the box before breaking it open.
“What were you looking for?” she asked, puzzled.
“Just checking. Here, have one. They’re individually wrapped.”
She took one and opened the cellophane, eager to taste the gooey sweetness. “Um, thank you. I may survive after all.”
“Is the headache gone?”
“It’s easing.”
“Well, you might as well be comfortable.” He stepped away and reached for the stool, placing it in the center of the storeroom. “Here’s your chair.”
His generosity reminded her of how he’d shielded her from the gun. The man was a true gentleman. “It wouldn’t be fair for me to take the only seat.”
He looked surprised. “You think I should sit while you stand? My mama didn’t raise me that way.”
“No, but we could share,” she assured him, smiling.
He looked even more surprised. “It’s not that big a stool.”
Realizing he thought she meant they could both occupy the stool at once, she turned bright red. “No! No, I meant we could take turns.”
A lopsided grin that only increased his sexiness was his initial response. “Darn, I was having some great images in my head.”
She didn’t want to think about those images. In fact, she thought the more distance she kept from this man, the better off she’d be. He was too handsome for his own good. “I’ll take a turn first,” she said and sat down on the stool, taking another bite of her Twinkie.
“Good decision,” he said and started pacing again.
“Maybe if you leaned against the shelves, it would be easier for you,” she suggested, her gaze following him as he moved. He was a big man. She wasn’t short, five-seven, but he had to be over six feet tall. Though there were a few grey hairs at his temples, they blended in with his blond hair, cut short. Very businesslike.
“No, thanks,” he said and continued to pace.
A big, hardheaded man. Fine, let him wear himself out pacing. She didn’t care!
She finished her Twinkie, and he offered another.
“No. You didn’t eat one.”
“Not yet. I’m sure I will before the evening’s over. My dinner was good. I had steak.”
Again Briana thought of her conference. They’d served steak at the banquet tonight. “What conference were you attending?”
“It was a conference about multiple births. I specialize in obstetrics, particularly at-risk pregnancies.”
“Oh.” The same conference. It was a wonder she hadn’t met him already. But she’d been interested in the administrative side of multiple births. Not the medical procedures being discussed.
“Not interested, even though you’re a multiple? Especially when any pregnancy you might have could be multiple?”
“No.”
“Have you had a pregnancy already?”
“No, I haven’t. Have you?”
“I assume you mean as a father, not as a mother.”
She rolled her eyes. The man thought he had a sense of humor. Ha!
“No. Me, neither. I hope to, someday.”
“I don’t want to be rude, but aren’t you getting a little old for a first-time dad?”
“I’m under forty, by two years. Men aren’t as affected by the biological clock as women. How about you? Is your clock ticking?”
“I’m thirty-one if that’s what you’re asking,” she said, irritation in her voice. She’d thought a lot about having a baby, but she’d promised herself, no baby until she found a father, one she could love and trust. She’d been betrayed once, and she was determined that wasn’t going to happen again.
He must’ve realized he’d upset her. With a soothing voice, he said, “You still have plenty of time.”
She ducked her head. She’d been rude, and he was trying to comfort her. “I’m sorry. That conversation was my fault, and I was rude.”
“Don’t worry about it. Have another Twinkie. It will sweeten you up.” He presented it to her with a flourish.
She took his offering. She didn’t want to be rude again. Slowly she unwrapped it and took a bite.
At the same time, he said, “What kind of conference were you attending?”
She choked. She should’ve been prepared, but his charm had distracted her. He came to her side and pounded on her back.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Fine. Please, that’s enough,” she added as he continued to slap her back.
“Sorry. Choking is dangerous. Maybe I should’ve tried the Heimlich maneuver.”
“No, it just went down the wrong way. I’m fine now,” she added. She hoped he’d move away from her. His distinctive male scent was enticing.
“Okay. What conference are you attending?”
She finally mumbled, “The same one.”
He frowned and took a step closer instead of backing off. “What did you say?”
“I’m attending the same conference,” she admitted, speaking clearly.
“You’re a medical professional?”
“Not exactly.”
“What do you mean by not exactly?” he demanded, his hands on his hips.
“I’m in medical administration.”
“Oh. I guess that explains why I didn’t meet you. The joint sessions were pretty big.”
“Yes.”
HUNTER CALLAGHAN stared at the beauty sitting on the old stool. She was dressed in jeans and a sweater, her light brown hair framing her delicate features and curving under as it reached her shoulders. It was the hazel eyes, however, that drew him the most.
“Suddenly you don’t want to talk?” he asked, distracted by her strange attitude.
She shrugged but said nothing.
“Did you enjoy the conference?”
She shrugged again. Then she added, “Look, I came to learn all I could. I’m not very experienced.”
“There’s
