was immediately self-conscious again. “You have a very natural way with children. Did you come from a large family?”
“No. Only child.” He continued to study her, curious about her reaction to the most casual of compliments.
“Really? I wouldn’t have guessed it.”
“Don’t tell me you’re of the school who believes only a woman can relate to children?”
“No, not really,” she hedged, because that had been her experience thus far. “It’s just that you’re particularly good with them. No children of your own?” The question came out quickly, amazing and embarrassing her.
“No. I guess I’ve been too busy being a kid myself to think about raising any.”
“That hardly makes you unusual,” she said coolly.
He tilted his head as he studied her. “Tossing me in with Rad’s father, Hester?”
Something flashed in her eyes. Mitch shook his head as he sipped again. “Damn, Hester, what did the bastard do to you?” She froze instantly. Mitch was quicker. Even as she started to rise, he put a restraining hand on her arm. “Okay, hands off that one until you’re ready. I apologize if I hit a sore spot, but I’m curious. I’ve spent a couple of evenings with Rad now, and he’s never mentioned his father.”
“I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t ask him any questions.”
“Fine.” Mitch was capable of being just as snotty. “I didn’t intend to grill the kid.”
Hester was tempted to get up and excuse herself. That would be the easiest way. But the fact was that she was trusting her son to this man every afternoon. She supposed it would be best if he had some background.
“Rad hasn’t seen his father in almost seven years.”
“At all?” He couldn’t help his surprise. His own family had been undemonstrative and distant, but he never went more than a year without seeing his parents. “Must be rough on the kid.”
“They were never close. I think Radley’s adjusted very well.”
“Hold on. I wasn’t criticizing you.” He’d placed his hand over hers again, too firmly to be shaken off. “I know a happy, well-loved boy when I see one. You’d walk through fire for him. Maybe you don’t think it shows, but it does.”
“There’s nothing that’s more important to me than Radley.” She wanted to relax again, but he was sitting too close, and his hand was still on hers. “I only told you this so that you wouldn’t ask him questions that might upset him.”
“Does that sort of thing happen often?”
“Sometimes.” His fingers were linked with hers now. She couldn’t quite figure out how he’d managed it. “A new friend, a new teacher. I really should go.”
“How about you?” He touched her cheek gently and turned her face toward him. “How have you adjusted?”
“Just fine. I have Rad and my work.”
“And no relationships?”
She wasn’t sure if it was embarrassment or anger, but the sensation was very strong. “That’s none of your business.”
“If people only talked about what was their business, they wouldn’t get very far. You don’t strike me as a man-hater, Hester.”
She lifted a brow. When pushed, she could play the game by someone else’s rules. And she could play it well. “I went through a period of time when I despised men on principle. Actually, it was a very rewarding time of my life. Then, gradually, I came to the opinion that some members of your species weren’t lower forms of life.”
“Sounds promising.”
She smiled again, because he made it easy. “The point is, I don’t blame all men for the faults of one.”
“You’re just cautious.”
“If you like.”
“The one thing I’m sure I like is your eyes. No, don’t look away.” Patiently, he turned her face back to his. “They’re fabulous—take it from an artist’s standpoint.”
She had to stop being so jumpy, Hester ordered herself. With an effort, she remained still. “Does that mean they’re going to appear in an upcoming issue?”
“They just
“No. Only child.” He continued to study her, curious about her reaction to the most casual of compliments.
“Really? I wouldn’t have guessed it.”
“Don’t tell me you’re of the school who believes only a woman can relate to children?”
“No, not really,” she hedged, because that had been her experience thus far. “It’s just that you’re particularly good with them. No children of your own?” The question came out quickly, amazing and embarrassing her.
“No. I guess I’ve been too busy being a kid myself to think about raising any.”
“That hardly makes you unusual,” she said coolly.
He tilted his head as he studied her. “Tossing me in with Rad’s father, Hester?”
Something flashed in her eyes. Mitch shook his head as he sipped again. “Damn, Hester, what did the bastard do to you?” She froze instantly. Mitch was quicker. Even as she started to rise, he put a restraining hand on her arm. “Okay, hands off that one until you’re ready. I apologize if I hit a sore spot, but I’m curious. I’ve spent a couple of evenings with Rad now, and he’s never mentioned his father.”
“I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t ask him any questions.”
“Fine.” Mitch was capable of being just as snotty. “I didn’t intend to grill the kid.”
Hester was tempted to get up and excuse herself. That would be the easiest way. But the fact was that she was trusting her son to this man every afternoon. She supposed it would be best if he had some background.
“Rad hasn’t seen his father in almost seven years.”
“At all?” He couldn’t help his surprise. His own family had been undemonstrative and distant, but he never went more than a year without seeing his parents. “Must be rough on the kid.”
“They were never close. I think Radley’s adjusted very well.”
“Hold on. I wasn’t criticizing you.” He’d placed his hand over hers again, too firmly to be shaken off. “I know a happy, well-loved boy when I see one. You’d walk through fire for him. Maybe you don’t think it shows, but it does.”
“There’s nothing that’s more important to me than Radley.” She wanted to relax again, but he was sitting too close, and his hand was still on hers. “I only told you this so that you wouldn’t ask him questions that might upset him.”
“Does that sort of thing happen often?”
“Sometimes.” His fingers were linked with hers now. She couldn’t quite figure out how he’d managed it. “A new friend, a new teacher. I really should go.”
“How about you?” He touched her cheek gently and turned her face toward him. “How have you adjusted?”
“Just fine. I have Rad and my work.”
“And no relationships?”
She wasn’t sure if it was embarrassment or anger, but the sensation was very strong. “That’s none of your business.”
“If people only talked about what was their business, they wouldn’t get very far. You don’t strike me as a man-hater, Hester.”
She lifted a brow. When pushed, she could play the game by someone else’s rules. And she could play it well. “I went through a period of time when I despised men on principle. Actually, it was a very rewarding time of my life. Then, gradually, I came to the opinion that some members of your species weren’t lower forms of life.”
“Sounds promising.”
She smiled again, because he made it easy. “The point is, I don’t blame all men for the faults of one.”
“You’re just cautious.”
“If you like.”
“The one thing I’m sure I like is your eyes. No, don’t look away.” Patiently, he turned her face back to his. “They’re fabulous—take it from an artist’s standpoint.”
She had to stop being so jumpy, Hester ordered herself. With an effort, she remained still. “Does that mean they’re going to appear in an upcoming issue?”
“They just
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