Kristi Gold - His Sheltering Arms

H e wore his all-American good looks like a merit badge, but the devil in his dark eyes told Erin Brailey this man was no Boy Scout.

Zach Miller strode through Erins office door with an athletic grace that immediately captured her imagination. Although some might deem his appearance inappropriate for a business meeting, she appreciated his chambray shirt and jeans. The clothes fit as if tailor-made to showcase his attributes.

But no matter how perfect his layered black hair, how breathtaking his six-foot-plus frame, she refused to allow his presence to distract her. This was business. Maybe the most important business of her life.

She stepped to the side of her desk and offered him her hand and a smile. Mr. Miller, Im Erin Brailey, executive director of Rainbow Center. Thanks for coming in.

Im glad to meet you, Ms. Brailey. His strong, callused hand gripped hers, complementing the rough timbre of his voice.

After he released her hand, Erin reclaimed her desk chair and motioned for him to take the seat across from her. Once he settled in, she flipped open a folder and scanned the information inside. I guess you know weve accepted your bid.

Not until now.

When she looked up, he was watching her, his bent elbow resting on the chair arm, finger and thumb forming an L-shaped support for his head from temple to jaw. His casual posture didnt detract from his air of control.

Erin consulted the material again to avoid his steady scrutiny. She brushed her hair from her face and caught a whiff of his heady cologne lingering on her fingertips. Since the center decided not to go public with sealed bids, I assumed wed have to pay more for security. After closing the file, she folded her hands in front of her and met his gaze.

He leaned forward, his espresso eyes boring into her. If youre worried about getting your moneys worth, I guarantee youll be completely satisfied.

Although his expression didnt change, Erins composure slipped a notch. If any other contractor had told her the same thing, she wouldnt have given the words a second thought. But coming from this great-smelling man with the whisky voice and sinful eyes, she felt like the target of a drive-by, indecent proposal. One she might be tempted to accept.

Shaking the ridiculous thoughts from her brain, Erin loosened her joined hands from their death grip and fought the urge to turn the thermostat down to sixty. The center couldnt afford the extra electricity. Neither could she.

Im not worried about the quality of your work, she said. You come highly recommended by Gil Parks, and I trust his judgment. Im simply trying to understand your motivation for accepting a job that might show little profit for your company.

Zach sat back and scrubbed at his jaw with one hand. Are you expecting an Im serving my community speech?

Erin tamped down the surge of anger. Long ago she had come to realize that not everyone was committed to the shelter and the issues it represented. Im expecting an honest answer.

His lazy gaze took in the surroundings, the olive-green curtains, the marred oak desktop, the yellowed walls. He finally brought his eyes back to her. I did my homework, Ms. Brailey. I know theres a need for this new shelter. You cant be too careful about the causes you support financially.

She supposed she should be flattered hed chosen to bestow his selective altruism on Rainbow Center, but her cautious nature jumped into autopilot. Phase II has been chosen to assist some of the larger municipalities because of its rural location. It will provide a totally secure environment dependent on private protection. We will require the utmost discretion since its designed to provide refuge for women whose batterers are high-profile or work within service occupations in the surrounding communities.