Kevin straightened, his usually good-natured expression strained. “Because I think you’re making a mistake.”
The mistake was made eighteen months ago by a drunk driver, but Thad wasn’t about to go into all that. Valerie’s death was still too painful to talk about—ironic considering she was all he ever thought about. The memories swirled around and around in his head until sometimes he could almost touch her, taste her, smell the perfume he’d given her their last Valentine’s Day.
Those memories preserved a small part of the heaven he and Valerie had known during their short marriage. They also introduced him to a whole new concept of hell. “And?”
Kevin sighed and rubbed his jaw. “Haven’t you learned anything from all this?” He waved his hand at the pile of gifts.
“I’ve learned that it isn’t going to be easy to find the one I’m looking for. And that some women can be far more aggressive than I ever would have dreamed.”
“You dangle a hundred thousand dollars in front of anyone, and you’re going to see their worst side. Why not give it some more time? Valerie’s only been gone eighteen months. You’ll fall in love again eventually.”
How many times had Thad heard those empty words? Why couldn’t anyone understand that he didn’t want to fall in love again? He wanted Valerie and their unborn child.
“I’ll make a note of your objection.” Thad tried to keep his voice flippant to cloak the anger that sometimes swelled, inexplicably, with the pain. “Anything else?”
Kevin stared at him a moment longer. “No, I’m leaving. But I wish you’d listen to me. This thing is destined to lead you into trouble.”
“Mr. Winters?”
A sultry voice pulled their attention to the open door, where the woman from the picture stood, both hands fidgeting with an oversize leather handbag.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I know I’m a few minutes early, but something has come up, and I can’t stay long. I hope you don’t mind. I tried to call first but only got a recording.”
Thad stood and tried on a welcoming smile. “No problem. My secretary’s gone for the day. You must be Ms. McKinney.”
“Yes.”
He half expected her to tell him to call her Macy. But she didn’t. “Ms. McKinney” was entirely too formal for what they planned to discuss.
Fine. It was better to keep things as formal as possible, he reminded himself. “This is my partner, Kevin Brodey.”
Kevin’s face, always an open book, showed heightened interest and a certain reluctant appreciation. He strode to her and shook her hand, and for some reason, Thad noticed that Ms. McKinney wore no fingernail polish, a simple detail that set her apart from the others who had applied. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. McKinney.”
She smiled hesitantly and nodded, but her gaze darted to Thad, then took in the balloons, candy and flowers that adorned half the room.
“My partner here was just leaving.” Thad shot Kevin a meaningful look.
Kevin made a face at him from behind the woman and managed to haul himself out of the room.
Thad closed the door to ensure the privacy he wanted. “Please, have a seat. Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
The way Ms. McKinney’s hands were shaking, she looked as if she could use something warm in her stomach. As a matter of fact, she looked as though she could use a lot more than coffee. Such as several weeks of healthy meals and someone to make sure she ate them. The woman in the photograph had a gleam of laughter in her eye and a healthy flush to her porcelain skin. But Ms. McKinney in the flesh looked tired and drawn. Dark circles underscored large eyes, hollows accented high cheekbones, and despite the classy sheath dress and matching jacket she wore, Thad could tell she was too thin.
What had happened to the woman in the picture? Was she ill?
“I don’t have time for coffee, thank you.” She hovered near the leather chair across from his desk, but when her gaze met his, it was as direct as any business associate’s and far more piercing. “Actually, I’m not sure I should be here. It’s certainly not what I want.”
Thad cleared his throat, taken back by her honesty. “Then why did you come?”
“Why would anyone come?”
“You need the money.”
She nodded.
“For what?”
A faint, bitter smile curved her lips. “Is it important? Do you have to approve of how I’d spend it?”
Thad crossed to his desk and sat down, steepling his fingers in front of his chin. “One hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money.”
“No one knows that better than me. I’ll be honest with you, Mr. Winters, I need to raise $98,523, and I need it right away.”
The exactness of the figure surprised him, as she must have known it would. “For what?”
She smoothed her dress. “That’s my business.”
Thad’s eyebrows rose. This gal was certainly different than the rest. Some of the others had eagerly gushed over the new house or car they would buy. One had hoped to sway him by claiming she’d donate half the money to charity. A couple of others had offered to do him sexual favors he hadn’t asked for and certainly didn’t want.
But then, it was difficult to find a healthy-minded individual to do what he was asking. He’d anticipated as much, which was why he insisted on certain precautions.
“I have to protect my investment,” he said, studying her. “Part of that includes understanding your attitude toward the remuneration.”
“Investment? Remuneration?” She made a sound of disgust and dropped her head into her hand.
Her damning judgment, though unspoken, told Thad she was probably the most normal woman he’d ever find, but it stung him enough to bring him to his feet. “I’m sorry. I can already see we wouldn’t make good partners on this. I won’t keep you.”
Surprise and something akin to fear flashed across her face. Had she expected him to beg her, in addition to paying her so handsomely? Evidently she didn’t understand what the money was for.
“Wait.” She held up a hand. “I think maybe we got off on the wrong foot. Could we try this again?”
Thad remembered the two interviews he had scheduled for tomorrow and the many women he’d already rejected. They were calling him incessantly and sending him things, hoping to change his mind. He had to find someone quickly, while he could still withstand the onslaught.
And despite their bad beginning, Ms. McKinney struck a chord in him. There was something about her eyes.
“Please,” she murmured.
“Fine,” he heard himself say. “Why
