He cleared his throat. “Er...I couldn’t help noticing that all your things were gone when I got home from work. Were you expecting to find a place today?”
She shrugged. “Either that or I thought I’d check into a motel. I didn’t want to take your hospitality for granted.”
“You weren’t. I’ll help you bring your bags in after we eat.”
“Okay. I’ve also started looking for a job, by the way. I filled out a couple of applications today.”
Again he tensed slightly. “Where?”
She shrugged, apparently as interested in her food as their conversation. “A couple of places. Do you have any honey mustard?”
“Check the fridge.”
She slid out of her seat and buried her head in the refrigerator, emerging triumphantly a moment later. “Found it!”
“The personnel director at DataProx is always looking for clerical workers,” Andrew suggested carefully as Nicole returned to her seat. “I never get involved in hiring, of course, but I’m sure you could get an appointment with her if you call. She’s pleasant and approachable. You’d like her.”
Nicole glanced up from her plate to study him a bit questioningly for a moment. And then she nodded and looked down again. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I, er, suppose I could mention to her that you’re a, er, friend of mine and—”
“No. Please don’t do that. As much as I appreciate the offer, I really prefer to find my own jobs,” she said quickly.
He should have been relieved. After all, there were many reasons it wouldn’t have been prudent of him to intercede on her behalf with his personnel director. But he couldn’t help feeling a bit miffed that Nicole had so summarily rejected his offer. She had no idea, of course, how difficult it had been for him to make it.
He pushed at his glasses with his forefinger and nodded curtly. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
“I will. Thanks.” She immediately changed the subject, commenting that the weatherman had predicted a cold front in a few days, which might even turn to snow by the end of next week. Measurable snow in Memphis was rare enough to be a novelty, but she said she’d seen enough snow in Minneapolis to last her a while.
Andrew wasn’t particularly interested in the weather, but he nodded and murmured appropriate responses to her observations. He didn’t really care what they talked about; he was simply enjoying being with her. Sharing cold cuts and a cozy conversation in his kitchen. A quiet, intimate interlude his former fiancée would never have enjoyed, since it wasn’t nearly exciting and glamorous enough to satisfy her. Yet Nicole didn’t seem to be at all bored or restless.
It was a comfortable, domestic scene that warmed him, made him feel completely relaxed and content. Feelings so rare for him that he hardly recognized them. He was aware that they could quickly become addictive. Which might have made him nervous, had he allowed himself time to think about it.
“Tell me more about your family,” Nicole suggested, bringing his attention back to their discussion. “I’ve met your parents, but you haven’t mentioned extended family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents.”
“My father had a brother, but he died without ever marrying. My mother has a sister who lives in Maryland. She has two daughters in their early twenties, I think. The youngest one was still in college, the last I heard. I haven’t seen them in years. My grandparents are all dead—my mother’s father died a couple of years ago. He was the last.”
“Were you close to him?”
“He lived in Virginia. I only saw him once or twice a year. I suppose I was fond enough of him. I just didn’t know him very well.”
Losing interest in her food, Nicole propped her chin in one hand and studied him across the table. “Were you close to your father’s parents? They lived here, didn’t they?”
“Yes, the Tylers have been in Memphis for a long time. I was quite close to my grandmother, who died when I was sixteen. My grandfather was a rather stern man who was obsessed with business. I didn’t see much more of him than I did my grandfather in Virginia.”
“Did he and your father get along?”
Andrew tilted his head to look at her. “Why are you so interested in my family?”
“I’m interested in all families,” she admitted with a smile. “If any of my questions sound prying, tell me to butt out. I’m not easily offended.”
“I don’t mind answering your questions. I just wondered why you asked.” He reminded himself not to interpret her curiosity to indicate personal interest in him—she’d just admitted that she liked hearing about everyone’s families. But he still found it rather flattering that she showed such interest in knowing more about him.
He tried to decide how best to answer her question. “My father and my grandfather got along well enough. They were both obsessed with business, both driven and ambitious. Grandfather died of a heart attack in his office. He was eighty-three. My father surprised everyone when he chose to retire at the relatively young age of sixty-two. He’s still chairman of the board, still spends several hours a week at the office when he’s in town, but he turned the day-to-day operations over to me.”
“And what does he do with his time now?”
“He’s a golf addict. He plays tennis and handball and is a tournament bridge player. And he likes women.”