I Can Make You Love Me. Karen White-Owens

When my husband and I separated, I needed a regular schedule. I wanted to spend more time with my sons. So I kind of changed careers. Now I run my own nursing and home health care agency. I provide pool nurses to the hospitals and CNAs to seniors.”

      “CNA?” Adam questioned.

      “Certified nursing assistant,” Wynn explained.

      He smiled approvingly. “Entrepreneur. Very impressive.”

      A hint of red crept into Wynn’s cheeks as she muttered modestly, “Something like that. What about you? Are you still in the Detroit area?”

      “No. I moved to West Bloomfield. Bought a house and I commute downtown to work.”

      “How about your mom and dad? What’s going on with them?” she asked before taking a bite out of her sandwich.

      “They split up a few years ago.”

      Wynn gasped. “No way!”

      “Way,” he responded. “Believe me, it shocked the hell out of me, too. It was hard for me to keep my mouth shut. They sold the house, split the profits, and Dad moved to South Carolina. Mom lives in Farmington Hills.”

      She leaned back in her chair. “Really! I would never have thought your parents would separate. They seemed so happy together. I can still remember how your family and mine celebrated birthdays together. And they were always going places with my parents.”

      “I remember that,” Adam admitted, still feeling a twinge of betrayal at his parents’ separation and divorce. It didn’t seem possible that the two people he loved the most couldn’t find the common ground to live together and had instead chose to call it quits. “Yeah, they did. Like you said earlier, things happen. People change. What about your parents?”

      “They sold their house on Outer Drive and moved to Beverly Hills. They live a few blocks from my place.”

      His eyebrows rose and nodded approvingly. “That’s handy.”

      “Yes, it is. Mom’s a lifesaver. She picks my boys up from school and stays with them until I get home from work.”

      “Hey! What about your sister? Where is she these days?”

      “California.”

      Adam sighed. “Don’t tell me she’s pursuing an acting career.”

      She laughed. “Oh, come on. You were way too young to remember how goofy Kayla was.”

      “I remember,” he replied.

      “Originally she moved west to act. But, she met her true love and soul mate and got married. She has five girls and they own a horse ranch.”

      Laughing heartily, Adam shook his head. “She was always the one doing her own thing.”

      “Yeah, you got her. Let’s talk about you for a minute. I mean, look at you. You’re a grown man with a great career and a life of your own. You’re not my little Adam anymore.”

      No. I’m not, he thought, deciding to get to the point. “We have to get together.”

      “That would be nice,” Wynn answered. “Why don’t you come to my place for a barbecue? Bring your girlfriend and I’ll cook for you guys.”

      “No girlfriend right now,” Adam responded quickly as the image of Vivian Manning, his colleague and dinner companion, entered his head. Taking Vivian anywhere constituted a problem. Her jealousy and demanding ways had caused Adam to put an end to their blossoming relationship before it got too intense. Shaking off those thoughts, he returned to the present. Vivian was the last person he wanted Wynn to meet.

      “A barbecue would be great.” Adam opened the briefcase at his side and removed a business card and fountain pen. He turned the card over and scribbled a note. “Here’s my home number. When you decide on a date and time, give me a call.”

      She smiled, finishing the last of her tea. “Will do.”

      “How about you? Can I get one of your cards?”

      “Sure,” Wynn muttered, putting down the styrofoam cup and wiping her hands on a napkin before reaching for her purse. She extracted a card, using two fingers to keep from smearing it with mustard from her sandwich, and handed it across the table to Adam. “My office and cell phone are listed.”

      Adam accepted the card, glanced at the numbers, and slid the card into the breast pocket of his suit jacket.

      They finished their meal with a minimum of conversation. Leaning back in his chair, Adam watched her, enjoying spending time with her.

      After a few minutes, Wynn checked her watch, stood, and took his empty paper plate and her own. She moved to the trash container, discarded the items, and returned to the table.

      “Well, I have to get back to work,” she announced, gathering up her purse.

      He stood and picked up his briefcase, smiling down at the woman. “Wynn, it was great to see you. Don’t be a stranger.” He tapped her purse. “Call me.”

      “I will,” she promised softly.

      Adam grabbed her hand and squeezed it reassuringly, promising, “I’ll talk to you soon.”

      Wynn took a step away and Adam released her hand. She headed for the West Grand Boulevard exit. For the second time that day, he enjoyed watching the seductive sway of her hips as she made her way to the exit. At the door, Wynn turned and waved before leaving the building through the exit.

      He reached for his briefcase and strolled across the lobby in the opposite direction. Thoughts of Wynn Evans filled his head as he stepped onto West Grand Boulevard and made his way across the street to the parking lot.

      Wynn looked beautiful. Everything Adam would have expected and more. He pulled the card from his pocket and glanced at it, taking a look at her business address and telephone number. You’ll be hearing from me, he promised silently, sliding the card back into his pocket.

      Chapter 2

      Wynn and her assistant, Helen Jenkins, worked steadily throughout the afternoon. Between interviewing potential employees and matching several customers with clients, Nursing Solutions had a very productive and financially successful day.

      Around five-thirty Wynn stuck her head out of her office and looked around the empty office lobby. Mozart’s Piano Sonata in C Major swirled around the outer office. “Is it safe to come out?”

      Laughing, Helen ran her hands over her silver, shoulder-length braids, allowing them to slip through her fingers and feather around her shoulders. “Yes, finally.”

      Tired from their busy schedule and happy to see the end of the workday, Wynn sauntered across the room with a bottle of Evian water. She opted to sit on the beige-and-rose-striped chair next to Helen’s cherrywood desk instead of the rose three-cushion sofa against the opposite wall. Wynn massaged the tight muscles at the back of her neck, kicked off her shoes, and dug her nylon-covered toes into the plush beige carpeting. “This has been one busy afternoon.”

      “Yes, it has. Good for business though.”

      “True.” Wynn reached for the applications on Helen’s desk and quickly sifted through them. “Do me a favor.”

      “Sure.” Helen reached for a scratch pad and pencil.

      “When you get in tomorrow, call Harper University Hospital and talk with Purchasing. I had a call from Linda while I was at lunch.” She returned the files to Helen’s in-box, twisted the cap off her water, and took a long swig. “The Nursing Office is scheduling for the weekend and wants to know who we have available to work twelve hours in CCU.”

      “Will do.” Helen scribbled down Wynn’s instructions. “Anyone in particular you want to send?”

      “Don’t send any newbies. We don’t know enough about them. Send