Read Online Lean on Me by Helenkay Dimon - Free Book Online Page B

misguided need to help her. That made all the difference in her reaction.
    She inhaled nice and deep, focusing on the stiffness of his shoulders and realizing she put it there. She reached her hand across the table and sighed in relief when he slipped his fingers through hers. “I know you are.”
    “You haven’t acted like it so far.”
    “I get it, so you can stop scowling.”
    He squeezed her hand but didn’t let go. “Back to Allan. What happened with the breakfast date at sunrise?”
    It could have been the reassuring strength of Mitch’s hand or the soothing calm of his voice, but she spilled. “You’d have to ask him. For some reason he’s ducking me. He cut our call short when I first got here, ran out when we saw him at the house and now skipped the breakfast he set up. It’s like has somewhere else to be. Anywhere I’m not.”
    “You guys have a fight?”
    “No, that’s why none of this makes sense. We were in constant contact until I got here. We called and wrote each other.”
    “Thought you didn’t have a cell.”
    Her body jerked at the sudden whip in his voice. “Back when I still had one.”
    “About that.” He pushed his mug aside to bring their joined hands closer to him. “Tell me why a practical woman who has walked in soaring heights usually reserved for moving airplanes doesn’t have something as simple as a cell.”
    “I had to get rid of it.”
    For the first time since he sat down, he smiled. “Had to?”
    That sexy dimple had her transfixed. “Yes.”
    “When we talk about everything else, we’ll cover that issue too. No more hiding.”
    “I’m not really comfortable with any of this. After all, it’s my life. My business.”
    “That argument would be more compelling if I hadn’t spent an hour washing shit out of my hair last night.” When she laughed his smile fell. “It’s not funny.”
    She held two fingers a half inch apart. “Maybe a little?”
    “We’ll see if you think so once we get to that yelling I promised you.”
    So much for the hope he’d forgotten about that part. “When is that joyful event happening?”
    “I rearranged my schedule after our…encounter—”
    “Is that what we’re calling it?”
    “—but I have to go to work for a few hours.”
    Every muscle in her body groaned in relief. “Have fun.”
    He spun his mug around and grabbed the handle. “Nice try.”
    That voice meant trouble. He spoke and a thumping started at the base of her neck. “What?”
    “As if I’m letting you out of my sight.” He took a long drink of coffee. “You can come with me, maybe do a little work since you clearly know your way around the place. Hell, you might work harder than some of my existing employees.”
    She should have enjoyed the praise but something inside her shriveled. “The town would love me if I got people fired and took their jobs. Are you trying to make my life more difficult?”
    He frowned at her in that what-are-you-talking-about way men tended to do. “No one is losing their job.”
    Still, his solution sounded like a nightmare. Put her body right in the middle of gossip central? No. Thank. You. “I’ll pass on a trip to the nursery.”
    His hand tightened until the mug in his hand shook. “Cassidy, I’m not in the mood for—”
    “Believe it or not, I’m not being contrary.” Well, maybe a little.
    “Could be you’re unclear on the definition of the word, because it sure feels like it.”
    “I have to find Allan.” She said the words in a rush, hoping they would keep Mitch from crushing the ceramic cup in his hand. She could only imagine the name the town would give to that move.
    “Sounds like you’re trying to avoid me today.”
    She almost nodded. That and try to figure out how she was going to handle the yelling battle Mitch promised. “Of course not.”
    “Fine.” Mitch said it in a way that sounded anything but fine. Probably had something to do with the clenched-jaw delivery.
    Not the response she