Why on earth dont you replace thisstuff?
Its your house, after all.
Alexs gaze lingered on the heavy oil portrait of his grandfather that hung over the dining-room fireplace. Sometimes I find that hard to believe.
His words were so quiet, he almost seemed to be speaking to himself. Paula wanted to argue, but instinctively she knew it wouldnt do any good. Shed been wrong. It wasnt his house, not in the way she understood those words. It was the Caine mansion, and right now Alex looked as if that were a heavy burden.
She frowned down at the folder in her hand. Ill get started on this.
Alex turned toward her, seeming to shake off the clouds that surrounded him. Thank you.
For what? Its my job. It was hard to sound casual when her heart clenched at his closeness.
For being here. For helping me. Im glad youre back.
MARTA PERRY
wanted to be a writer from the moment she encountered Nancy Drew, at about age eight. She didnt see publication of her stories until many years later, when she began writing childrens fiction for Sunday school papers while she was a church educational director. Although now retired from that position in order to write full-time, she continues to play an active part in her church and loves teaching a class of lively fifth-and sixth-grade Sunday school students.
Marta lives in rural Pennsylvania with her husband of thirty-seven years and has three grown children. She loves to hear from readers and enjoys responding. She can be reached c/o Steeple Hill Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017.
Father Most Blessed
Marta Perry
www.millsandboon.co.uk
For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith, and this not from yourselves: it is the gift of
Godnot by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
This story is dedicated with love and gratitude to
the siblings and spouses who add so much richness
to our lives: Pat and Ed, Bill and Molly,
Herb and Barb, Gary and Arddy, and Chris.
And, as always, to Brian.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Letter to Reader
Chapter One
A man who lived in a twenty-room house ought to be able to have silence when he wanted it. Alex Caine tossed his pen on the library desk and stalked to the center hallway of the Italianate mansion that had been home to the Caine family for three generations. The noise that had disrupted his work on a crucial business deal came from beyond the swinging door to the servants area.
Frowning, he headed toward the sound, his footsteps sharp on the marble floor, and pushed through the door to the rear of the house. Hed told his ailing housekeeper to rest this afternoon, so there should have been no sound at all to disturb his concentration. But Maida Hansen, having taken care of him since the day his mother died when he was six, tended to ignore any orders she didnt want to follow.
Well, in this case she was going to listen. If he didnt find the right words for this delicate negotiation, Caine Industries might not survive for another generation. There might be no company at all to leave to his son.
He winced. What would his grandfather or his father have said to that? Theyd assumed they were founding a dynasty to last a hundred years. They wouldnt look kindly on the man who presided over its demise.
The noise came from the pantry, down the hall from the kitchen. He seized the doorknob and yanked.
The figure balanced precariously on the step stool wasnt Maida. Maida had never in her life worn blue jeans or a sweatshirt proclaiming her Worlds Greatest Teacher. His heart stopped, and he looked at the woman he had thought hed never see again.
Whats going on?
She spun at the sound of his voice, wobbled and overbalanced. Her arms waved wildly to regain control, but it was too late. The step stool toppled, sending her flying toward him. Pans clattered to the floor. In an instant his arms had closed around Paula Hansen.
The breath went out of him. Carefully he set her on her feet and stepped back, clamping down on the treacherous rush of feelings. Paulahere in his house again, looking up at him with what might have been embarrassment in her sea-green eyes.
With an effort he schooled his face to polite concern and found his voice. Paula. I didnt expect to find you here. Maida didnt tell me you were coming.
Maidas time outside her duties was her own, and she was perfectly free to have her niece stay at the housekeepers cottage whenever she wanted to. But in the almost two years since the plane crash, since what had happened between them, Paula hadnt returned to Bedford Creek.
She didnt tell you? Surprise filled Paulas expressive face. She tried to mask it, turning away to right the step stool.
No, she didnt. If hed known Paula was on the estate, he wouldnt have betrayed shock at the sight of her. In fact, hed probably have found a way to avoid seeing her at all.
But I thought she Paula stopped, seeming to edit whatever shed been about to say. My school just got out for the summer yesterday, so Im on vacation now. Again she stopped, and again he had the sense of things left unsaid.
Shed been on vacation two years ago, when shed come to Pennsylvania to spend the summer taking care of his son. It had seemed the perfect solution. He had needed someone reliable to care for Jason until kindergarten started in the fall. His housekeepers niece needed a summer job. Neither of them had anticipated anything else.
The June sunlight, slanting through the small panes of the pantry window, burnished the honey blond of her hair. Her hair was shorter now than the last time hed seen her, and it fell in unruly curls around her face. Her green eyes still reflected glints of gold, and that vulnerable mouth and stubborn chin hadnt changed.
Tension jagged along his nerves as images of the last time hed seen her invaded his mindlightning splitting the sky outside the small plane; the brief hope the pilot would manage to land, shattered when the plane cartwheeled and flames rushed toward him; Paula, several rows ahead, trapped in a mass of twisted metal. If an unexpected business trip hadnt put him on the daily commuter flight the same day that Paula was leaving to go home, what might have happened? Would someone have pulled her from the jammed seat to safety?
Is something wrong? She pulled her sweatshirt sleeves down, frowning. You dont mind that Im here, do you?
Of course not. Im just surprised. He tried for a coolness he didnt feel. It didnt bother you, flying back into Bedford Creek again?
No. She shook her head, then smiled ruefully. I suppose it might have, if Id tried to do it. I drove up from Baltimore.
Her admission of vulnerability startled him. The Paula he remembered had been proud of her self-reliance and determined not to accept help from anyone. Even after the accident, when hed awakened in the hospital and learned her family had taken her home to Baltimore for medical care, his offer of financial help had been quickly refused.
Driving instead of flying sounds reasonable to me, he said. I dont enjoy getting on a plane now, either.
His own admission shocked him even more. Alexander Caine didnt admit weakness, not to anyone. His father had trained that out of him when he was about his own sons age.
I havent been on a plane since Paulas gaze flickered away from the scar that accented Alexs cheekbone.
His mouth stiffened, and he read the reaction he should have gotten used to by now. The plane crash, he finished for her, his tone dry. You can say the words, you know. He didnt need or want her pity.
The drive up wasnt badjust long. She seemed determined to ignore his reference to the crash. She stared at the rows of shelves with their seldom-used dishes as if she really didnt see them. Then her gaze shifted to him. As I said, Im on vacation, so I was free to come when Aunt Maida needed me. Her expression turned challenging. You have noticed shes in pain lately, havent you?
He stiffened at the implication of neglect in her pointed question. Of course he felt responsible for the woman whod cared for his family all these years. But it wasnt Paula Hansens place to question him.
Ive asked her repeatedly about her health, he said. She keeps insisting shes fine.
She lifted her eyebrows, her gaze turning skeptical. Paulas face had always shown her emotions so clearly. A picture flashed into his mind of her lips close to his, her eyes soft.
No. He pushed the errant thought away. Dont go there.
Aunt Maida always insists shes fine. But you must have noticed something.
Shes been tired and limping more lately. He reached behind him for the door, hoping he didnt sound defensive. He was wasting time in this futile discussiontime he didnt have to spare. I told her to take it easy this afternoon. She does too much. He glanced at the pans scattered on the worn linoleum. Instead, she seems to have enlisted you as assistant housekeeper.
Her chin came up at that, as if it were an insult. Im glad to help my aunt.
The last time shed been here, it had been for her brief job as Jasons nanny. Alex tried again to ignore the flood of memories of that time: the laughter and warmth shed brought to this house, her face turned toward his in the moonlight, the moment hed forgotten himself and kissed her
Enough. Hed gotten through the remainder of her stay in Bedford Creek by pretending that kiss had never happened. Paula was probably as eager as he was to avoid the subject.
Ive already told Maida to rest more, he said. She wont listen.
It isnt just rest she needs. She stared at him, a question in her green eyes. You really dont know, do you?
Know what? He couldnt erase the irritation from his tone. What are you driving at, Paula? I dont have time for guessing games.
Her eyes flashed. She cant put it off any longer. Aunt Maida has to have hip replacement surgery.
Surgery. The implications staggered him. Maida, the rock on which his home life depended, needed surgery. He fought past a wave of guilt that he hadnt guessed what was going on.
No, I didnt know. He returned Paulas frown. I wish Maida had told me, but if she didnt want to, that was her right.
She didnt tell you because she didnt want you to worry.
Paula clearly didnt consider protecting him from worry a priority. Antagonism battled the attraction he felt just looking at her. Maybe it was a good thing she annoyed him so much. It reminded him not to let that attraction get out of control, as it had once before.
Thats ridiculous, he said shortly. If she needs the operation now, she has to have it. Theres no question of that.
Even as he frowned at Paula, his mind raced from one responsibility to anotherhis son, the factory, the business deal that might save them. His stomach clenched at the thought of the Swiss firms representative, due to visit any day now. Hed expect to be entertained in Alexs home. How could Alex swing that without Maidas calm, efficient management?
My aunt knows this is a bad time for you. Thats probably why she hasnt told you.
He sensed Paulas disapproval, although whether it was directed at him or her aunt, he didnt know. Ill manage, he said curtly. Ill have to find someone to fill in for her, thats all.
He knew when he said it how futile a hope that was. An isolated mountain village didnt boast an army of trained domestics ready for hiring. Hed be lucky to find anyone at all in the middle of the tourist season.
It wont be easy to hire someone, will it? She seemed to read his thoughts.
No. Im afraid Maida has spoiled us. He should have known things couldnt run so smoothly forever.
Aunt Maida thinks she has a solution, if youll go along with it.
He realized Paula was carefully not looking at him, and that fact sent up a red flag of warning. What is it?
Paula took a deep breath and fixed him with a look that was half embarrassed, half defiant. She wants you to hire me as her replacement.
For a long moment he could only stare at her. Paulaback in his house, cooking his meals, looking after his son. Given what had happened between them the last time she worked for him, he couldnt believe shed be willing to try it again.
One thing he could believe, though. Having Paula Hansen in his house again wouldnt just be embarrassing. Having her there, seeing her every day, no matter how desperately he needed helpthat would be downright insane.
The expression on Alexs lean, aristocratic face showed Paula only too well exactly what he thought of her aunts idea. Why on earth hadnt Aunt Maida told him before Paula arrived? Maida knew this situation would be difficult. Shed said shed prepare the way. Instead, shed brought Paula here without saying a word to Alex about it.
Of course, Aunt Maida couldnt have known her niece would go weak-kneed at the sight of Alex Caine.
I see. Alexs tone was coolly noncommittal, and the polite, well-bred mask he habitually wore slid into place.
It was too late. Naturally he wouldnt come right out and tell her he didnt want her in his house again. But shed seen his swift, unguarded reaction. Her heart sank. She should have known he wouldnt agree to this.
Where is Maida? We need to talk about this.
Shes not here. She took a deep breath and prepared for an explosion. Oh, Aunt Maida. Why didnt you tell him? Shes already checked into the hospital in Henderson.
He started to speak, then clamped his mouth closed. Maybe he was counting to ten. She could only hope it worked.
Shes scheduled for surgery tomorrow. She might as well get it all out. If he intended to explode, hed just have to do it once. I guess she thought I could help out here, at least until you make a decision about replacing her.