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wanted her. Not really. Each had merely taken her in for a while out of a sense of obligation and family
honor.
Emily couldn't think of a single one of her kin who would be happy to have her turn up on their doorstep
again.
The hard truth was, she was alone, flat broke, unemployed and pregnant. And at the end of her rope.
"What's your problem?" Dillon asked. "It seems to me that it all boils down to two choices you either
take a low-paying, back-breaking menial job for slave wages if you can find one or you come to
work for me."
Emily raised her head and sent him an annoyed look.
Unfazed, Dillon cocked one eyebrow. "So? What's it going to be?"
She pressed her lips together and held his gaze, torn. Finally her shoulders slumped and she released a
long sigh. "Very well. I'll take the job," she replied, none too graciously.
The relief that poured through Dillon almost buckled his knees. His instinct was to wrap her in cotton
wool and shield her from all harm and worries. If he had his way she would spend the next nine months
doing nothing but pampering herself and anticipating the arrival of this baby that she had dreamed of
having for so long.
However, the only way that was going to happen was if she'd let him support her, but he knew better
than to even suggest that. At least she'd be working at Maguire Construction. That way he'd be able to
keep an eye on her and make sure she was okay.
"Good. I'm glad we've got that settled," he said in his usual brusque tone. "Now we can get started on
liquidating your assets."
"You mean right now?" She closed her eyes and massaged her temples. "Can't it wait a day or two? I
really don't feel like dealing with this right now."
"Believeme, I hate to press you, Emily. I know you're feeling down, but the truth is, there's no time to
waste." He tapped the file folder spread out in front of them. "According to Larson's records, you've got
several loan payments, two car payments and three mortgage payments due within ten days, not to
mention utilities and other regular monthly expenses."
She shot him an alarmed look. "What! Even if I sold the house tomorrow I wouldn't have the money by
then!"
"I know. What I propose is, for the present, I'll make the payments, and you can reimburse me later."
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"Dillon, I already told you I won't take money from you. It isn't "
"Before you get all bent out of shape, let me assure you, this is just a loan. You'll pay me back out of the
profits from the house."
"But "
"It's the only way, Emily," he insisted. "You have to keep on top of these debts, and at the same time
you have to eat."
Frustrated, she stared at him, grinding her teeth. He could tell that she was searching for an alternative
and drawing a blank. Finally, she sighed. "I guess you're right."
"Good. Now then, the first thing we have to do is get the will filed with the Probate Court. I'll call my
attorney and get him on that today."
"On such short notice?" She gave him a doubtful look. "It seems unlikely that he'd just drop everything to
handle something like this."
"Don't worry. For what I pay him, he'll do it.
"The next step is to put the house on the market. You can't finalize the sale of the house or any other
asset until the will clears probate. However, we can get the ball rolling and line up buyers.
"Unless you have another real estate agent in mind, I can recommend this friend of mine. Lois is a sharp
cookie, and she handles mostly high-end properties like this one. She can probably get you top dollar."
"Fine," Emily replied listlessly. "I don't care who handles it, as long as I can sell it soon. I'll even include
most of the furniture. I need only a few pieces to furnish a small apartment."
The sooner she could get out of this house and put all the memories and betrayal behind her, the better.
In a place of her own she would start fresh and build a new life for herself and her child, with no lying,
cheating man around to break their hearts.
"Good. I'll give Lois a call. She may be able to handle the sale of the beach house, too, although my
hunch is we'll have to find an agent inGalvestonfor that. I'll also see about selling the sailboat and Keith's
Porsche and that Lexus, if that's all right with you."
"Yes, of course. Do whatever you think is best."
Dillon noted her bent head, the utter desolation in her body language, and his heart clenched. Before he
could stop himself he reached out and touched her forearm.
Instantly, her head jerked up.
Her startled stare saddened him. Over the years, to hide his feelings, he had deliberately kept his
distance from Emily, both physically and emotionally, but in doing so he had made her defensive and
wary of him. It was going to take time and tremendous effort to overcome that providing that was even
possible. After what Keith had done, who could blame her if she was leery ofmen. Particularly Maguire
men.
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He sighed and met her wide-eyed gaze with a steady look. "Emily, I know that right now you're hurt and
angry and confused, and rightly so, but it's all going to work out," he said softly. "I promise."
* * *
Over the next six weeks Emily learned firsthand just what a take-charge, dependable man Dillon was.
As he had promised, his attorney, Warren Price, came to the house that very day with some papers for
her to sign and took with him the original copy of the will to file with the Probate Court.
The following morning Dillon's friend, LoisNeeson , swept in on a cloud of perfume and went through
the house like a blond tornado.
From the woman's attitude Emily realized that she and Dillon had once been more than mere friends, and
that Lois would not object to picking up where they had left off.
Emily had known that Dillon dated a lot of women. Only the previous year one of the local newspapers
had done a piece on Houston's most eligiblebachelors, and he had been among the top ten.Which was
hardly surprising. After all, he was a man in his prime who owned and operated a highly successful
business that had made him wealthy. He was also handsome, in a rugged sort of way, and he had a
steely, dangerous look about him that some women found fascinating.
However, Emily had never actually seen Dillon with a woman before, and she couldn't help but be
curious about what type he preferred.
As she showed Lois around the house she experienced a prickle of distaste at the way the woman flirted
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