Hero(19)

“How do you know the plot to Pretty Woman?” I heard Henry ask in amusement.

“Remember Sarah Byrne?” Caine replied.

“The record-breaking five-month relationship. Of course.”

“She had a thing for Richard Gere. I paid the price.”

They disappeared around the corner as Henry laughed. I was smiling right along with him. Sometimes, when Caine remembered to be a normal guy, he was more attractive than ever.


“Carraway Financial Holdings, Mr. Carraway’s Office,” I answered, hopefully for the last time that day. It was almost five thirty. Caine didn’t usually let me leave until seven, but I was hoping since it was Friday and he had a dinner reservation that I’d get to haul my ass out of there early.

“Oh, good, I caught someone,” a pleasant voice said down the line. “I’m Barbara Kenilworth of the O’Keefe Foundation. I’m calling for Mr. Carraway.”

“Mr. Carraway is unavailable at the moment,” I said, which was what I was supposed to say to everyone unless Caine told me he was expecting a call from someone specific. “May I take a message?”

“Oh. Well, yes. I wanted to make Mr. Carraway aware that a few ladies on other charity committees, myself included, have noted his generosity and have nominated him for an award at the Boston Philanthropic Society Gala that takes place this coming fall.” Her voice lowered as if she was confessing something to me. “Two of my friends and I were at lunch a few weeks ago and, well, we discovered quite by chance just how generous Mr. Carraway has been, and he’s never asked for any acknowledgment. Well, we think such humanitarian efforts should be brought to light.”

“Indeed,” I murmured, absolutely spinning at this news.

Caine was that generous to charity organizations?

“So you’ll inform him for me?”

“I will.”

“Oh, you’re such a dear. Ta-ta.”

I hung up, confused. I hadn’t read anywhere that Caine was a philanthropist. What was that all about?

I rang his office.

“Yes?” he answered almost immediately.

“Do you have a minute?”

“Is it important?”

“I think so.”

“Then by all means interrupt me when I’m busy over an ‘I think so.’ ” He hung up and I hurried into his office despite the unwelcoming go-ahead.

Caine sat behind his desk, watching me. Usually he had some kind of blank or pissed-off look on his face when he stared at me. To my consternation, it seemed he was wary of me.

My only guess was that his sudden weirdness had to do with the heated moment we’d had earlier that afternoon. Not needing a reminder of that when I was around him, I threw the thought away and forged on. I told him all about Barbara Kenilworth.

His reaction was to let out a stream of expletives.

“Why are you annoyed?” I huffed. “This is wonderful. What you do is wonderful.”

“Alexa,” he huffed back. “I have a reputation for being a hard-ass, a ruthless bastard. And you know what? I get a lot further in business because of it. My donations are always based on the condition of anonymity. I make the foundations sign a goddamn nondisclosure agreement.” He stood up now, and pointed toward the door. “So you phone Ms. Kenilworth back and inform her that if she doesn’t retract that nomination and stop spreading rumors of my philanthropy all over f*cking Boston, I will rip her a new * via lawsuit.”

I blinked in surprise at his tirade. “Wow. That actually makes me feel better.”

His eyebrows drew together. “How?”

“Well, in comparison to what poor Ms. Kenilworth is facing if she upsets you, you’re an absolute prince to me. I have had no such threats of * ripping.”

And then the impossible happened.

Caine’s lips twitched and that lip twitch was followed by a low huff of laughter as he shook his head, relaxed, and sat back down. Mirth glittered in his eyes as he looked at me. “Just make the call, Alexa,” he murmured, his tone actually soft for once.

I struggled not to smile in utter elation. “I’m on it.”

I spun around and walked back out of the office, a triumphant grin on my face.





CHAPTER 6


Sun streamed into the bookshop/coffeehouse in Brighton, and the heat of the sun on my face and the delicious coffee in my hand and the fact that I wasn’t at work meant I was feeling pretty great.