Manuela’s eyes grew large when she saw the amount. The money quickly disappeared into the pocket of her apron. Her scowl turned to a grin. “I like your man,” she told Kate with a wink.

Kate turned her gaze on him, her expression unreadable. “He’s not my… Oh, never mind.” Just as she had coaxed her son from the room, Kate placed a steady hand on Manuela’s back, helping her out the door.

Once it closed, she turned on him. “Why did you do that?”

“She needed bus fare.”

“I could have found something to tie her over.

What you did wasn’t necessary.” Kate stood rigid.

Her eyes never left his. “I could have managed.”

“You can pay me back, if that’s what you’re so upset about.”

“Oh, I’ll pay you back all right.”

“Fine.” Richard stood back.

“Fine,” she snapped.

They stood, face to face. Neither of them moving or saying more. Kate’s breath came in short gasps, the temper hardly contained.

Why is she so pissed? All I did was pay her sitter, and gave her a ride home. Hell, I’ve been a damned gentleman, and she looks like she wants to spit nails at me.

Then he saw it, the flash of recognition. Her determination to remain mad started to crumble.

Her lower lip started to tremble and her eyes

swelled with unshed tears. Oh, God. She’s going to cry. Richard hated when woman cried. It always made him feel so useless.

“Hey, it’s okay.”

“Really? I don’t think so.” She shook her head and nodded toward her son. “I was shot last night, I can’t work with this.” She lifted her arm. “And I can’t pay you back anytime soon because I won’t be able to earn any tips until I can hold a plate.”

“But…”

“I’m not done.” Kate turned away and started to pace. “My car is at work, and I need to get my son to school.”

“I’ll drive.”

“I don’t even know you.”

Her frustration bit out each word. Luckily, Joey arrived in time to spare her from continuing.

“What’s for breakfast?” he asked.

Kate wiped one fallen tear from her cheek and smiled down at him. “Well, we have Cheerios or Lucky Charms.”

“Duh,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Lucky Charms.”

Richard watched her composure return. She led her son to the small kitchen on the other end of the room. Her little outburst told him how on edge she felt. Shit, she didn’t know the half of it.

While she prepared a simple breakfast for her son, Richard took the opportunity to call his brother.

Kate tried to ignore the man in her living room talking on his cell phone. It proved difficult at best.

She couldn’t remember anyone in her apartment wearing a suit. Even the landlord wore nothing but T-shirts and jeans.

Richard’s voice rumbled low so she couldn’t make out the conversation.

Who was he, and why was he being so nice?

Joey slapped his spoon against the bowl between

bites. His big blue eyes smiled along with his lips.

She was glad Richard had lied to her son. Telling Joey the truth would have wiped that beautiful smile away. She didn’t need Joey worrying about her any more than he already did. At times, she’d find him curled up on her bed when she arrived home from work. When asked why he was there, he’d say something about having a bad dream and her not coming home. No, telling him some ass had put a hole in her the night before would only give him reason to worry more.

Joey amazed her. His world wasn’t like most kids his age. Being an only child with a working single mom meant he gave up a lot. He tried so hard to act grown up.

She couldn’t afford many of the activities most kids Joey’s age did. No Karate lessons or T-ball teams to meet up with. No Soccer teams or days full of practices.

Working nights gave her the ability to be home with him during the day, which meant a lot to both of them. She tried to get him out of the nasty neighborhood as often as possible. With gas prices on the rise, even that proved difficult. Graveyard shift also meant she could manage to take one class a semester in an effort to climb out of her rut.

Richard stepped into the kitchen while putting his cell phone back in his pocket. “Are you ready?”

“Almost.” Kate smiled at her son. “Go brush your teeth and let’s get you to school.”

****

Within thirty minutes, Richard had her back in her apartment and propped up on her couch with a pain pill in hand. He’d taken over her life in the past few hours, and she felt unable to stop him. Not that she had the energy to try.

“My brother will pick your car up and bring it here.”

She wanted to argue, but the medication gave a warning about driving. Besides, she’d need a ride to work to get her car. This way she could get a little sleep before she had to pick up Joey. “It seems I’m going to be forever in your debt,” she said, then popped the long white pill into her mouth.

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll stay here until he arrives. That way I can give him a ride home.” His request seemed reasonable, and not something with which she could argue. “It’s the least I can do.”

He took off his expensive coat. His dark hair was a little long for a guy in a suit. Once he loosened his tie, removed it, and tucked it into his coat, he looked downright normal. She smiled despite the pain traveling from her arm to her head.

“Would you like Cheerios or Lucky Charms?” He asked on his way to her kitchen.

“You don’t have to get me anything.”

“That bottle says to take it with food. I happen to know you haven’t eaten anything since before three. It’s almost 8:30, and besides, I haven’t had Lucky Charms since I was a kid.” He picked up the box giving it a little shake, “I didn’t know they still made this stuff.”

Kate laughed. “They still make it and with more sugar than ever.”

He stumbled around her kitchen, opening and closing cupboards.

“Next one over,” she called.

He removed two bowls, set them on the counter.

“Well?” He held up both boxes of cereal.

“Cheerios, please.”

“Good. These are almost gone, and I’m hungry.” He smacked his lips together after putting one of the colorful marshmallows in his mouth. Kate caught herself smiling at him. He was worse than her son, eating straight out of the box.