For Maya, remaining near Greg was beginning to be as necessary as breathing. She craved his presence, his strength, his wit, and even his sage advice, although she was loath to admit the latter, even to herself. What was wrong with her? They hardly knew each other. If it hadn’t been for the way the tornado had disrupted everyone’s life, they might never have progressed past being employer and employee—barely acquainted and hardly friends.
And now? The sight of his handsome face and his adorable expression as he had presented the teddy bear to Layla was permanently etched in her memory. She hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d said she’d never forget that kindness. She was positive it would stay with her the rest of her life, just as other special events had.
And speaking of special events, she reminded herself as she took a last forkful of lasagna, they needed to reschedule the committee meeting regarding the Founders’ Day Christmas Celebration. No matter how impossible or inconsequential it seemed today, December would be here before they knew it and everyone would expect life to have returned to normal by then.
Finished eating, Greg laid aside his napkin and leaned across the narrow restaurant table to ask, “What’s wrong? You look worried all of a sudden.”
“I was just remembering the Founders’ Day planning that never got done. We’ll need to rebuild the town hall from the ground up. And I’m not sure how many committee members will be available, even if I wait awhile to reschedule everything.”
“So, start with plans to rebuild. You said you’d have gotten a quick settlement if your house had been leveled. The same should be true of the town hall.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. I suppose we will get some money soon. Trouble is, I have no experience in construction so I have no clue how long it might take to build a replacement.” She paused, thoughtful. “I know we’d want it to be just like the original.”
“It could look the same,” Greg said, “but you’ll have to use modern materials in order to bring it up to code, especially since it’s a public building.”
“Oh. What a shame.”
“Not entirely. It will be a lot less likely to accidentally catch fire like that house over on Third Street did after the power came back on. Today’s wiring and breaker boxes are much safer than those old fuses were. You could also put an interior safe room or storm cellar in the plans if you wanted to.”
“I don’t know. Maybe. That old building stood firm in all kinds of weather for more than a hundred and fifty years. I’d have to see what the rest of the committee think about making changes.”
“Who’s on it besides you?”
“The city council and Mayor Dawson, of course. And Reverend Michael and I. We do most of the organizing with the help of Glenis Appleton, Nicki’s mother. My brother Jesse drops in whenever he can get away from the Circle L. The same goes for Chief Ridgeway. He shows up when he’s not on duty. We can always use more steady, dependable members. How about joining us?”
Greg recoiled and raised his hands, palms out, as if she’d just suggested something sinister. “Whoa. Not me. I’d end up making everybody mad the minute I opened my mouth.”
“Only if you insisted that your ideas were the only right ones.” She waited for his wry grin to appear and wasn’t disappointed.
“Suppose they are.”
“Suppose they’re not.”
His grin widened. “Now you’re hurting my feelings, lady. When have I been wrong? Name one time.”
Sobering, Maya said, “When you offered me a free place to stay.”
“I was doing you a favor. How was that wrong?”
She looked into his dark eyes, willing him to understand and not take offense or overreact when she said, “I don’t know how you feel about it, but I’m having far too good a time when we’re together. And in case you haven’t noticed, we’re together a lot.”
“Is that so bad?”
“It’s not bad at all,” Maya said softly. “It’s good. That’s the problem.” She cast a sidelong glance at her daughter. “I don’t want—us—to become too attached to you. It wouldn’t be fair.”
“Why? Because I’m not your type? Or because you still hold it against me that my family is well-to-do?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head and lowering her eyes to the linen napkin she had clenched in her lap. “Because you told me when you hired me that you’d be leaving High Plains as soon as your father passed on.”
“Suppose I change my mind?” Greg asked.
“Have you?”
“I might.”
“And you might not,” Maya said, getting to her feet and easing Layla’s chair back as he rose on the opposite side of the table. “Thank you for a lovely meal. When you see Michael, tell him I’ll get in touch about the planning meeting.”
In one way, Maya was sorry she’d been so blunt. In her deepest heart, however, she knew she’d done the right thing by speaking out. Even if Greg wasn’t becoming as attached to her and Layla as they were to him, her reasoning made perfect sense. The child had never had a father to love her. And it had been a long, long time since Maya had felt anything this strong, this compelling, drawing her to any man. The last thing any of them needed at a trying time like this was to have to come to grips with unrequited love.
That thought seared her all the way to her core. Love? Oh, yes. In the space of a few days she had fallen head over heels for her boss. And if he didn’t stop doing things that touched her heart and made her love him even more, she was going to have to look for a different place to live.
The way she saw the touchy situation, she was tempting fate if she remained his neighbor. He had already made it a practice to touch her hand. Sooner or later they might even share a kiss. That would be terrible. And wonderful.
Would God have thrown her and Greg into such close proximity if He had not planned for them to fall in love? she wondered. Or was this a test of her faith, her determination to be a good Christian in spite of trying circumstances?
She didn’t have a clue. And with her pastor busy helping others and also working with Greg on the Waters cabins, there was no way to catch Reverend Michael and confer with him in private. At least not right now.
Therefore, Maya decided, she’d go back to her old neighborhood and see if she could assist her neighbors. And she’d visit the remaining half of her home, too. Maybe there, in familiar rooms that had once afforded such comfort, she could reason through her dilemma regarding Greg. It was worth a try. Anything was better than stewing over her emotions.
Or over one immovable force, she added wryly. Gregory Garrison had a mind like a brick and he was twice as hardheaded.
“And I’m no smarter,” she muttered. “If I were, I would have refused the apartment the minute he offered it.”
Would she have? Probably not, she concluded. Even in retrospect she could see that she had been attracted to Greg all along. She may not have realized it, but the beginnings of those feelings had been brewing from the moment she had stepped through the office door to apply for the position as his executive assistant.
Accepting that fact made Maya even more furious. She was an adult. A mother. The sole supporter of her only child. Surely she had accepted that job for her daughter’s sake.
Yes, but you always thought he was handsome, she added honestly, even if you didn’t think you’d ever be romantically attracted to him.
Maya felt as if she were arguing with an intractable foe when, in truth, she was pitted against only one. Herself. How in the world could she expect to win that battle?
Michael put Greg and the other men to work taking the boards off the cottage windows and checking for leaks in the roofs. Surprisingly, the old cabins had weathered the storm with little damage. They had been sealed up for years, so mostly needed cleaning, although more would have to be done to them eventually.
“We’ll have at least five of these ready by this afternoon,” Michael said, wiping his brow and smiling at his cousin.
“
I can see that.” Greg hesitated. “Do me a favor?”
“Sure. What?”
“Don’t offer one of them to Maya Logan.”
“I hadn’t intended to.” Michael’s brow knit. “Isn’t she living in your extra apartment?”
“Yes. She is.”
The pastor began to grin. “Ah, I see. You want her to stay there and you’re afraid she might choose to move out here if I gave her the option.”
“Something like that.”
“Can I assume your intentions are honorable, cousin?”
That made Greg blush and stare at the younger man. “You sound like her father.”
Michael laughed. “I am, in a way. My job makes me father, brother, friend, teacher and confessor, sometimes all at the same time.” He sobered. “You haven’t answered my question.”
“I’d never do anything to hurt Maya, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Maybe not physically. I’m talking about breaking her heart. Are you sure you won’t do that?”
Greg had no ready answer for him. If his own feelings were any indication, there was more than one heart on the line, and he had no idea what he was going to do about it.
Maybe the kindest, smartest thing he could do was stay away from her. It wouldn’t be easy but he supposed it was worth a try. Then, if they were still attracted to each other later, he’d ask her for a real date.
What if she turns me down flat?
Then he’d know for sure, wouldn’t he? That hit him so hard it hurt.
Chapter Twelve
Looking back, Maya couldn’t believe all that had happened in the few weeks since the disaster. Tommy had started spending all his spare time hanging around either the church or the Garrison building and had begun running a few simple errands for them, swelling with pride when Greg had insisted on paying him for doing so.
The makeshift memorial for Marie had grown so big Jesse had had to ask folks to stop contributing to it but Maya could tell he’d been touched by everyone’s heartfelt participation just the same. The only element that had still not been resolved was her family’s missing heirloom engagement ring. Jesse had found everything else in the rubble of his kitchen except that one ring that mattered most.
She would have preferred if Clay had contacted her directly, but apparently he hadn’t gotten her new phone number and called the Circle L and had spoken with Jesse. Sadly, Clay had made no mention about when he might be coming home to Kansas, much to Maya’s dismay and disappointment.
She and Greg had settled into a routine, working together amicably during the day, then parting in the evenings. It was hard for her to keep from walking down the long hall and knocking on his door to borrow the proverbial cup of sugar but she managed to restrain herself. Layla, however, had no such reservations and spent as much time dropping in on Greg as she did staying at home. The child was clearly smitten with the man. Unfortunately, so was her mother.
Grumbling to herself—about herself—Maya found she could only tidy up the apartment so many times on the weekends before she grew too restless to remain inside. She was still waiting for the final insurance inspection and report on her damaged house so she didn’t dare begin rebuilding, nor could she do much cleanup of the site without risking losing some of the settlement money.
Therefore, she had dropped Layla at day care and headed for the church basement to see if there was any task that needed doing.
To her dismay, Greg was there, too. He’d been instrumental in setting up a lost and found, complete with a computerized listing of the items that had been turned in, and was bringing those files up to date while showing Tommy Jacobs how to use a computer.
Greg grinned the minute he looked up from the keyboard and spotted her. “Hi.” Leaning to one side to peer around Tommy and the monitor he asked, “Where’s the princess?”
“With Josie in day care. She needs the extra money and I need a break.”
“You know I’d be glad to babysit any time you want.”
“Layla spends too much time at your place as it is. She must drive you crazy.”
“Not at all. She’s full of questions so she keeps me entertained.” He ruffled the boy’s hair. “So does this guy. I’m teaching them how to paddle a kayak.”
“In the living room?”
“For now. Layla will have to be a lot older to do it for real. If I had one that held two people, maybe I could take turns giving the kids a chance to…”
“No,” Maya said flatly. “Absolutely not. You are not taking my child out in a tiny little boat like that and that’s final.”
“I’ll go!” Tommy piped up.
Laughing, Greg said, “Not for a while, okay?”
He went back to working on the computer and started typing while Tommy rolled his eyes, made a disgusted face and chose to make himself scarce.
Curious, Maya approached. “Have you had any word on that antique ring Jesse couldn’t find? I know it’s a minor thing compared to all the losses that other folks have reported but it’s important to my family history.”
“There was a small gold and diamond ring turned in. Here. Let me pull it up.” He hit a few keys and a digital image appeared. “Is this it?”
Maya shook her head. “No. It’s close, though. The ring Jesse gave Marie is unique. I’m positive that’s not it. I can’t understand how it got separated from her wedding band and letter. They were all together before the tornado struck the house.”
“I’m surprised he found any of that stuff, considering.”
“Me, too. It originally was our great-great-many-times-removed-grandmother Emmeline’s, back in 1860.”
Maya had started to turn away when Greg said, “Speaking of losses, have you heard anything about your insurance claim?”
“No, why?”
He shrugged. “Just wondered. I happened to be driving down Logan Street the other day and there were men with cameras and measuring tapes going over your house inch by inch. I questioned them to be sure they were legit and they said they were the ones who’ll be making the official structural report.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“I figured you knew.”
“No. Did they say how much longer it would take?”
“I didn’t ask that. In view of their workload, I suppose there’s no hurrying them.”
She sighed deeply and perched a hip on the far edge of the desk where he was working. “I suppose not. I’d just really love to be back in my own house.” Seeing his crestfallen expression she was quick to add, “I like the apartment. Really I do. It’s just that Layla needs a yard to play in and I want to feel at home.”
“I understand.”
“Do you? That place isn’t just a plain house to me. I bought it with my share of my parents’ estate, after Jesse bought out my third interest in the Circle L. I’ve always felt as if it was their gift to me. That probably sounds silly.”
“It’s not silly at all. Remember, my offer to help you make the repairs still stands.”
“It does?”
Greg began to frown. Getting to his feet he circled the desk and stopped close to Maya. “Of course it does. Haven’t you learned by now that my word is as good as any written contract?”
“I just thought…I mean…”
“I know exactly what you mean, Maya.” He reached for her hand and clasped it gently. “You and I have both been pretty confused since the storm shook everything up.”
“I sure have,” she replied, permitting him to hold her hand, enjoying every second of that contact.
“I thought things might be moving too fast, at least they were for me, so I backed off to give you a chance to catch your breath.”
“Of course.” She wondered if he could tell that she was actually having trouble finding air just then. When Greg was this close, speaking this intimately, she felt as if she were floating, barely able to function. And certainly unable to force herself to put any distance between them.
“Let me
help you with your house, the way we’d planned,” Greg said with a pleading lilt. “We can work together, build something solid and lasting.”
Maya wondered if he was still talking about lumber and plaster or if he might be referring to their relationship. Either way, she could not bring herself to rebuff him. One quick glance into his eyes and she was lost in the depths of his sincerity, his evident concern. And, if her imagination wasn’t playing tricks on her, his affection.
“I’d like that,” she said, surprised to hear her voice quaver.
“Good. You’re not going to change your mind, are you?”
“Of course not. My word is every bit as good as yours.”
“I’m certainly glad to hear that,” Greg said as he smiled slightly and leaned closer.
Maya might have retreated if he had not still held her hand. She could feel his warm breath on her face, see the tenderness in his gaze.
She closed her eyes, lids fluttering. For a second she was afraid he might back away.
Then, his lips brushed hers for the briefest moment and she knew her imagination had not even come close to portraying the wonder and beauty of their first kiss.
Only the unexpected appearance of other parishioners, and a giggle from the ever-present Tommy Jacobs, kept her from throwing her arms around Greg’s neck and asking for another.
Greg had loaned Maya his SUV a few times and didn’t know she’d found herself another vehicle until she drove up to his father’s estate while he was visiting there.
As she parked the compact maroon two-door in the semicircular drive that fronted the historic home and climbed out, her sunshine-yellow sundress and bright, joyful attitude reminded Greg of a Kansas spring morning.
He called a greeting from the porch. “Hi. Nice car. What brings you all the way out here? Were you trying out your new wheels?”
He watched her start up the limestone stairs that led from the drive to the first tier of lawn that had once been a formal garden. The spring-fed, decorative pond and fountain were now dry and grass had taken the place of the beautiful flowers his mother had always planted when she had been alive.
Healing the Boss’s Heart Page 12
