Worth the Risk_ A Contemporary - Megan Hart Page 0,153

salmon steaks by one-thirty p.m., and various other things over the rest of the afternoon. Fortunately, most people were just so glad to be out of their houses they willingly accepted substitutions.

He propped his feet up on his desk with a sigh that came from his toes. Stretching out the kinks in his back, Tom looked at the clock. Blinking, he took another look.

He had promised Lila lunch today. True, he’d been so busy he hadn’t even had time to notice the lunch hour come and go, but surely she would have asked someone to find him. Frowning, he dialed Lila’s phone number.

The answering machine beeped, but no message played in his ear. He knew the power outages had done some damage to it, and he guessed she hadn’t had time to fix it yet. He would take the chance that the machine would record his voice.

"Lila, it’s me." He didn’t bother to identify himself further because he knew he didn’t have to. It was a good feeling. No, a great feeling. "Sorry I missed you today. What happened? Call me when you get in. I’m heading home."

The fact she hadn’t shown up or called still disturbed him, but he shrugged off the feeling. Maybe something had come up with her sister. Maybe she’d stopped by, seen how busy he was and didn’t want to bother him. Whatever had happened, he was sure he’d see her tonight. They’d talked about renting a really good scary movie, popping some corn, and hanging out at his place for a change. Lila had never been to his house, and he wanted her to meet Emma.

"Boss, can I talk to you?" Emma stood in the doorway. Chocolate sauce, flour, and a dozen other substances Tom couldn’t identify dotted her white smock.

"Sure, Em. What’s up?"

She closed the door behind her and plopped down in the soft chair across from him. "It’s about this morning."

Tom held up his hands. "Say no more. You’re both adults."

Emma sighed. "Tell my mom that, will ya?"

Tom grinned. His older sister Marietta was not known for her open mind or lenient attitude. "I’m not telling your mom anything, Emma. When you came to live with me, she made me promise I’d look out for you. I’m not going to risk my hide by telling her I found a half-naked man coming out of your bedroom."

"Uncle Tom, you’re so cool." Emma leaned over the table to kiss his cheek with a loud smack. "I wish Mom were more like you."

"Uncles can be cool. Parents have to play the heavy." The philosophical tone made his niece roll her eyes.

"That coming from the man who swore he’d never ‘sow his seed,’ to quote you from about a year ago."

Tom remembered saying that. It had been to Marietta, in fact, at the annual Caine family get-together. She’d cornered him and wanted to know why he’d come dateless, when was he going to settle down, and why didn’t he think about giving Mom some more grandkids? He’d replied with the comment Emma had just quoted. Marietta hadn’t seen the humor in his reply.

"Things change." Her eyes sparkling and her grin wrinkling her freckled nose, Emma pounced toward him. "Boss, you’re in love!"

Tom shrugged but couldn’t hide his own grin. "Maybe."

Emma shrieked. "With the one you spent the blizzard with?"

He raised his eyebrow at her. "Her name is Lila, and yes. And don’t go telling your mother about where I spent the blizzard."

Emma quickly drew an X on her chest with one finger. "She won’t hear it from my lips. God forbid I stay home alone at the ripe old age of twenty-four. So, tell me about her!"

What could he say about Lila? There was too much, all mixed up inside with the feelings he’d never thought to experience. He couldn’t describe her because words could simply not do her justice.

"She’s great." That would not be enough for Emma. "I can talk to her."

"Wow." Emma sounded as solemn as if he’d recited a sonnet in Lila’s honor. "I’ve never heard you say that about anyone before. She must be great. And crazy."

"Why crazy?"

"To fall for you." Emma danced out of his grasp.

"No crazier than Michel." Tom cowered under Emma’s flurry of tiny punches. "Hey, stop that, Squirt!"

His use of the dreaded nickname from the past stopped Emma in her tracks. "Don’t call me that!"

Tom, who knew just how to tease his niece into a frenzy, replied calmly, "Squirt."

Emma shrieked again, launching herself over the desk at him