An After-Hours Affair by Barbara Dunlop

Author:Barbara Dunlop
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-11-11T16:00:00+00:00

Since there was nothing left to salvage from her house, the insurance forms were straightforward, and the cleanup started right away. Jenny drove by it once, on Sunday morning, but she quickly decided it was time to focus on the future, not to dwell on the past.

The house was gone for good. But the lake was still beautiful, and the black scars on the land would heal. Emily was right. There was a lot to be said for rebuilding something brand-new, right here.

Jenny took Monday off work to dash through a long list of errands and settle into Cole’s guest room. She’d offered once more to get a room at the Family Inn. But Cole was adamant, and Emily backed him up. He had plenty of room, and it would take months for her new house to be built.

It was a shock for her to find out that Cole had a housekeeping staff. He had a cook, a gardener and a housekeeper. All were incredibly friendly and seemed determined to treat Jenny like royalty. When she’d mentioned that she usually took baking to the office on Tuesdays for the TCC’s youth outreach program, Maria, the cook, had insisted on pitching in to make cupcakes.

So, the mound of jumbo gourmet-frosted chocolate creations that Jenny carried outside to the athletic field late Tuesday afternoon attracted more than the usual hungry glances from the thirty or so teenage boys practicing football passes.

Mitch had started the youth outreach during his first month at TCC. He was a strong advocate for youth in sports, and his star power had ensured participation from the local teenage boys. The program had grown, and now several members of the TCC were working with the teenagers on everything from algebra to career planning. But Tuesday after school was still devoted to sports, and Jenny had taken up the habit of providing a baked treat for the kids at the end of the session.

Normally, she left the baking next to their water jug, gave everyone a wave and went back to work. But today, she found herself pausing. As angry as she wished she could be with Mitch, she couldn’t help noting how great he was with the kids. And she couldn’t help remembering the story about his father.

Were the two related in some way? Was he trying to do for other kids what his own father never did for him? She recalled the encounter on the beach in Galveston. Mitch had stuck up for the smaller kid. In a few short moments, he’d obviously boosted the boy’s self-esteem, and very likely given him a whole new perspective on life and on his future opportunities.

Jenny watched while Mitch gave a few pointers on passing the football to one of the boys. Again, it was one of the smaller boys, someone who might easily get picked on in a group. The boy nodded, gave another throw and was rewarded by Mitch’s clap on the shoulder and what were obviously words of praise.

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