Free Baby Comes First by Beverly Farr Page B

appreciate the offer,” she said
clearly, “but I’d rather use my own computer.”
    “Excuse me,” Mrs. Parker interrupted them.
“If Mr. Jamison is going to be here for a while, I could run out to
the grocery store to buy a few things. Is that okay with you?”
    “Yes, that would be fine,” Hannah said.
“Thank you.”
    After the front door closed behind Mrs.
Parker, Luke asked, “Is she working out all right?”
    “Yes, she’s wonderful. Thank you again.”
    He turned back to her computer. “A tablet
would be best,” he said firmly. “It would be more efficient for you
to have something portable, so you –”
    She interrupted. “I’m not disagreeing with
you. You’re absolutely right. It would be more convenient. But I’d
prefer to use my computer so I don’t have to transfer files from
one machine to another. I’m only going to be lying down a few
weeks, so there is no need to get a new one.”
    He frowned, considering the matter for a
moment.
    “Humor me,” she said patiently. “Help me fix
what I have.”
    #
    Hannah smiled as she spoke, but her words
were firm, and Luke realized that he had overstepped her boundaries
again. They were no longer at the office, where he had the final
word. This was her house, her computer. He should respect her
wishes. “I’ll see what I can do,” he said gruffly.
    He crawled under her desk to unplug the
various pieces of equipment, then rearranged them on the floor, so
she could use the computer while lying down. She lay horizontal
with her long legs bent and the keyboard resting on her thighs. The
monitor was to the side of the mattress, requiring her to twist to
look at it. “That doesn’t look comfortable,” he said. “The monitor
should be up higher so you can see it better. You need something to
set it on. Old phone books would help. Do you have any?”
    “Yes.”
    “Where are they?”
    “In the kitchen, to the right of the
sink.”
    Luke opened several cupboards until he found
them. He carried them back to the den and placed the monitor on top
of them. “There. Is that better?”
    “Yes, thank you.”
    He sat back on his heels. “Now, let’s see if
I can get it to work again.” She scooted out of his way, while he
reattached the cables and wires.
    “I really appreciate your help,” she
said.
    He pressed the power button, and the computer
screen lit up. “Success,” he said happily. “Now see if you can
access the Internet.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    The ironic note in her voice made him look at
her sharply. “What’s the matter?”
    Her blue eyes twinkled with amusement.
“Nothing,” she said, trying not to smile. “I should be used to it
by now.”
    “Are you saying I’m overbearing?”
    She hesitated for a moment, then said primly,
“I plead the fifth.”
    Luke laughed. She was too smart for his own
good. And too attractive for his peace of mind. Crawling around on
the floor with her lying on the mattress was giving him ideas.
Those long legs were driving him crazy. He looked into her eyes,
wondering if she felt any physical attraction for him at all, or if
he were merely imagining it.
    She met his gaze for a moment, then looked
away nervously.
    Have patience , Luke told himself. He
needed to give her time to think of him as more than just her
boss.
    She brought up a document file and then
checked her email. “Everything seems to be working fine,” she said
finally. “Thank you.”
    He stood and brushed his hands on his jeans.
“Glad to be of service. Is there anything else you need?”
    “I finished watching the movies.” She pointed
to the stack of DVDs beside her television. “Thank you.”
    “Do you want any more?”
    “Yes, but I found I want comedies rather than
dramas right now. I don’t want anything that will make me cry.”
    “Is being pregnant like having PMS?” The
minute the words were out of his mouth, he regretted asking such a
personal question. It was just that Gloria had been at her worst
one week a month.