Conflict of Interest (The McClouds of Mississippi 2)

It was true that her feelings about him had undergone several changes in the past three days. Initially expecting to find a grumpy, eccentric middle-aged man, she had discovered instead that he was a grumpy, eccentric—and drop-dead gorgeous—young man, filled with contradictions.

At first he had seemed cold and unfriendly, as he could be when he wanted to be, but his connection to his family was strong. Yet he wouldn’t even open the last letter his father had written to him. He seemed indifferent about advancing his career, but he worked very hard at his craft. She had watched him write earlier, and she had realized that he invested everything in his words. It wasn’t that he especially enjoyed the process; more, it was something as vital to him as breathing.

He fascinated her. And, yes, she was attracted to him. Extremely attracted, actually. Every time their eyes met, her breath lodged in her throat. And every time he touched her, even by accident, her knees went weak.

So what was she going to do about it? Ignore her feelings? Deny them? She certainly couldn’t act on them, not and maintain a professional relationship with her client.

He returned bearing two steaming mugs. “I took your advice. Made a cup for myself.”

She smiled and accepted her cup from him. She was rather surprised when he sat on the couch beside her rather than returning to the chair in which he’d sat earlier.

He leaned back into the cushions with a soft sigh. “This baby-sitting gig is wearing me out. I don’t know how Nathan adjusted to it so easily.”

“What’s Nathan like? Is he like you?”

“Hardly. Nathan’s the life of the party, whereas I’m the classic wet blanket sitting in a corner and scowling. Nathan’s an almost compulsive caretaker, always the responsible, concerned older brother, the dutiful son. Even to the father who didn’t deserve his loyalty.”

“Except for the party thing, you don’t sound all that different to me. Haven’t you spent the past week taking care of your sister as a favor to your mother?”

That made him frown. “I’m not really like Nathan at all. You simply found me under highly unusual circumstances.”

Rather than argue with him, she sipped her tea.

“So when do you have to go back to New York?” Gideon asked after a minute. “Are you missing any important meetings or appointments?”

“Actually, this is the first week of a two-week vacation. I’m not missing anything.”

He set his barely touched mug on the table and turned to face her. “You came here to talk business with me on your vacation?”

She shrugged. “It was the only time I had available.”

“Lousy vacation.”

She laughed softly at that and set her mug beside his. “It hasn’t been so bad.”

“Are you kidding? You’ve spent the past few days helping me with my sister and my mail, hurting your ankle—and now dealing with Isabelle’s emotional breakdown.”

She smoothed a hand over her black slacks. “It really hasn’t been that bad. I’ve enjoyed being with Isabelle and, well…”

“Have you enjoyed being with me?”

Something in his voice made her look at him suspiciously. Was that a glint of teasing in his eyes? It seemed unlike Gideon, but then, what did she know? She’d met him for the first time only forty-eight hours ago.

“Being with you has been…interesting.”

“I’m not sure how to take that.”

She laced her fingers in her lap. “Let’s just say I’m glad I finally had a chance to meet my client—and my favorite writer. I adore your books.”

For the first time, she saw Gideon look almost flustered. “Yeah?”

She couldn’t help but smile. “Does that really surprise you so much? I’ve told you before that I like your books, when we’ve spoken over the phone.”

“Well, yeah…but you never said it quite like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like a reader, rather than my agent.”