Harlequin Romance March 2021 Box Set Cara Colter (the mitten read aloud TXT) 📖

He left the day-to-day running of the company in the capable hands of his office manager. Ninety-five per cent of his work he did in the comfort of his own home.

‘Then we can share custody of Barney, if you like. I’m doing some research at the New York Public Library. It’d be great if I could leave him with you for a few hours each day when I do that.’

‘Sure, why not?’

Lissy had been on to him for ages to get a dog. Barney would provide the perfect trial run. Maybe he could use Barney as an enticement to get Lissy to come and stay one weekend soon…

He reached across and tugged gently on Barney’s ear. ‘How’d you feel about that, Barney Boy? We can have some guy time. You can kick back over a bowl of kibble while I slave over a hot computer.’

He eased back, doing his best to ignore the scent of spring and the impulsive restlessness it sent surging through his veins. So, the New York Public Library…? What was she researching?

He watched as Callie rubbed the little dog’s neck and shoulders, and laughed when Barney groaned his delight, kicking his back legs.

‘It might be worth putting some posters up around the area to help track down his owner. I could take Barney’s picture, make a poster, run a few copies off… What do you think?’

‘That’s a great idea. Someone has to be fretting about him, and we ought to spread the word. First thing tomorrow I’ll ring around the local vets. They might know who he is.’

Her face grew serious again and the silence stretched, making Owen’s nape prickle.

‘You do know you still haven’t answered the first of my earlier questions?’

He scratched a hand over his face.

‘Why do all the residents here hate me, Owen?’

‘They don’t hate you. They’re just worried. Worried you’re going to evict them or hike up their rents and force them out.’

‘I see.’

She folded her arms and Barney leapt off her lap to pad over to the warm patch of sun outside, where he proceeded to stretch out as if on a minibreak at Waikiki Beach.

‘Really strategic move, being rude to me, though… Right? That’s the perfect plan to have me warming to everyone and feeling sympathetic and benevolent.’

He bit back something rude and succinct. How did he explain the motley crew that made up the residents of this apartment block?

‘Joan in Number Six is a victim of domestic violence. Her now ex-husband is in prison for assaulting her. He contravened a restraining order—wasn’t supposed to be within a hundred yards of her.’

She flinched.

‘Stuart in Number Four turned to drugs and alcohol as a teenager, due to childhood sexual abuse. He’s clean now, but it’s a constant struggle for him. He works part-time and is on a disability pension. He sees a therapist several times a week.’

She swallowed.

‘Ana from Number Three—her parents were illegal immigrants. When her father was extradited back to Ecuador he was murdered. She and her mother, who is nearly crippled with arthritis, are fighting to stay in the country.’

‘Okay, okay…’ She waved her hands in front of her face. ‘I get it. Everyone here has had a tough time.’ She pulled in a breath. ‘Change—any kind of change—will be frightening for them.’

‘They have zero expectation of receiving kindness from strangers, Callie. It’s not what they’ve been taught to anticipate.’

Behind the startling blue of her eyes, he could see her mind turning over.

‘Frances took each of them in?’

‘Yes.’

‘She offered them a safe place and cheap rent, just like she did for your mother?’

His gut twisted. Now came the moment of truth. If Callie really was a gold-digger she’d hike up the rents. She could get ten times what everyone here was paying. She could price them out and force them out.

His back molars ground together. He wouldn’t let that happen. If he had to, he’d subsidise the tenants’ rents. Not that he had any intention of telling her that. The people here had been through enough for one lifetime. Frances had wanted to give them a safe place to shelter and rebuild their lives. He’d continue that legacy for as long as he could.

‘I’ve no intention of changing things for the foreseeable future, Owen.’

His heart hammered against his ribs. ‘What are your plans for the foreseeable future?’

CHAPTER FOUR

‘WOW, YOU MUST be really good at your job!’ Callie couldn’t help but be impressed with all the high-end equipment in Owen’s home office.

‘Or just a tech nerd.’ He didn’t glance up from manipulating an image of Barney on the screen for the promised poster.

‘You said you create apps?’ At his nod, she added, ‘Would I be familiar with anything you’ve worked on?’

His gaze remained glued to his screen, but he named a couple of apps that had her eyebrows shooting up towards her hairline.

‘Wow! If you worked on those then no wonder you have an office at home like this.’

‘What do you mean?’ He swung around, his tone clipped.

She blinked. ‘I just meant it’s clear your company will do whatever it can to keep you happy…so you’ll keep working for them.’

With a curt nod he turned back to the computer.

She soldiered on past the awkwardness. ‘I guess the beauty of working from home is you can ditch the power suits and work in jeans and a tee.’ Although Owen didn’t strike her as a power suit kind of guy… ‘Or even your PJs, if you want.’ Though Owen might be one of those guys who wore nothing at all to bed.

Her cheeks grew suddenly hot and her palms clammy.

His lips twisted. ‘I bet you like a guy in a power suit.’

There was an edge to the question that raised her hackles. ‘Mmm, you bet… What woman doesn’t, right? I mean it’s dreamy.’

She wondered if she’d overdone it, but he swung back to his computer with a scowl. ‘The commute is mmm, dreamy too.’

There was clearly something about her that made him want to snipe at her. And vice versa.