When Love Comes Home. Arlene James

something?” At her nod, he went on. “Why did you switch counselors?”

      The slowness of her reply told him that she was choosing her words with great care. “My son relates best to men.”

      Dan made a sound somewhere between recognition and conclusion, and Grady knew what he was going to say before he said it. Groaning inwardly, Grady could only listen.

      “I’m wondering if a male in this role is the best choice. I mean, we’ve had experience with this issue ourselves. Our dad’s failure to bring a solid female influence into my brother’s life created some difficulties for him, as they both would tell you.”

      Grady briefly closed his eyes. “I don’t think Vaughn could have a more solid female influence than his mother, Dan.”

      “Right!” Dan waved a hand, swiveling side to side in his chair with what Grady hoped was extreme embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to imply… Actually the situations aren’t that similar. Ours was a male household after our mother died. Grady was only six, so it’s no wonder he never learned how to relate to women.”

      Grady groaned aloud this time. “Thanks loads, Dan,” he rumbled.

      “I—I probably wouldn’t have, either,” Dan went on lamely, “if not for my wife.”

      To Grady’s surprise, Paige Ellis sat up very straight. “Who says Grady doesn’t relate to women?”

      Dan chuckled uneasily, as if he thought she was making a bad joke. When he realized that she was serious, both eyebrows shot straight up into his hairline. Paige glanced at Grady and caught him with his mouth hanging open. She flopped back in her chair, huffing with what sounded suspiciously like indignation.

      “That’s ridiculous,” she scoffed. “I spent at least eighteen straight hours with your brother, and I assure you he’s perfectly capable of relating as well to women as men.” She nodded decisively here and added, “Better, in fact, than a great many men of my acquaintance.”

      Now Dan’s mouth was hanging open. He managed to get it closed, babbling, “Ah. Um, I see. That’s…good.”

      Grady grinned. He couldn’t help it. In fact, a chuckle escaped as he came to his feet. But, it was time to bring this discussion to an end before his brother got the wrong idea.

      “All right. I think we’re through here.”

      “Yes, I really shouldn’t take up any more of your time,” Paige agreed briskly, rising from her chair, “especially since I came in without an appointment.”

      “Think nothing of it,” Dan replied graciously, leaning over the desk to offer her his hand.

      She shook hands, then allowed Grady to steer her toward the door. He did not dare to so much as glance in his brother’s direction as he moved with her across the room and through the next, which was mercifully empty, Janet being away from her desk.

      “It was good of you and your brother to see me on such short notice,” she said as he walked her straight past the receptionist in the outer office and through the door at the glass front of the suite to the bank of elevators beyond.

      “You happened to catch us both free,” he lied, pushing the elevator button. The door slid open at once, and the moment for them to part ways had arrived, but he found himself oddly reluctant to do so. Impulsively, he stepped into the elevator with her, an action which required explanation. Belatedly he provided one, saying, “I’m ready for a cup of coffee. Can I buy you one?”