Free Hoodwinked by Diana Palmer Page A

somberly. “Sometimes the sacrifices can be pretty rough. I spent most of my adult life making—” he almost said money “—airplanes. Then one day I woke up and discovered that airplanes had become my whole life. I’d given up a private life in the process.” His big shoulders moved against the soft fabric of his shirt. “I tried to change that. To make time for the things I used to do that I stopped doing because of work. But something was still missing.” He looked at her quietly. “Things don’t make up for people, did you know?”
    â€œYes,” she said softly. Her eyes fell to his chest and she could see the dark, thick shadow under his shirt. Her lips parted as she stared at him there and wondered what was beneath that white fabric. Her own thoughts startled her, because she’d never been curious about a man’s body before.
    He saw that curiosity and smiled to himself. So she was thinking about him that way, was she? He was suddenly sorry that he couldn’t give her what she was looking for. But an affair was out of the question with her, and so was anything more permanent. Even when this was all over, there was little possibility that she could fit into his world. She was sweet and kind, but she’d need to be a barracuda to survive what he had to contend with. There was little sense in starting something he couldn’t finish.
    All the same, her eyes disturbed him. She had a way of looking at him that made his heart go wild in his chest. Especially when he could see the thoughts in her unguarded face.
    â€œI’m hairy there,” he said quietly, watching her eyes register her shock. “And not just there.” He leaned toward her, holding her gaze. “All over, Maureen.”
    The flush started at her neck and worked its way up into her cheeks and finally to her hairline. She averted her eyes and started to get up. “I’ll just wash these dishes—”
    His hand caught hers, holding her there while he struggled with genuine regret. Mockery and taunting arrogance were very much a part of his personality. He used them like weapons to keep his employees in line, to keep women at bay. But he hadn’t meant to hurt Maureen.
    â€œThat was a low blow,” he said, his eyes narrow and intent. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” He drew a deep breath. “Look, honey, it bothers me when you look at me like that, okay?” he said, opting for the truth. “You’re not the kind of woman I can carry into the bedroom and amuse myself with. So don’t create problems. Be the good girl you are and keep those sultry eyes to yourself.”
    â€œSultry?” Her eyebrows arched.
    He laughed helplessly at her expression. “Never mind, Goldilocks. Wash your dishes. I’ll have my coffee with Bagwell. Does he need feeding?”
    â€œI’ll do it, but thanks for offering.” She tidied Bagwell’s cage and changed his water and fed him while her mind glowed at what Jake had said. So she disturbed him. And she had sultry eyes. She could hardly keep her secret smiles to herself after that. He might not want to complicate things, but it pleased her very much that he found her so attractive.
    They went to church, and after the service they sat in a nearby McDonald’s and ate hamburgers and fries.
    â€œI enjoyed that,” he said. “Going to church, I mean. I haven’t had much to do with organized religion in recent years. Too busy.”
    â€œWhere did you work in between Hawaii and MacFaber?” she asked.
    It was a legitimate question, but he had to think hard for an answer. “Lockheed-Georgia,” he said. “Great people. They’re just north of Atlanta, in Marietta.” In fact, he’d been to Lockheed-Georgia for the unveiling of theC-5A Galaxy cargo plane. Fortunately he remembered just a little about the layout.
    â€œI had a cousin who was a