Operation Revenge (12 page)

"That won't be necessary," Marian told him. "I all ready have a place in mind."

Simon arched an eyebrow. "Really? Mind telling me where this place is?"

"I'm moving in with you."

Simon groaned inwardly. There wasn't enough Tylenol and antacids in the world that would help him. Yet he knew she did not need to be living alone. At her age, it just wasn't wise anymore. "If that's what you want then that's fine with me."

"I'm going to need a caregiver," she stated. "Someone to help me when I need it. She will be living with us as well."

He nodded. "I have plenty of room. I suppose you all ready have someone in mind."

"I do." Marian gazed into her grandson's eyes. "Haley."

"I should have known." He rose to his feet and glared down at her. "This is just a scheme to get Haley and me together."

"It is not," she uttered coolly. "I want someone I trust to look after me. I trust Haley. She has always been good to me."

"She's not a caregiver," Simon pointed out. "Besides, she has a job and a home. You can't expect her to give up both to move into my home to take care of you."

Marian pursed her lips. "I'm old, Simon. I don't have many years left. Is it so wrong of me to want to surround myself with people I love and care about? I can't live on my own anymore and I need help. Last night made me realize that. I want to talk to her. If she will agree-"

"She won't."

"If she does will you approve it?"

"Yes." Simon took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'll talk to her, Gran. For your sake I hope she says yes, but this had better not be a ploy to get me and her together."

"It is not," she assured him with a smile.

Somehow, he didn't believe her. Moving out into the corridor, he removed his phone from his pocket and dialed Haley's number. She answered on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"Good morning."

"Good morning," she repeated. "How's the jaw?"

"It's fine." He cleared his throat. "I need to talk to you. Do you have some free time this morning?"

"I don't have to be at work until nine-thirty," she informed him. "Would you like to meet at 'The Coffee Bean', say in ten minutes?"

"I'll be there."

. . . .

Haley was sitting at a table, sipping a cappuccino when Simon walked in. He bought a cup of coffee and then joined her at the table. "Thank you for meeting me." He kissed her on the cheek and sat down across from her. "How's your hand?"

"It's a little stiff and sore, but I'll be fine." She wrapped her hands around the cup to warm her fingers. "How's your Gran?"

"She's doing all right." He took a drink and set his cup down. "She decided to sell her house and move in with me."

Haley cocked her head slightly. "How do you feel about that?"

"There aren't enough Tylenol and antacids." He sighed. "I want her to be happy. If living with me makes her happy then so be it. She wants to have a live in caregiver."

"I think that's a good idea." She fiddled with a napkin. "You work . . . Daniel sleeps all day. She needs someone to watch over her."

"What would you say if I told you she wants that someone to be you?" Simon held his breath and waited for her reaction. To his surprise, she started laughing. "Something funny?"

"Your Gran will go to any lengths to get us together, won't she?"

Simon grinned. "She's a devious old woman. You have to watch her." He grew serious once more. "I don't expect anything from you, Haley. You don't owe me or Gran anything. To suggest that you sell your home and quit your job to move in with me and take care of her is ridiculous, but I promised her that I would talk to you. Let's consider this conversation closed and-"

"Hold on a minute." She leaned forward in her chair. "Let's not be quick to dismiss the idea."

"Sweetheart, you have no experience in caring for the elderly," he told her kindly. "I want someone who knows what they're doing."

"You don't know everything about me, Wilcox." She tucked several strands of hair behind her ear. "Before I became a secretary I worked in a nursing home. It was long hours, back breaking work, but I enjoyed visiting with the elderly patients. Those that could remember their past had some great stories to tell. The reason why I quit was because it was painful when-"

"They died," Simon guessed.

Haley nodded. "It felt like losing a family member." She sighed heavily. "Anyway, I have enough experience caring for the elderly that taking care of your Gran wouldn't be too difficult."

"Are you saying you want to do it?"

"I don't know," she muttered. "I need some time to think. How would you feel about it? Would you be okay with me living in your home?"

Simon stared at the tabletop. Would he be okay sharing a roof with her? Could he keep his growing attraction for her under control? He thought of Marian and knew for her he had to try. He knew his grandmother. If he refused, she would stay in that big house of hers all alone. The next time she fell, and there would be a next time, something more serious than a broken leg could happen. He would never forgive himself if something happened to her. "Yes." He met her
gaze. "It would take some getting used to, but I'm willing to give it a try. It would definitely send Chad over the edge."

"If I agreed to it I wouldn't be doing it to get at Chad," Haley declared.

"The thought never crossed my mind."

She picked up her cup and took a sip. "If I do this I will insist on paying you for room and board."

"If that's the way you want it," he replied. "I'm not sure what Gran would want to pay you. You'll have to discuss that with her."

"When I make a decision I will talk with her."

Simon studied her for several seconds. "Why?" he inquired. "Why are you giving this any thought? You have a nice home and a good job. Why give all that up to take care of an old, cranky woman that isn't family?"

"I was never close with my grandparents," Haley confessed. "They always lived too far away to visit them. The only time I ever saw them was on holidays and then it felt as though I was visiting strangers. I don't know." She shrugged. "I like your Gran. I thought maybe she could fill that void and be like an adoptive grandmother. At the very least, we could be friends. Everyone needs a friend. And my job isn't all it's cracked up to be. Mr. Warner is a kind and decent boss, but the work gets tedious and repetitive. Something tells me being your Gran's caretaker will be anything but tedious and repetitive."

"You got that right," he said dryly.

"Also, it's no fun coming home to an empty house at the end of the day." She turned her head and glanced out the window. "It's lonely. The television is a poor excuse for company. It would be nice to have someone else there to talk to and to cook for."

Her words stirred something inside of Simon. If truth be told, he felt the same as she did. It was lonely coming home to an empty house and not having someone there to talk to. He had a feeling if she moved in he would never be lonely in own home again. Reaching out, he laid his hand over hers. She turned her head and smiled at him. No, if he had his way they both would never be lonely again.

Chapter 1
3

Haley opened the door and stepped inside. Her eyes scanned the restaurant and she spotted her sister, Sandra sitting at a corner table. She made her way down the aisle toward her. When she reached her, she bent down and gave her a hug. "Thanks for agreeing to meet me for lunch," she said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. She leaned over and placed her purse on the floor beside the chair.

"I'm glad you asked me." Sandra smiled at her. "I hope you don't mind, but I ordered for you. Chicken salad. I know you like anything with chicken in it."

"I do." Haley picked up her water glass and took a drink. "How are Jeffrey and the kids?"

"Oh, fine." She tossed her hair over one shoulder. "The kids are little monsters and Jeffrey's their leader." She nibbled on her bottom lip. "The company Jeffrey works for is thinking of transferring some of their employee's to their company in San Diego. Jeffrey might be one of them to go. He won't know for sure until some time next month. I'm worried, sis. I don't want to leave you."

Haley's heart squeezed painfully in her chest. The thought that she might have to say goodbye to her sister and nephew's brought a lump to her throat. "Let's not get carried away, sweetie," she said, trying to look on the bright side. "You said the company is thinking about it. They might decide not to do it. If they do, Jeffrey might not be one of them to go. Think positive thoughts. Everything will turn out just fine. You'll see."

"You're right." Sandra reached across the table and squeezed Haley's hand. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Tell me," she said. "Have you had any more trouble with that slime ball of an ex?"

"Yes." Briefly, Haley filled her in on everything that happened. She started with the night Chad showed up at Simon's and how that event led to her and Simon coming up with a plan to make him pay for cheating, and ended with Darla's birthday party last night.

"Damn," Sandra murmured. "There's not a dull moment in your life."

Before Haley could respond, the server showed up with their food. He placed the chicken salad in front of Haley and a bowl of clam chowder in front of Sandra. "Enjoy," he said.

"Thank you," they uttered at the same time.

"So you and Simon are pretending to be a couple to make Chad jealous," Sandra said once the server left. "Be careful, sis. I don't want you to start developing feelings for Simon. You're vulnerable right now and jumping into another relationship so soon after Chad would not be
wise. I just don't want to see you get hurt again. Simon is a good man, but even good men can hurt you."

Haley glanced down at her salad. "I do feel something for him," she confessed. "How can I not? He's a wonderful man, but I'm not afraid of him hurting me. I'm afraid that I might end up hurting him."

"Then its best that you put a stop to your little scheme to get even with Chad," she told her. "Let's change the subject. Anything else happen lately?"

"Simon's Gran fell and broke her leg last night. She's going to be fine, but she can't live on her own anymore. She's moving in with Simon and she wants me to move in and be her caregiver."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Sandra picked up her spoon and stirred the chowder. "You have a good job that pays well. You'd be crazy to walk away from it. Besides, being a caregiver is a full time job. You'd never have any time for yourself. If that isn't enough to deter you then think of what we just talked about. Living under Simon's roof . . . being in close proximity with him is a recipe for disaster. You can't tell me that you can live with him and keep things friendly. Forgive me for being blunt, but sooner or later you would end up in his bed."

Haley had a feeling her sister was right. "I guess I have an answer for Mrs. Wilcox. I'm going to hate telling her no."

Sandra looked at her with sympathy. "I know you have a difficult time saying no. You don't want to disappoint anyone, but you need to think of yourself. Mrs. Wilcox will be fine without you. She can hire someone else to look after her. Now let's eat."