’t you agree?”

      Spring had thought she and Honor were more friends than housekeeper and charge. At home, she and Autumn СКАЧАТЬ