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  “Understandable, I guess, from their point of view,” Dylan said, bracing himself for the obvious announcement. He wondered why Mr. G was telling him only and not everyone.

  “I suppose, but it’s left me in a tough spot.” The elderly man rose to his feet and began to pace his office. “To turn the company my father and I built over to a conglomerate goes against everything I’ve fought for.”

  “Then you’re not selling?”

  “I didn’t say that.” Mr. G. stopped in front of Dylan. “I want to sell GPC to you.”

  “M—” He choked on the word, coughed, and tried again. “Me?”

  “Yes, you.” Mr. G. folded his arms. “You’ve been an exceptional and loyal employee, always looking for the best way to serve our customers while making the best use of our resources. I might not be talking to you if you hadn’t made the decision to return to school and major in business.”

  “Yeah, but Mr. G.” Fighting a sense of panic, Dylan leapt to his feet. “I’ve just started back. It’s going to take me years to get my degree, and you know how much money I make.”

  “What’s important is how you’ve stepped up in other ways. You’ve taken on responsibility for your nephew, and I’ve seen how you’ve helped Rae with her children since her husband passed. In spite of all that, you went back to school. You’ve continued to carry those burdens, and your work here hasn’t suffered.” Mr. G.’s expression turned somber. “I know it’d be asking a lot, but the alternative is to sell out.”

  The words Dylan had meant to speak in disagreement froze on his lips. If they were swallowed up by a bigger company, everyone’s jobs would be on the line.

  “How would someone like me convince a bank to loan the money?”

  “We can work around that if you’re willing to take it on.” The older man patted Dylan on the shoulder and said, “I know this is a lot to throw at you, and we do have time. Just give it some thought.” He went back to his desk and sat down, giving Dylan a wave.

  Feeling like he’d just walked into an alternate reality, he left the office.

  “You all right?” Rae asked, her voice laced with concern.

  “I . . .” Even if Dylan could get his head around what had just happened, he had no idea how to put it in words. “I’ll talk to you about it after class tonight.”

  “Okay,” she said, looking worried for him.

  As he walked away, he could feel her gaze on him. Whatever he chose to do, it seemed things were changing at Green Pest Control. How was it going to impact his plans to win her?

  2

  Rae nuzzled Beth’s neck, and the toddler gave a little giggle. She’d finally started to speak a few words again. Her vocabulary hadn’t been very big, but after Mike’s death, the poor baby had gone silent. Then Dylan had moved in next door and changed that. Even though he’d been new to the surrogate father thing with his nephew, Dylan hadn’t hesitated to take Preston and Beth under his wing too.

  What would Rae have done without him these past months? He was always there when she needed him.

  “I love you, baby,” Rae whispered as she put Beth in her bed and covered the child with a blanket.

  “Mama,” Preston called from his bedroom. “Are you going to read us a bedtime story?”

  Rae turned out the light and hurried into the other bedroom. The Littles were waiting on the bottom bunk with five picture books each. She laughed and squeezed in between them. Dylan’s nephew, Jayden, was eight months younger than her Preston, and they’d become fast friends the first time they’d met.

  By the time she’d finished the fourth book, both boys were asleep. She didn’t bother to shift Preston to the top bunk. He’d be going to kindergarten in the fall, and she had a hard time lifting him up there now. She shifted them so one boy’s head was at each end of the bed and spread a quilt over them.

  As she was coming down the stairs, a knock sounded on her door. Rae paused to listen for stirrings in the bedrooms upstairs but heard nothing. She hurried to the door and looked through the peephole. Amelia. Rae unlocked the door.

  “What brings you over this fine spring evening?” Rae asked, moving aside to let Amelia enter.

  “I made some cookies and knew you’d be babysitting.” Amelia stepped in and glanced around the room. “Ah, they’re already in bed. Well, I suppose they can enjoy them just as well tomorrow.” She handed over the plate.

  “Or Dylan will eat them when he comes back.” Rae headed toward her kitchen. “He’s always hungry after class, especially on nights with tests.”

  “He’s a good man.” Amelia sat at the table next to the laptop Rae had been working at earlier. The older woman folded her hands in a familiar position Rae had come to recognize as her “I’m about to dispense motherly advice” posture.

  Resigned, Rae set the plate in the middle of the table and took a chair. She’d lost her mother as a teen. While she loved her father dearly, he was emotionally distant. Over the years she'd come to rely on Amelia for a lot of things a mother would have provided, especially when Rae had lost Mike.

  “It’s time for you to start dating, hon. You’ve shut yourself off with your children long enough.” Amelia nodded. “It was appropriate while the three of you were grieving, but it’s time for you to start living again.”

  “Just because I’m not dating doesn’t mean I’m not living. Besides, I’m not interested in a romantic involvement.” Rae didn’t know why she kept her main reason secret. Maybe because the memory of her friend’s tragedy was too scary. It could also be because she expected an argument from Amelia and didn’t want to go there. Rae said, “It wouldn’t be fair to the guy. I still see Mike everywhere.”

  “And you’ll continue to see him everywhere. He was a big part of your life. You had two beautiful children together. That’s not ever going to change. But the fact that you’ve loved deeply before should help you to love deeply again.” Amelia held up a hand to stop Rae’s argument and said, “I’m not talking about finding yourself a boyfriend right now. I’m talking about socializing. You need a life outside of your children and work.”

  Rae shook her head. “When I count their waking hours, their babysitter and I split their time nearly fifty/fifty. I agree I need to have some other outlets, but I’m not going to leave my kids to be raised by my sitter during the day and then again at night so I can play. They’re only going to be little for a few years. I won’t lose that time with them.”

  “I’m not suggesting you should. But I also know if you don’t take time to fill your own vessel, you won’t have anything to give to your sweet children. I think it's been great that you've been watching Jayden for Dylan while he goes to class. Now that he’s taken on the responsibility for that little guy, it’s good he’s trying to improve his own situation. I know he’s also offered to reciprocate with the babysitting. I think you should take him up on it.” Amelia pulled Rae’s laptop between them. “It’s time to get you set up on a dating site or two.”

  “No. Not that.” Rae tried to push the computer away from them. “You think I don’t hear some of the single girls at the office talk about ‘hit it and quit it’? They get sent unsolicited pictures of naked men and invitations to hook up all the time. It’s like they’re on some list for free call girls where the guys don’t even buy them dinner first. That’s not for me. I’d rather be single and never go on another date in my life than subject myself to that kind of thing.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing I’d never ask you to join one of those.” Amelia puffed up in indignation. “My land, girl. You should know me better than that. It’ll be fine. I’ll see to it. And if we need my Micah to beat someone up, I’m sure I can arrange it.”

  Rae burst out laughing. Amelia’s husband was a giant of a man with a grizzly beard. He could have been a senior version of an online wrestler. Except he was the most gentle, tender-hearted person Rae had ever met. Each Christmas, he and Amelia would watch all the Hallmark Christmas movies, and Micah would bawl even worse tha
n his wife. Every single time.

  “I’d like you to get some experience in the dating scene before Jason finally asks you out. He’s so handsome I’m afraid once he really puts on his charm you’ll fall for him before you’ve had a chance to see what’s out there.”

  “You and Dylan.” The corner of Rae’s eye twitched, and she rubbed her temples. “Jason’s not going to ask me out.”

  “He’s calling you love now, isn’t he?” Amelia shot her a knowing glance. “He always starts that before he asks a girl out. It could be any time now.”

  Rae frowned. She didn’t want confirmation of her own concerns.

  “How do you know I’d go out with him if he did?”

  “Because he’s so hot he melts the paint in any room he walks into.”

  “Amelia!” Rae stared at her friend.

  “Just because I’m old doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a fine-looking man. The important thing is Jason knows how to treat a lady.”

  “But he never gets serious with anyone.”

  “Which is why he’d be perfect for you to go out with a few times. You did say you’re not interested in a relationship, right?” Amelia asked. “Jason’s not his reputation. He’s a good guy and won’t push the boundaries you set. I promise. I know you’re not a hook-up kind of girl. It’s time for you to get used to going out again.”

  The woman was at least partly right. If Jason did ask Rae out, he’d be the perfect person to spend an evening with. She’d enjoyed talking to him before he’d started flirting with her.

  “What dating site do you have in mind?” Rae asked.

  Before Amelia could answer, a light knock on the door made Rae glance at the clock. She jumped to her feet.

  “That’ll be Dylan.”

  “Hey,” he said when she opened the door, “how was the little dude?”

  “He was a sweetheart as usual. How’d your test go?”

  “I got an A!” He threw his arms wide, and she stepped in to give him a quick hug.

  “See,” Rae said, stepping back. “I was right you didn’t have anything to worry about. Amelia’s here, and she brought over some cookies.”

  “Really?” Dylan glanced over Rae’s shoulder, his expression turning wary.

  “Congratulations on your final,” Amelia said. “Now come and eat some of these cookies. Rae told me you’re always starving after class. We’re doing something I think you should be involved with too.”

  Hesitantly, he took the seat across the table from Amelia while Rae got a glass and some milk.

  Dylan found it difficult to push back his unease at finding Amelia at Rae’s. Wasn’t it enough that Mr. G. had dropped that unimaginable offer right before a difficult final exam? What new complication was coming Dylan’s way?

  “We’re going to set up Rae on the eRapport dating site,” Amelia said as she slid the plate of cookies closer to him. Rae took the seat next to Amelia, who added, “I’ve heard good things about this one while I’ve been helping my daughter enter the dating scene again. We should do the same thing for you, Dylan.”

  He inhaled some of the milk he was drinking and started choking.

  “My thoughts exactly.” Rae glanced at him, her expression both resigned and sympathetic, and handed him a napkin.

  “Look, I’m just figuring out how to be like a dad to Jayden,” Dylan said when he could speak. He tried to avert his head so Rae wouldn’t see the questioning look he sent to Amelia. She winked at him. Wasn’t she supposed to help him to sabotage Rae’s dates, not set him up to go out on some too?

  “You’re in the same situation as Rae. You both need to have lives outside of the ones that revolve around work and your kids. And don’t you both look at me like that. You know me better than to think I’d suggest you ditch the kids so you guys can go out and party.”

  Amelia shifted the laptop so everyone could see the screen. “Now listen while I explain. The application process for eRapport is a little complicated because their goal is to match compatible people with similar interests. They’re upfront about being a site for people who want more than physical relationships. They have a whole slew of questions you’ll both need to answer.”

  “What kinds of questions?” Rae asked. “I’m really protective about what I post about my kids online.”

  “Don’t worry, hon. You get to choose what prospective dates will see. For them to match you with the right people, they need to know things like what you think of yourself, how romantic you are, your core beliefs. That kind of thing. They’ve evaluated a lot of statistical data about conflict in relationships. And that conflict comes from where?” Amelia grinned and held up both of her arms. “Areas where a couple isn’t compatible. Go figure.”

  “Wow, Amelia. I can’t believe you know all this.” Dylan said, more than a little impressed she’d taken the time to check it out.

  “I told you I’ve been researching it with my daughter.” She looked at Dylan. “You remember my youngest who left her drunk husband? Well, when her divorce was final last month, we started checking out all the sites, and this is the one she settled on.” Amelia opened a browser and typed in an address. “They require people to work a little bit to get to know each other first. Two people are required to have exchanged twenty communications—not only emoticons—before the system will let them share any pictures. They work really hard to stop the catfishers.”

  “The what?” Rae asked.

  “People who create fake accounts and pretend to be something or someone they’re not,” Amelia said.

  “You haven’t heard of catfishing?” Dylan asked, surprised.

  “I’ve heard of it.” Rae’s cheeks went that adorable pink he loved so much. “I’m not totally ignorant. I just don’t remember it being called that.”

  “Oh, honey, there have been catfishers long before the internet made it so easy to fool people. Now, Dylan,” Amelia said, “fire up your laptop so you two can do this together.”

  While he retrieved it, she shifted to the end of the table and indicated he should sit next to Rae. He did as he was told; he’d prefer to sit beside her anyway.

  “Let me know when you have the site up.”

  “Got it,” he said.

  Amelia slid Rae’s laptop to her.

  “Wait,” she said. “You’ve already started filling this out for me?”

  “Only the basics.” Amelia held up a finger. “Remember, I was helping my daughter and needed someone I could plug in. I knew you’d be dealing with this eventually anyway, what with Jason asking questions about you—”

  “What?” Rae asked, looking irritated. “When was he asking questions about me?”

  Dylan gritted his teeth to keep from saying anything and took it out on his keyboard.

  “Only the last little bit,” Amelia said. “Well, he did ask me about you right after he started with us, but that was last summer right after you’d lost Mike. I made it clear you were in mourning, and he’s respected that. Which is something that lifted my opinion of him.”

  Dylan had to fight back a surge of alarm and reminded himself that Amelia was on his side. But what if she accidentally sent Rae into the arms of another man? Like Jason Lee.

  “I know neither of you think you’re ready for this, but all we’re going to do is let you get your toes wet. Like I said, this is an opportunity to meet some people you’d probably never have met otherwise. You both need to be exposed to people outside of your children and your good-looking neighbors.”

  Rae met Dylan’s gaze, the corners of her mouth twitching. His neck muscles relaxed.

  “Now,” Amelia continued, “I always told my teens it was important to date a lot of different people so they could see how they were treated by them. That applied to my boys as well as my girls.” She shot Dylan a meaningful glance. “When you both find someone you’d like to get serious about, they should treat you exceptionally well.”

  “Like Micah treats you?” Rae asked.

  “Exactly like how
Micah treats me. I made the mistake of getting married right out of high school and not to him.” Amelia’s face turned sad. “My parents didn’t get along well and fought all the time. They were the perfect example of two people who were not compatible. It was a tough house to grow up in, and I couldn’t wait to get out.”

  “You married to get away from home?” Dylan asked. This was a side of Amelia he hadn’t known about. Ever since he’d started with the company, she’d been like a mother to him. He didn’t know why he’d always assumed she was naturally wise. It hadn’t occurred to him she might have gotten that way through the School of Hard Knocks. The term she’d used often over the years took on new meaning.

  “That’s it exactly. He’d shown signs of a temper when we were dating but never toward me. After we were married, I also found out he was a mean drunk.”

  “Did he hit you?” Rae asked quietly, covering Amelia’s hand with hers.

  “Not at first, and when he did, I wasn’t expecting it.” Amelia’s face took on a pinched look Dylan had only seen a couple of times. Her throat worked, and it took a couple of seconds before she could continue. “See, I grew up in a home with a father who had a temper, but he was never physically violent. I guess I thought my first husband would be like him. The next day, he was full of apologies and promised never to do it again. I’d called my mother to ask about leaving him, but she said it’d be tacky to do it so soon, that maybe I should train him right.”

  “You should have left.” Dylan wanted to find and hit the guy himself.

  “Don’t worry on my behalf, though I appreciate the look on your face, Dylan. I did train him.” Amelia’s eyes crinkled. “With a frying pan.”

  “You hit him?” Rae sounded appalled.

  “No, hon, but I would have if I’d had to, to make my point and then repented of it later. As it was, I didn’t have to because he learned real quick not to hit me.” Amelia’s gaze turned steely. “All I had to do was show him my frying pan and remind him he’d have to sleep some time.” She heaved out a sigh. “It wasn’t a very Christlike thing to do. I should have left him, which I did after six months. And I vowed I’d never put up with a man treating me like that again. I’d known Micah in school. As soon as my divorce was final, he stepped into my life, and I’ve never looked back. He’s a great man and a wonderful father. We had a lot in common. There are so many things that have to fit in a marriage. It’s a lot of hard work, like having kids, but it can be one of the most fulfilling things you'll ever experience in your life.”