Falling For Her Boss by Karen Rose Smith Page B

twelve."
    "Why?"
    His grin disappeared.  "Because I was tired of canned soup and it was one of the few things in the house to read.  I didn't have a computer then to get the info...or recipes I wanted."
    From the little Noah had said about his background, she'd suspected he hadn't had a "normal" childhood.  She hadn't, either, but hers was due to choice rather than circumstance.  "We had books galore lying around, but I never had time to read them.  And a computer.  But I was busy with everything that had to do with skating."  She was suddenly more curious than she wanted to be about his years growing up.  "It sounds as if you were on your own a lot."
    He cut the eggs in quarters and flipped them.  "My dad cut out soon after I was born.  My mom was too busy working in cocktail lounges and looking for singing gigs to think about much else."
    Meaning she was too busy to think about him.  Francie didn't know what to say.  She glanced over her shoulder, wondering if her father had heard.  But he seemed to be engrossed at the laptop.  "You said you have no family.  Your mom..."
    "Died the year after I graduated from college."
    "I'm sorry."
    "So am I.  That year I could have helped her.  I finally had some money..."  He shook his head and went silent.
    Francie sensed he didn't want more questions.  She could understand the need for privacy.  That's all she'd wanted when she'd come back to Gettysburg.  And her family had given her that, for the most part.  Except for her mother.  She had prodded and poked till she learned the whole story.  She'd probably told the family, but no one had questioned Francie.
    Who did Noah have to support him?
    "Noah?"  When he looked at her, she couldn't ask.  There was too much sadness in his eyes.  She realized his support came from an inner strength he'd somehow developed.
    She wanted to take that sadness away.  So she smiled.  "How are the eggs?"
    He smiled back.  "Finished."
    As they ate breakfast, Francie's father kept the conversation flowing with Noah.  As Paul finished his last forkful of eggs, he declared, "I've made up my mind."
    "About?" Francie asked.
    "I want a laptop with the same programs that Noah has.  "Noah, if you're not too busy, would you go to the electronics store with me and point out what I need?"
    Noah looked pleased.  "Sure.  I have an appointment at two but until then I'm free."
    Francie suspected what that appointment was about.  "Does it concern the rink?"
    Paul arched his brows at his daughter.  "Maybe it's personal."
    Noah wiped his mouth with his napkin and laid it on the table next to his dish.  "I have an appointment with a real estate agent."
    Francie wasn't surprised, but it was a blow just the same.
    "I'm going to show him the rink," Noah continued.  "Can you be there?"
    "No, I'm busy then."
    Paul broke the tense silence with an admonishing look at his daughter because she hadn't explained further.  "Francie reads to a kindergarten class every Monday afternoon."
    Francie hopped up from her chair and collected her father's dish.  When she reached for Noah's, he said, "I'll bring it in."
    She went to the kitchen and loaded the dishwasher.  Noah placed his plate in the slot behind hers.  "You knew what I intended to do."
    She rearranged a few of the dishes.  "But I thought you might wait a few days, at least."
    His voice came over her shoulder, clear and determined.  "I need to get appraisals.  I have to start somewhere.  If all goes well, I can get it listed by next week."
    The dishes forgotten, she spun around.  "I thought you were going to give me some time to show you—"
    His green regard was as direct as his reasoning.  "With the market the way it is, this could be a long process, Francie.  It could take months.  I have to get the ball rolling."
    Rolling right over her and the rink.  She dropped the silverware into its caddy.
    Ignoring her frosty dismissal, his voice softened.  "Tell me why you read to a