“Joe cleaned the carpet, or what’s left of it. It’s probably the original. At least the place doesn’t smell as if someone died in here anymore.”
Without comment, he continued down the hall and peered into the bath. Again another curse.
She called after him. “It might not look very good, but I can guarantee you Nola and Sylvia cleaned it within an inch of its life. And there are fresh towels. And they made up the bed for you, too.” Then she murmured to herself, “Why they’re being so nice to you, I have no idea.”
The good-looking Jarrett McKane came out and stood in front of her. His dark hair had been cut and styled recently. His clothes were top-of-the-line, too. Everything about him rang out success and power. So why was she even noticing him?
Hormones, she concluded. It was just late-pregnancy hormones. She’d learned a long time ago to stay away from men like him.
“Why did they do all this?” he finally asked.
Jarrett McKane was standing too close, but she refused to step back. She refused to let him intimidate her.
“It’s their way of being neighborly,” she told him. “It’s the same with everyone here. Over the years, they’ve all become a family. Some are alone. Some have family that didn’t have time for them so they take care of each other.”
“Or it’s their way to get me to not tear the place down.”
She smiled, not wanting him to see her anger. “It’s just some towels and linens and a few home-cooked meals. But yes, they feel it’s worth a try. Enjoy your stay.” She turned and started to leave when he called her name.
When she turned around, he gave her a sexy grin. “Did you do anything to sway me, Ms. Saunders?”
Her heart began to pound in her chest. “There might be a plate of oatmeal raisin cookies on the kitchen counter.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing how far you’ll go to persuade me.”
Mia arched her aching back, causing her stomach to be front and center. “I’m afraid cookies are as far as I’m willing to go.”
Chapter Three
MIA couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
She stepped inside her apartment and closed the door. She didn’t want Jarrett McKane in her life, or in her space. And he was suddenly in both.
A long time ago, she’d learned about men who thrived on control. Her father was one of those. It had taken her years to get out from under his reign and finally to be free of him.
She walked across her cozy living area. A secondhand sofa and chair faced the small television. A triangular rug hid a lot of the worn carpet underneath. A small table off the galley kitchen was used for eating and for working on her computer.
Her laptop was the only thing of value that she had and the only means she had these days of make a living. Despite her privileged upbringing, she’d never been materialistic. Maybe that was the reason it had been so easy to walk away, or in her case, run away.
To Preston and Abigail Saunders their daughter had always been a problem, a disappointment from the start. An overweight child, Mia had morphed into a rebellious teenager. She had never fitted into her Boston society family. So, once she was of age, she’d just disappeared from their lives.
Even Brad had eventually bucked their father’s plans for him. Instead, her older brother had became an ordained minister and had ended up disowned, too.
Now she’d lost her only family. She caressed her stomach, feeling the gentle movement of the baby. At least she’d have a part of Brad and Karen and she vowed to love and protect this child. So she wasn’t about to let her parents know where she was. Or let them find this baby.
Mia sat down in the chair, still in awe of the life she carried inside her. Onetime wild child, Margaret Iris Ashley Saunders was going to have a baby. She blew out a breath. She was going to be a mother and D-day was approaching soon. There were so many things she had to get done before Christmas.
She closed her eyes. For months, she’d had to push aside all the feelings she was having for this baby. A mother’s feelings. The only thing that had saved her was knowing this child would always be in her life. Brad and Karen would have been the perfect parents and she could be the favorite aunt who spoiled the child.
Now, Mia had to step up and be a parent to this baby. She wasn’t sure she was cut out to do it.
That afternoon, with the help of his office staff, Jarrett had made several phone calls. He’d finally found someone to start on the repairs. A local furnace repairman was to come out. He’d also contacted the handyman who serviced some of his other properties to help out with some of the minor fixes.
Flipping his phone shut, he decided to wait downstairs and get out of his depressing apartment for a while. In the hall, the door across from his opened and Mia walked out carrying a large trash bag. She stiffened the second she saw him.
He smiled. “Hello, Mia.”
She nodded stiffly. “Mr. McKane.”
She was dressed in her standard black pants and oversize blouse, but with an added long sweater for warmth.
“I don’t see why we can’t be on a first-name basis since we’re going to be neighbors.”
“You’re the man who’s evicting us. Why would I get friendly with the enemy?”
He took the bag from her. “It doesn’t seem to bother the others.” He gave her a sideways glance. “Someone must have really have done a number on you.”
She glanced away. “Now you’re a psychiatrist?”
“No, just observant.”
“Well, observe somewhere else. Thanks to you, I have a lot on my mind.”
He wasn’t crazy about having to move her in her condition. “I’m not your enemy, Mia. I’m trying to find all of you places to live.”
“We can’t afford most of the other places.”
Was that his fault? “The rent here is well below average for this area. Even if I kept the place and did all the repairs, I’d have to raise the rent.”
“Well, you can’t yet. Some of us are barely getting any heat or hot water.”
“I’m taking care of that.”
“I can’t tell you how many times we heard that from the last owner.”
“The last owner hadn’t been court-ordered,” Jarrett said. He slowed his pace so she could keep up. He knew little or nothing about pregnant women. Only that Kira had had a rough time with her pregnancy and had had to stay in bed the last few months.
“That’s where I’m going now,” he continued, “to meet with a furnace guy.”
She stopped.
