How Sweet It Is by Bonnie Blythe Page A

the papers, took a deep breath, and began her
presentation.
     
    Brad listened to Delphine’s proposal with
half an ear while the rest of him admired the lovely picture she
made. Her silky hair had been smoothed up into a sleek chignon. He
noticed her black eyes had a hint of brown translucence when the
light hit them just right. Her delicate features coupled with such
large dark eyes gave her a vulnerable air.
    His gaze dropped to her lips. They looked so
soft. Just the way he remembered they’d been in Brussels. His hand
went up to his cheek where she’d slapped him. Despite her
appearance of vulnerability, Brad knew good and well she was a
spitfire—definitely not someone to be trifled with.
    He realized Delphine had stopped speaking.
She sat with her hands folded in her lap, giving him a questioning
look. “Well?”
    Brad cleared his throat, chagrined to be
caught staring. Scooting forward to the edge of the couch, he
sifted through her paperwork, scanning it as he went. “I’m
impressed.”
    He was . She’d obviously gone to a lot of
effort, and her proposal had been competently assembled.
    She gave him a relieved smile. “I took a
couple of business classes at a community college several years ago
which helped, I think. And I used the library computer to put it
all together.”
    Brad smiled back. “It shows. I do have a
couple of suggestions however.” When he saw her face fall, he
added, “Things I know that will sweeten the deal with my dad. Uh,
no pun intended.”
    Delphine smiled weakly. “Oh, okay.”
    “C’mon, we’ll go use the computer in the
den.”
     
    ****
     
    Delphine spent the next few hours next to
Brad in front of the computer on a narrow piano bench, which he
apparently deemed superior to two chairs next to each other. She
sat pressed up against him from shoulder to knee, making it very
difficult for her to concentrate on the figures on the monitor. But
after printing out what seemed to be reams of paper, she knew that
Brad’s effort had filled out and polished her proposal in ways she
hadn’t thought of.
    All at once, she wondered why he was helping
her. Did he go to the same effort for all strangers—for all damsels
in distress? And did he have a girlfriend? The thought sent an
unexpected wave of jealousy through her.
    She knew her envy was misplaced. Brad was a
flirt, a highly attractive flirt, who would soon tire of the
novelty of being a kind of Lord Bountiful. And horror of horrors,
he might even turn into a villain like Snidely Whiplash, demanding
payments if her business failed.
    Delphine shuddered at the melodramatic
thought. Hopefully, her figures for the business were conservative
and reasonable for the repayment of the potential debt.
    Just as Brad slid the improved paperwork back
into the envelope, his parents returned home. Delphine recognized
his mother when she came into the den. She startled Delphine by
giving her a hug.
    “It’s so nice to see you again,” she said,
wrapping her in a cloud of expensive perfume. After releasing her,
she sent her a speculative gaze. “Do you like Tex-Mex food? I
thought of making a French meal but decided it wouldn’t compare
with what you’re probably used to. So I thought to make American,
well, Tex-Mex, like it’s called, to give you some local flavor. Of
course, we’re not actually in Texas, but I’m sure you know what I
mean.”
    “Mom,” Brad said, sounding amused, “Delphine
is American. French-American, I guess.”
    Elaine Larsen furrowed her brow. “Is there
such a thing as French-American food? Like Tex-Mex, maybe it’s
called Fren-ican or Amer-ench. Do you like French fries?”
    Delphine covered her mouth with her hand to
stifle a nervous giggle.
    Brad groaned. “You’re frightening the guest.
And since I know she’s anxious to give her pitch to Dad, why don’t
you get started on whatever it is we are having for dinner.”
    Delphine heard the deep affection in Brad’s
voice, which softened his words.