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muscles relaxing. For whatever reason, she trusted this man and knew she could rely on him. She needed his expertise. She needed his strength. And she wasn't certain which she needed most.
    "Actually, Mr. Russell..."
    "Just call me Rusty, ma'am."
    "Okay, Rusty. But only if you drop the 'ma'am.' That word makes me feel even older than I am. My name's Kate. My husband, Doug, and I started this business a couple years after we were married. It means a lot to me."
    "I suppose he had some contracts lined up."
    She shrugged. "Some, but we lost them while I was away and there was no one here to fly the schedule."
    "Well, I've got some contacts," Rusty said, leaning forward until his forearms rested on the desktop. "I was a business major in college, so I know a little about marketing, bookkeeping and all the other details of a small, independent company." He glanced down at Kate's expanded waistline, and the twinkle returned to his eyes. "What I don't know about is birthing babies. When is your little one due?"
    "In mid-June, but—"
    "Good. That'll give us at least a month to get used to each other and have you fill me in on all the details of your business operations. Then when the baby arrives, you won't have to worry about things around here."
    Kate blinked, suddenly feeling as if she were the one being interviewed rather than him. "I can't pay you the same salary you were making before," she informed him, bracing herself for his negative response. "But we can work out some sort of commission schedule that could bring your income into the ballpark if we can get this company back on its feet."
    He nodded, seemingly unconcerned at the prospect of a reduced salary. "I suppose I could live with that. It'll keep me motivated to drum up some business, won't it?" His chuckle was contagious, and Kate felt as if a heavy weight had just been lifted from her chest. For the first time in weeks, she could see a ray of light in the darkness.
    The ring of the phone startled her out of her reverie. She picked up the receiver and had to think for a second before she answered, "C-Breeze Transports. May I help you?"
    "I'm calling about a job you have listed in the Houston Post..." a voice on the other end of the line began.
    "I'm sorry, but that position has been filled," Kate answered before dropping the receiver back onto its cradle. Returning her gaze to Rusty, she extended her hand toward him and watched as it was swallowed up in his large, warm grasp. "I'll have to make a couple calls to your references. But if everything checks out and you think you can live with little money and even less benefits, then I'd like to offer you a job with C-Breeze. We can discuss the rest of the details tomorrow."
    Rusty's smile widened as he nodded. "You won't regret it."

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Two
     
     
    Rusty's shiny midnight blue pickup truck was already parked in front of the office when Kate arrived the next day. Even though she was running almost an hour behind schedule, she justified it because it had been late when she left the evening before.
    Although she had already decided to hire Rusty, she knew how important it was that she choose the right person for the job, so she had stayed to make the calls to his former employers. She would have regretted having to change her mind if the reports were not good, but she didn't have to worry. Not only did they give glowing recommendations about him, but they all asked her to pass on their desire that he come back to work for them if he ever left her employ.
    But in all fairness, before Rusty made an actual commitment, she planned on having an in-depth discussion with him that morning about what she hoped to do with the company. With its shaky foundation and her own inexperience, she wouldn't be surprised if he changed his mind before the day was over.
    The baby moved inside her and gave a sharp kick of its tiny foot against her rib cage. Kate covered the spot with her hand and spoke aloud, "Yes, I know