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“You were a real pain in the butt.”

Rick laughed. “I was late. I came to work drunk.” He squeezed Lupe’s hand. His humor faded. “She left me and Jim fired me, all on the same day. About a week later, Jim came to see me and took me on a little field trip.”

“To the county jail,” Jim said softly.

Heather stiffened in her seat. “Why?”

“To show me where I was headed,” Rick answered. “Guys from the neighborhood had been to jail and they said it was no big deal. They came back with tattoos and stories about how all their friends were there. They made it sound like a party. Jim showed me differently. Then he got me into AA and gave me back my job. Only I always had to work with one of the other guys. I couldn’t even go to the bathroom by myself.”

“Whatever works,” Jim said.

“I nearly quit a couple of times, but pretty soon I found out that when I got some sleep and didn’t come to work drunk, I liked what I was doing and I was good at it. Lupe saw the change in me and agreed to give me another chance. After two years, Jim helped me find the job where I am now.” He looked at his former boss. “I owe you. Anything I can ever do for you, let me know.”

Jim waved off the offer. “All I want is for you to be happy and successful.”

Conversation continued to flow around her, but Heather only listened. She was too surprised by all she’d already learned to try to participate. She knew that Jim liked to help people, but she hadn’t realized how directly he’d been involved in his employees’ lives. If he hadn’t intervened with Rick, there was no telling where the young man might have ended up. By all accounts, he’d made a complete turnaround. Somehow Jim must have known that the young man would respond to his attempts to save him.

She heard a cry from the other room and excused herself. She was in the middle of changing Diane when there was a knock on the open door. Lupe stood there with a shy smile.

“May I see her?” the young woman asked. She was incredibly beautiful, with huge eyes and blue-black hair that hung halfway down her back.

“Sure. This little girl has learned to thrive on attention, haven’t you, sweet cheeks?” Heather smiled when she realized that she’d started using Jim’s endearment for the child. She finished securing the diaper, then snapped Diane’s sleeper into place. She picked up the baby and turned her to face their visitor. “Diane, this is Lupe.”

Lupe giggled and took a tentative step forward. “May I hold her?”

“Sure.”

Heather settled the baby into the young woman’s arms and was instantly aware that Lupe must have been around babies before.

“I have several younger brothers and sisters,” Lupe said, confirming her guess. “My friends who come from large families swear they don’t want many children themselves, but I do.” She smiled sweetly at the baby. “You’re lucky you can bring her to work with you.”

“I know. Jim’s a good boss.”

“Oh, yes.” Lupe’s expression turned almost reverent. “He’s done many wonderful things for Rick. We both admire him very much. He is so kind and giving.”

Jim was darned wonderful. But while Heather wanted to believe that reality was just what it seemed, she couldn’t help thinking there had to be some deep, dark secret he was hiding. No one was that good…were they?

“I think Jim is lonely,” Lupe said. “He doesn’t have a woman.”

“Not one that we know about,” Heather agreed. “That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a private life. Maybe he wants to keep work and his personal world separate.”

Lupe looked doubtful. “I’m not sure. I don’t think he’s been married.”

That surprised Heather. She hadn’t really thought about Jim’s past, but if she had, she would have assumed that some lucky girl had snapped him up years ago. She would have guessed that the bride in question had died or something. Jim didn’t seem like the kind of man a woman would easily let go. Unless the deep, dark secret was really bad. If there was a secret at all. Maybe he was exactly as wonderful as he appeared.

Lupe cooed over Diane. “She’s so pretty and sweet. Rick and I want to wait a while before we start our family. He says he’s making enough money so that when we get married next month, I won’t have to work.” She gave a little giggle of excitement. “I’m going to college. I never thought I could afford it, but Rick says we can. He’s proud that I was accepted and even got a partial scholarship to the local state university. It won’t be easy, but I’ve always wanted to get my degree.”

“Sounds like the two of you have some wonderful plans. I’m sure they’re all going to happen exactly as you want.”

“Thank you. I hope so.”

Heather had to quell a flash of envy. There had been a time when she’d been young and naive, facing a future she’d been sure was full of promise. Everything had changed, of course. But could she lay all the blame at Peter’s door? Hadn’t some of the fault been hers?

“Rick has proved himself to be a good man,” Heather said. “When the going got tough, he didn’t run away. He worked through his problems. When you two have difficulties, he’ll do the same. That’s what’ll matter. If you are both willing to try, then you can survive anything.”

Lupe smiled, then held out her arms. “She’s fallen asleep.”

Heather laughed. “Of course she has. It’s daytime. She likes to be up at night, the little stinker.” She took her daughter and placed her back in the crib, then smoothed the blanket over her.