The Hamilton Heir by Valerie Hansen Read Free Book Online Page B

powerful.”
    “Yeah. That’s another problem. He has no idea what it’s like to struggle to make ends meet, so he really can’t relate to those of us who have. Does that make sense?”
    “Completely. From what I’ve seen of him when he’s come into the business office at the hospital, the guy is hard as nails. It’s like he knows he could buy or sell any of us and have change left over, so he isn’t worried about not getting his own way.”
    “That’s exactly how I’ve always pictured him,” Dawn said. “But for a while last night he seemed different. You should have seen him with Stuart Meyers. They were like two little boys playing toy soldiers. If I hadn’t been pressed for time, I suspect they’d have reenacted the entire battle of Nashville.”
    “No kidding? That is amazing.”
    “It sure is.” She stared out the window, unseeing, as they crossed the Cumberland River into Davis Landing on Mill Road and came to the corner of Main where the Hamilton Media building stood.
    “You can just let me off out front,” Dawn said. “I don’t want to make you late.”
    Gabi laughed. “That’s no problem today, kiddo. You got me up at the crack of dawn, no pun intended. I’ve got over an hour to kill before I’m due at the hospital.” She pulled to a stop. “How’s this?”
    “Fine. Thanks.” Dawn gathered up her purse and sack lunch and started to get out of the minivan.
    Gabi laid a hand lightly on her arm. “Why was that?”
    “Why was what?”
    “The early call. The trip from your place to here takes less than twenty minutes, even when traffic is bad. Why did you ask me to pick you up at seven when you don’t normally leave home till nearly eight?” She suddenly broke into a grin. “You were avoiding Tim Hamilton, weren’t you? That’s it. You didn’t want him to be the one to pick you up. By leaving an hour early you cut your chances of being home if he did show.”
    “That’s ridiculous.” Dawn knew her reddening cheeks were giving away a truth she didn’t want to admit, even to her best friend.
    “It is not. I can see it in your eyes. Did he upset you or something? I thought you said he behaved like a perfect gentleman.”
    “He did. It’s not him that I’m worried about. It’s my reaction to him that scares me silly.” Dawn swallowed hard and nervously licked her dry lips. “Miss Ada kept going on and on about how pretty I was and Tim agreed with her.”
    “So? What’s so terrible about that?”
    “It wasn’t what he said, it was the way he said it.” Dawn looked at her friend and heaved an audible sigh. “Unfortunately, he sounded like he meant every word.”
     
    Dawn was already hard at work when her boss burst into the office, tie and coattails flying. He gaped at her. “Where were you? I knocked and knocked. Your dog was barking like crazy. If one of your neighbors hadn’t told me you weren’t home I’d still be beating on your door and making a fool of myself—if the dog hadn’t broken out and had me for breakfast, first.”
    “I’m sorry. When we left here yesterday you said you planned to come in early so I thought…”
    Tim raked his fingers through his dark, wavy hair, leaving it slightly mussed. Dawn couldn’t recall seeing him this agitated since Wallace’s diagnosis of leukemia had been officially announced to the staff.
    “Okay. Forget it,” he said, visibly calming himself and regaining his characteristic air of unperturbed authority as he straightened his tie. “How about some coffee?”
    “Sure.” She got to her feet and started for the small kitchenette beside the washroom. “I just made a fresh pot.”
    “No. Not up here,” Tim said. “Let’s go over to Betty’s where we can relax and talk.”
    “Betty’s?” Dawn’s voice squeaked so badly she was sure it had risen at least an octave.
    “The Bakeshoppe and Bookstore? Right across the street? It’s been there since 1941. The plaque on the wall says so.”
    He’d begun to