Донна Хилл – Chances Are (страница 10)

Dione closed the door to Theresa’s apartment. “Yes.” She laughed lightly and he realized he liked the sound. “Some more well-kept than others, I’m sad to say. But they’re all one bedroom, fully equipped and furnished when the families move in.”

“Pretty lucky.”

Dione snatched his sarcastic tone right out of the air and tossed it back at him. “I wouldn’t call what these girls go through luck, Mr. Lawrence.”

“What would you call it?” he taunted, suddenly feeling combative. “I mean, here they are, all their needs met, free room and board, built-in babysitter. Ha, it’s almost as if they’re being rewarded for going out and getting pregnant.”

Dione’s eyes flared and she could feel the heat of a nasty volley rise up from the pit of her stomach ready to jump up and smack him dead across his self-righteous face. How many times had she done battle with his type of twisted thinking? More times than she cared to count. Some battles she lost, but there were many more that she’d won. Education was the key and Mr. Garrett Lawrence was in serious need of Awakening 101, straight from the head teacher.

“It’s unfortunate that you feel that way, Mr. Lawrence. I would think that as a professional you’d have to go into every new project with an open mind in order to get the most out of it and not have the work tainted by preconceived notions. I’m hopeful that your time with us here will be enlightening.” She took a breath and put on her best smile. “That’s about it for the tour, and I have a ton of work, as I’m sure you do as well. If you’ll let Brenda know what you need for the public service announcement and when we can get started, I’d appreciate that.” She stuck out her hand.

Reluctantly he took it. He was being dismissed. He would have laughed, but it wasn’t funny.

“Thank you for stopping by.” She ushered him toward the door of the main office. “Bren, Mr. Lawrence needs to give you some information.” She flashed him a smile and had an instant of satisfaction from the stunned look on his face. “Have a good day.” She turned and went downstairs.

For a moment he felt as if he’d been sent to sit in the corner. He could barely concentrate on what he needed to tell this woman in front of him for thinking about Dione and her ability to totally detach herself and make him feel two inches tall, and all with a dazzling smile.

“What day did you want to start?”

Garrett finally focused on Brenda’s patient “he’s slow” expression.

“At least by next week. You, or whoever is going to write it, need to write up a sixty-second script. Say whatever you think will get people to stand up and take notice.”

He heard footsteps in the hall and turned his head toward the door, hoping it would be Dione. It wasn’t.

Returning his attention to Brenda, he noticed she’d replaced her “he’s slow” expression with “now you’re getting on my nerves and I’m trying to be nice.”

“I really think I should explain all of this to Ms. Williams. Especially since—”

She cut him right off. “Dione is very busy. I can assure you, Mr. Lawrence I’m quite capable of delivering the information. If she has any questions, she’ll call you.”

Just how many times would he get stung in one day? Did everyone in this place have the knack for putting you in deep check with the arch of a brow, or a turn of a phrase all done with a smile?

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