Page 16 of Her Captivated Hero

“I was raised in Missouri. My two aunts would kill me if I failed to live up to the Southern gentleman standard.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I didn’t think Missouri was a Southern state.”

“I grew up in Springfield. According to my great-grandfather who was still alive when I was eight, he said his father and uncles fought for the Confederacy. My aunts only hold onto the Southern etiquette and hospitality something fierce.”

He escorted her out of the condo. Outside, he snagged the umbrella he had left by the side of her entrance.

“You brought an umbrella?”

“There was a possibility of rain. Figured you would have a fancy hairdo, and you do,” he smiled easily. “Give me your keys and I’ll lock your door.”

Riya handed over her keys, then frowned at him when he went to pocket her keys after he locked the door. “Give those back to me.”

“No can do. I have to be able to unlock it when I bring you back.”

“Uhm Gray, isn’t that kind of control freaky?”

“Nope.”

“I can’t believe you said that with a straight face. That is so much being a control freak. Miranda warned me about that.” His gaze slipped sideways and he watched as she thought over a new way to approach him. “Wouldn’t it be more comfortable for me to have the keys in my purse instead of you having them in your pocket?” she reasoned.

“Nope.”

He helped her into the passenger seat, then got into the driver’s seat.

“Is it really important for you to be able to unlock the door for me when we get back?”

Gray liked the fact that she never sounded upset, just curious. It made him relax.

“Yes, it is.”

She sat back in her seat. “Well, okay then.”

* * *

Gray pulledout into the little side street and Riya concentrated on the bougainvillea lining the fences.

“So how well do you know Susan?” Gray asked.

“I’ve been working with her about a year. She’s been a lifeline for me at the lab, and she’s let me babysit for her. Plus she has a dog. And a cat. And a rabbit. I love it over at her house.”

Riya clamped her hand over her mouth. Then immediately took it away to see if any of the lipstick came off. Good it didn’t. It was living up to the hype. But seriously, she needed to stop saying everything that came into her head.

“It sounds like you didn’t come from a large family if you’re so excited about babysitting a girl, a boy, a dog, a cat and a rabbit.”

“How do you know Susan’s kids are a girl and a boy?”

“I met them when they were little.”

“You did?” She looked over at him curiously.

“It’s a long story. So no brothers and sisters, or was it that you were just whisked away for schooling?”

“I was the youngest child of five girls. Amira, my sister closest to me in age is six years older than me. Then when I went to school I was always in grades with older kids, so I didn’t get to interact with kids my own age. Plus, I was so busy studying I didn’t have a chance to do anything like babysit when I was growing up, so spending time with Hope and Jeremy is a pleasure. What about you? Siblings?”

“I was raised by my two aunts, and spent a lot of time over at the Conway’s house. They had three kids and five foster kids, so they really didn’t notice that one more was at their table most nights.” Gray tilted his head. “There’s the church.”

Riya looked and saw the building through a faint haze of drizzling rain. The parking lot was full. Gray drove to the front entrance of the church and idled the car, then pressed a button on his steering wheel.