One

Connor Quinn kept himself seated in his leather office chair only by sheer force of will and by clamping his hands on the chair's arms. What he wanted to do was turn his back on this meeting, get up and walk out of the building and over the fields that surrounded Woodland Haven, the Boston orphanage he'd endowed and was now discussing. Or better yet, he'd like to head back to his company, Solutions Unlimited, and his inventions that required no human discourse. But what he really wanted to do was tear the top off his head, scream at the top of his lungs and beat his chest. And all because of a woman.

"Well, a woman and a temporarily misguided board of directors," he muttered beneath his breath, raking the fingers of one hand through his guide dog, Drifter's, silky fur.

Drifter's body shifted. He licked Connor's fingers and resumed his usual resting position on the floor next to his master's feet.

"She can't stay." Connor's voice was colder than it should have been, given the fact that his board of directors was a bit jumpy today, but then who the hell really cared when the welfare of kids was at stake. "Tell her you made a mistake."

The room filled with silence except for the soft whir of the central heating.

Finally a sigh sounded from across the room. Evelyn Wentworth. He recognized the way she let her breath out slowly, as if putting off the inevitable battle. "She has to stay."

Evelyn's tone was that of a woman who had lived a long life and been through many unpleasant situations. "Mr. Briggs left suddenly. Woodland Haven needs a new director now."

"I'm aware of that." Connor moved restlessly and felt Drifter's warm, quiet body beside him, the only calm being in the room. "But it won't be Alyssa Fielding."

"Connor," Gerald Banks began, clearing his throat, "in spite of her public persona, Ms. Fielding is highly qualified. We were lucky to get her, especially on such short notice and with you out of the country on business." A trace of resentment threaded through his words.

Connor blew out a breath. "Yes, I know my being unavailable was a problem. Doesn't matter. And we'll find someone else. Won't be your headache. I'll find someone."

The sound of a chair scraping and heavy footsteps circling the room signaled Barry Edwards's pacing. "Connor, we know you want the best for the orphanage, but…How shall I put this? You're asking too much. The last two directors have—"

"Left because I'm too demanding and a pain in the butt. Yes, I know that. I helped hire them. That didn't mean they were right for the job. They seemed right at first, but that was a mistake. Their careers mattered more to them than the kids. There were oversights. This time there are no mistakes, no oversights. Alyssa Fielding isn't coming to Woodland Haven."

"Connor?" James Riley's voice bore traces of exasperation as well as something else. Amusement?

"What?"

"She's scheduled to arrive in two minutes."

Connor felt his wristwatch. Two minutes to ten. He'd barely been back two hours. "Hell, you could have waited."

"Not after the teachers threatened to strike if we didn't either bring you back to handle things or get someone in there."

Connor knew James was right. "Fair enough. I'll handle things now. You can all go. I'll let you know the outcome of the interview."

"There's a chance you'll keep her."

"No chance. If we let Alyssa Fielding in here, you know what will happen. Woodland Haven will be on the front pages of the tabloids. The paper will turn the orphanage into a freak show."

It was what he'd fought against ever since he'd taken over the facility. The last thing he wanted was for the Haven to become a hell for those kids. Having anyone notorious or famous associated with the orphanage was too big a risk.

That was part of the reason why he never let anyone know much about the inexplicable differences, other than his blindness, that separated him from the rest of the world. His colleagues may have suspected. They probably did, given the complex nature and the number of his inventions. He did have a bit of a reputation, in spite of his efforts to keep to himself. But no one really knew just how different he was. They weren't going to. Ever. He didn't want the publicity.

Not that publicity was his only reason for maintaining silence regarding his abilities, but all the other reasons were personal, and he wasn't about to go there again. Better to just concentrate on the current situation.

Woodland Haven was quiet; it was a refuge. It had to be that.

Which meant one thing was certain. Alyssa Fielding would enter and leave the Haven faster than the speed of sound.

"Mr. Quinn will see you now."

Alyssa thanked the receptionist and moved toward the office door the woman indicated just as a stream of people exited the same office. She recognized all of them, had interviewed with them just yesterday.

"Hello," she said.

Muffled greetings ensued, but not hearty greetings. As Evelyn Wentworth passed by, she took Alyssa's hand in both of hers.

"Don't let him cow you. He's in a heck of a bad mood."

A jolt of shock went through Alyssa. "I see." Which was, of course, a lie. She didn't see at all. Connor Quinn was the money behind Woodland Haven. She knew that much, and she knew that he had been out of town during both of her talks with the board. What she didn't know was why Evelyn was warning her about what should have been a routine get-acquainted meeting.

Copyright © 2007 Harlequin Books S.A.