Winning Over Skylar

by Julianna Morris

  Laundry was the one domestic task Aaron could muddle through with a minimum of damage, which was a good thing because the woman from Trident who cleaned house for him had adamantly declared, “No windows, no laundry and no litter boxes.”

  Melanie had looked wistful when she heard the words “litter boxes” and he’d worried that she would want a cat. Now he was bothered that she hadn’t asked. Poor kid, aside from periodic moments of sass and defiance, she was afraid to ask for much of anything. Requesting permission to come live with the Gibsons must have taken a huge amount of resolve on her part...and a good push from Karin.

  “I’ll let you get back to work,” he said. “Thanks for hosting Melanie tonight.”

  “She’s always welcome.”

  Skylar had said that more than once, but it no longer irritated him. If nothing else, Melanie needed to know, beyond a doubt, that there was a place where she was welcomed and wanted...he just wished he’d done a better job of making certain that place was his house.

  Aaron waited until Skylar was inside with the door locked before walking to his car. He got in with a dissatisfied frown. The plush interior of the Mercedes and the fashionable house he’d leased were a far cry from porch swings and farmhouses, but as he looked at Skylar’s front door, he couldn’t help wishing he was on the other side of it.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?” Greg asked as he helped wipe down the Nibble Nook counters on Friday. “Mr. Hollister is letting employees take factory seconds home again.”

  Skylar froze. She didn’t want to think about Aaron, much less talk about him. Letting him kiss her the other evening had been foolish. What if Karin had woken up and seen them on the porch? She wasn’t ready to see her mother with another man.

  “He is?” Skylar asked, trying to sound casual.

  “Yes. Apparently Mr. Hollister is working on a process for it to be given to employees equally, rather than whoever grabs the stuff. You know my sister... She’d never be pushy, so she rarely took anything. The foremen are monitoring it until everything is settled, and Katie’s received several items over the past few days. Anything extra helps on their budget.”

  Skylar nodded. Greg’s brother-in-law had been injured the year before, and he was finally back to work as a mechanic, but the family was in debt and struggling to keep their heads above water.

  “Do you think she’ll be happier at Cooper Industries now?”

  “It’s too early to know for sure, but Katie likes that things are being done more fairly. She said Mr. Hollister walked through their division this week and was really friendly. Mr. Cooper used to do that, except Mr. Hollister asked what they thought would help make the factory run better.”

  “That’s nice.”

  “It sure is. She was getting awfully fed up with the place.”

  Deep in thought, Skylar went outside and began cleaning out the half whiskey barrels she used as flower planters. In the summer, petunias and lobelia and other flowers crowded the planters, spilling out in a riot of color, but a hard frost the night before had singed the lingering blossoms.

  Normally she was able to clear her mind while gardening, yet she couldn’t stop thinking about what Greg had told her. Was it possible that Aaron had changed his factory-seconds policy because of what she’d said the previous weekend? It would be nice to think he had, but it was just as likely that he’d finally realized he needed to do something to improve his employee relations.

  Annoyed with herself for caring what Aaron did, she finished her task by piling pumpkins and gourds on top of the barrels for decoration.

  A few late customers came and went, and at two-thirty, Greg put up the Closed sign on the three cashiers windows. The windows had rarely been in simultaneous use until Aaron took over Cooper Industries; now they needed all three during the factory meal breaks in order to handle the influx of patrons.

  Unfortunately, while night-shift employees often stopped for breakfast after work, the Nibble Nook was only open for the daytime meal break. The two later shifts had to rely on food they’d brought with them, or the Cooper Cafeteria since the nearest fast-food stand was several miles away near the highway.

  Karin and Melanie arrived from school and promptly sat down to study.

  “You’re dedicated,” Skylar said as she brought them a tray of snacks.

  “If we finish our homework today, we won’t have to think about it at the zoo or anything,” Karin declared.

  “You don’t have any tests next week?”

  The girls exchanged a glance. “Uh, one for history,” Karin admitted. “But it isn’t until Wednesday. We can study for it on Monday and Tuesday.”

  “All right, if you’re sure.”

  Skylar went inside to finish counting out the cash registers. Greg took the deposit to the bank for her on Fridays, and she didn’t want to hold him up.

  “We’re done,” he told her a few minutes later.

  Skylar handed him the deposit envelope. “Me, too. I’ll see you next week,” she called out. “Thanks, everyone. Great job this week, it was crazier than usual.”

  A chorus of agreement came from the departing employees.

  Tired, Skylar rolled her shoulders to release the tension. She’d tried to keep Aaron out of her work life, now that Nibble Nook employees were talking about him. The customers, on the other hand, had complained less about Cooper Industries this week. She’d sensed a difference, and Greg’s comments had just confirmed that things might be improving at Cooper Industries.

  Sighing, Skylar went into the back room and looked at the picture hanging there. The informal family portrait was one of her favorites, and it was particularly good of Jimmie. After the funeral, small messages had begun appearing on the plain white wall, written there by employees.

  Best boss EVER.

  I never knew anyone like him.

  Made you want to try harder.

  Greatest laugh in the world... She always smiled when she read that one and Jimmie would have loved it as a tribute. He’d believed food was less important than laughing, because food just fed the body, while laughter fed the soul.

  Skylar looked down and realized she’d been unconsciously twisting the wedding ring on her finger.

  What would Joe and Grace think if they knew she was attracted to Aaron Hollister? A few months ago they’d rather awkwardly explained that nobody expected her to be alone for the rest of her life...and that Jimmie would say the same thing. Skylar wasn’t sure if they’d been suggesting she get remarried one day, or talking about her starting to date, but at the time, dating had been the last thing on her mind. How could she think about an adult social life when she was busy with the Nibble Nook and had a teenage daughter at home? Besides, she would have sworn that part of her life was over.

  She touched Jimmie’s face in the photograph, but it was a poor substitute for real touching and real conversation. Was it possible that Karin was having so much trouble letting go of her father because her mother was having the same problem? Jimmie would have wanted to be remembered with love, not pain.

  “Mooommm,” Karin’s voice called from outside the Nibble Nook, and Skylar jerked guiltily.

  “Yes?” she said, stepping outside.

  “I don’t get why we have to read this,” her daughter complained, pushing a small book across the table. “We’re already learning about the Civil War in history class.”

  “The American Lit class always has students read The Red Badge of Courage when they’re studying the Civil War,” Skylar murmured, feeling almost nostalgic for her high-school days.

  “Isn’t there a movie we can watch instead?”

  “That wouldn’t be the same. But it’s a great book—supposedly the first time color was used to describe emotions.”

  “Really?” It was Melanie,
and she looked at her own copy of the novel with greater interest. She’d confided in Skylar that she wanted to be an author, except she didn’t want anyone else to know in case they thought she was being bigheaded. “You mean like, ‘I feel blue’ or something?”

  “I don’t remember if that’s one he used, but yes,” Skylar said, smiling. “I think the author only lived until he was twenty-nine, but he’s considered one of the best writers of the eighteen hundreds. Imagine changing literature and being so well-known that young.”

  “Twenty-nine is old,” Karin objected.

  “You won’t feel that way when you’re twenty-nine,” Skylar advised, hiding a smile. “When are you supposed to finish the book?”

  “In a couple of weeks.”

  “It’s an exciting story. May I borrow it this weekend since you won’t be studying?” she asked casually.

  Karin shot a look at the novel as if she now couldn’t bear to let it out of her sight. “I might start it tonight after all.”

  “Just let me know.”

  All at once both Melanie and Karin looked alarmed, and Skylar turned around to see Aaron pulling into a parking space. The girls began whispering together, probably because his presence at the Nibble Nook had usually meant trouble. Perhaps it was Pavlovian, but her own heartbeat raced faster, as well.

  She walked to the Mercedes as he got out. “Is something wrong?”

  “No, but I wanted to suggest going to the zoo in San Francisco tomorrow, instead of Sacramento. That way we could go to Ghirardelli Square for ice cream and eat at Fisherman’s Wharf. The girls would like that, wouldn’t they?”

  “Sure, but there’s a two-night school trip coming up to San Francisco,” Skylar said. “Isn’t Melanie going? Karin has been talking about it for weeks and the consent forms are due on Monday.”

  “I haven’t heard about a trip.”

  “Melanie?” she called.

  “Yes, Mrs. Gib...Skylar?” the teenager said, coming over with a worried expression.

  “Aren’t you in one of the classes going to San Francisco week after next?”

  Melanie shifted from one foot to the other. “Uh...yes.”

  Aaron frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me about it?”

  She bit her lip. “I don’t know.”

  “Give me the consent form tonight, and whatever information they gave you about the trip so I can look it over,” he said, looking harassed.

  “Okay.” She hastily rejoined Karin, and they diligently bent over their textbooks.

  Aaron leaned against his car and groaned. “It’s as if she was afraid to ask if she could go. I thought we were getting along better. What am I doing wrong?”

  “I wouldn’t read too much into it,” Skylar advised in the same low tone. “I can’t tell you how many times Karin told us she needed us to sign a consent form on the day it was due. Or that she was supposed to bring cupcakes to school the next morning, usually after the store was closed. I learned to keep supplies on hand for those occasions. When she was younger I went through her book bag every night to see if the teacher sent something home, but at her age I hate to invade her privacy.”

  “Thank God. I thought it was just me.”

  “No. You just haven’t built up immunity to the bursts of adrenaline kids put you through.”

  She didn’t tell him that a few weeks ago she’d also made cookies for Melanie, who’d planned to buy them at a bakery to avoid telling her brother that she needed to bring something for a school bake sale. Hearing that wouldn’t bolster his confidence about how he was doing in his quasi-parental role—though why she should care how he felt was another question.

  Aaron gave her a lopsided grin. “What about the class trip—do you think it’s all right?”

  “They have parents going along to chaperone, and the teacher in charge is very strict. It wouldn’t be fair to leave Melanie out.”

  “I know.”

  “As for tomorrow, the Sacramento Zoo is nice,” Skylar said. “And if you want to do something else in town as well, we could visit Sutter’s Fort.”

  “I remember that place from school field trips. California gold-rush history, right?”

  She nodded. “Along with pioneer and Native American.”

  “Sounds good. How about going to dinner tonight, too? There’s a new place out in the country—a Victorian converted into a restaurant. I’m curious since it’s in the original home my great-great-great-grandfather built for his family. If we go by six, we can still get an early start in the morning.”

  It sounded tempting. Skylar had read about the grand opening of the elegant restaurant in the newspaper, though the article hadn’t mentioned that the property once belonged to the Cooper family. The place was closer to Sacramento than Cooperton, and the building had been abandoned for years before being bought by an entrepreneur. The out-of-town location was a bonus—she wasn’t sure she wanted to be seen with Aaron. For one thing, anyone who’d known them in high school might start speculating about things she didn’t want anyone thinking about.

  “All right. I have to finish here and need to change my clothes, but we could be ready by five-thirty. Karin,” she called over her shoulder, “we’re going to dinner with Aaron and Melanie. You’ll need to wear something nice.”

  The two teenagers grinned happily.

  “Sounds like a plan, then,” Aaron said. “I’ll help so you can leave sooner.”

  Skylar raised an eyebrow and gave him a visual inspection. He was wearing one of his expensive suits and another pair of leather shoes which likely cost more than an average family’s mortgage payment. “Dressed like that? I don’t think so.”

  “What’s wrong with my clothes?”

  “Nothing if you don’t mind belonging to the Old Fuddy-Duddies club.”

  * * *

  AARON TRIED NOT to be insulted. His sister and Karin giggled—they’d obviously heard Skylar’s comment—and he gave them a mock glare. They giggled again.

  “For your information, Mrs. Gibson, I’m supposed to look a certain way as president of the company.”

  “Says who? You want to modernize Cooper Industries, so modernize your look. Be original. An innovator. Show them you don’t have to think the same way as everyone.”

  He opened his mouth...then shut it.

  Skylar didn’t seem to notice his speechlessness; she went into the Nibble Nook and came out a few minutes later with a bucket of soapy water.

  “You’re still here?” she asked, looking genuinely surprised.

  “Of course I’m here. I said I’d help.” He took off his jacket and tossed it into the Mercedes.

  “Hmm.”

  She took a hose from a cabinet on the wall and screwed it onto the faucet. Aaron cleared the trash from the tables as she scrubbed, then grabbed the hose to spray everything down behind her. It was strangely comfortable, and they kidded back and forth as they worked.

  His shoes got wet and the leather would never be the same, but Skylar had started him thinking. Even if she was joking about the Fuddy-Duddies club, he couldn’t deny there was truth to it. He’d adopted conservative business attire early in his career in an attempt to get people to take him seriously. The Hollister name wasn’t an advantage if you wanted to do something more than throw a wild party and drink champagne—not with his father and Matt being infamous for their playboy ways.

  But he wasn’t working in the computer industry any longer; he ran a factory complex. If his grandfather’s formal mahogany office furniture didn’t fit the image, neither did his own tailored suits and ties.

  “Hey. Watch where you point that thing.”

  Startled, Aaron looked up and saw that he’d absentmindedly sprayed Skylar with the hose. “Sorry.”

  She wiped the water dripping from her chin. “Oh, well,
I probably wasn’t going to have time for a shower before dinner, anyway.”

  He laughed. There weren’t many women who’d put up with getting doused without becoming angry. “You’re entitled to squirt me back.”

  “Naw. I prefer getting revenge in my own way. Preferably when you aren’t expecting it.”

  She went back to scrubbing tables, and he tried not to focus on her shapely rear end. It wouldn’t do for Karin or Melanie to see him leering.

  Aaron could almost forget that Skylar had gone all those years without telling him he might be a father. He didn’t understand it, any more than he understood why she hadn’t accepted Spence’s money. She’d claimed she didn’t want her daughter around his family, but while the Coopers and Hollisters had their problems, they weren’t monsters. If nothing else, Karin’s education could cost a small fortune, and however good they might be, Nibble Nook hamburgers wouldn’t pay for something like medical school.

  Of course, Skylar also hadn’t wanted Karin anywhere around him. It was a bitter pill to swallow—he’d never had much trust in women, but Skylar didn’t trust him, either. And he couldn’t deny that he should have treated her better, both when they were kids and after he’d returned to Cooperton.

  So why was he messing around with her?

  He’d nearly lost his head the other night on the porch swing. There was no escaping the fact that she still reached into his gut and made him go irrational...and that he enjoyed it.

  Deep in thought, Aaron continued spraying down the eating area. The girls automatically moved to one of the front tables and dried it off with rags from the storage cabinet, before settling down to their studies again. Karin must have been doing that for years, coming here after school while her parents finished up for the day—shifting around while everything got done, playing or studying inside once the weather became too unpleasant. She must have been a cute little thing—stubborn and fiercely independent like her mother.

  A shaft of sorrow went through him.

  He’d never wanted children, but if Karin was really his daughter, he’d missed a hell of a lot.