Miracle On 5th Avenue (From Manhattan with Love 3)

“No.” She thought he was passionate, and she loved a man with passion. Her Robert had been the same. “Stubborn, and occasionally wrong, but never stupid.”

“We both know you sending Eva my way had nothing to do with her cooking abilities. We know what you were hoping would happen and, by the way, it didn’t. I didn’t lay a finger on her.”

Then you’re a fool, Mitzy thought, but she kept the thought to herself.

“I’m glad to hear it. I didn’t send that young girl over there for you to molest her. I would have felt dreadfully let down if you’d done that.”

Lucas shook his head in exasperation. “We were snowed in together.”

“No.” Mitzy widened her eyes in horror, delighted that for once the weather forecast hadn’t let her down. “How dreadful for her.”

“For her?”

“Being closeted with you and your dark moods. We both know that when you can’t write, you’re like a bear with a sore head. Oh, dear—” She rubbed her chest dramatically. “I hope I didn’t do the wrong thing. I thought she’d be fine. I didn’t even think she’d see you.”

“Why are you rubbing your chest, Gran? Are you in pain? Can I fetch you something? Call someone?” The concern in his voice warmed her.

Underneath that brooding exterior he was a dear boy. “I’m a little anxious, that’s all. I hope you weren’t unkind, Lucas.” She saw something that looked like guilt flash across his face, and there was a brief pause before he answered.

“I wasn’t unkind.”

Mitzy stopped rubbing her chest. “You were unkind?”

“We didn’t part on the best of terms.” His voice was tight and she wondered if her grandson’s irascible nature might have proved too much even for her lovely Eva.

“If you hurt that girl in any way, Lucas, I swear you will discover that there is an end to my patience. Eva has become a good friend. I can’t imagine not having her in my life.” It was probably the most honest statement she’d uttered since he’d walked into her apartment.

“And what is she doing in your life? Have you asked yourself why a young woman of her age would—” He broke off and she raised an eyebrow.

“Would what? Want to spend her free time with someone old and boring like me? Was that what you wanted to say?”

Men could be so tactless, she thought. It was a wonder the human race hadn’t died out.

“That wasn’t what I was going to say. You’re the most interesting person I know, but you have to admit that it’s a strange way for a young, single, attractive woman to spend her time.”

So he had found Eva attractive.

She hadn’t got that part wrong.

“Only you would consider it strange that two people might find pleasure in each other’s company, and that’s because you insist on believing that all interaction is driven by some lower purpose. Your writer’s imagination may have made you a fortune, Lucas, but in the real world it does you a disservice. When she’s working, I insist on paying her for her time, but sometimes she visits after work, through her own choice. She bakes me cakes and walks Peanut if I’ve not managed to get out.”

“And you don’t wonder why she’d do those things?”

Because she’s lonely.

Mitzy kept her tone level. “You find my company so boring you can’t imagine why another might seek it? It’s a good job my ego is as robust as yours.”

Dark color spread across his cheekbones. “You’re deliberately misunderstanding me.”

“If you have to ask the question, then evidently you didn’t spend much time talking to Eva.”

“We talked.”

“Then maybe your listening skills need work.”

“My listening skills are—” He sighed. “What are you getting at? What did I miss?”

“You’re the writer with deep insight into human nature. Far be it for me to tell you how to get to know someone. Is that why you didn’t part on the best of terms? Were you only thinking about yourself? What did you do?”