Free Hands On by Christina Crooks

down sometimes to keep up the deception. Painted crappy pictures with the help of pre-numbered templates. I kept one of them after she left.”
    Ginnie waited, but when no more info was forthcoming, she nudged him with her elbow. Her puppet bobbed with the movement. “And?”
    “And what? She moved out.”
    “You broke up because you didn’t like her taste in art?” There had to be more to it than that.
    Harry turned a cool look on her. “Of course not. We broke up because she’s a publicity hound. Jaye Rae loved the spotlight, but I’m a private man.”
    Ginnie stared at him, astonished. “She was famous for those paintings?”
    Harry stared back, strangely intent for a moment. Then he glanced away. “You’d be surprised at the public’s gullibility.”
    “Maybe.” Ginnie had the feeling she’d missed something.
    She also had the urge to hug him. He could use a hug. So could she, for that matter. She wanted to feel their bodies together again, the full length of his pressed against the full length of hers. Clothing optional.
    Something he said tickled her brain. “Gold-digger,” she mused aloud. “Sounds like she was doing pretty well already with those paintings. You must be seriously well-off for her to dig for gold.”
    “I do okay.” His voice was cool again.
    “So do I,” she countered. “It’s a nonprofit, but Helping Hands pays okay.”
    That got his interest. “Excellent. And you’re investing wisely, I hope.”
    She shrugged, frowning. Investing wasn’t high on her list of priorities at the moment.
    But he persisted. “A diversified portfolio is important. And so is a qualified financial advisor. It’s never too early to save for retirement.”
    “Let me guess. You’re a qualified financial advisor.” She teased him. “You trying to drum up business here?”
    His mouth fell open. “Drum up business?”
    “Oh, I don’t mind. It’s cute. ‘It’s never too early to save for retirement.’ You’re a nerd!” She gave in to the temptation that had plagued her since he first positioned himself so close and hugged him.
    She felt his body remain stiff for a moment. Then with an exhale that tickled her ear, he wrapped his arms around her too. The feel of him was better than she remembered. His warmth paired with his bulges and muscles in all the right places made a thrill of wanting zip all through her like forks of lightning.
    “A nerd. That’s a new one.” His voice, low and amused, rumbled against her. “And you, my dear, are entirely too tempting.” He held her even more tightly for a moment, letting her feel exactly how enticing he found her, then stepped back. The items on the bench seemed to grab his attention. His voice still carried warmth. “And motivated and talented too. You’ve already given Jeffrey a new arm.”
    Pleased, she pulled the string that controlled the arm and simultaneously levered the fingers. A wave.
    “I’m sure you earn your pay at Helping Hands. As you would wherever else you chose to work.” He sounded approving.
    “I wish I earned it doing this all the time.” The puppet trembled, then jumped to one side, cocking a hip, lifting a knee. Waggled his behind. A complex boogie. Ginnie smiled, feeling both proud and sad. “I’m in Events Management. Good money, right, very good, even, but…well, it’s not a creative position. Unless you consider setting financial goals, supervising grant requests and, most of all, controlling the workflow of subordinates creative.”
    “Controlling your subordinates?”
    Ginnie looked at him, but his gaze was on her hands as she untangled more marionette strings. “Someone has to set the performers and secretaries straight about the urgency of matters. Take the reins, be proactive, motivate people to do more than the minimum.” She didn’t tell him she’d been taken aside by two of the older ladies last week. During that closed-door meeting, she’d been accused of being a micro-manager, too controlling,