| Copyright © 2005, Bonnie
Hamre Reviews For JOYS OF HOME by Bonnie Hamre "Hannah is very interested in her career, and Linc, with his farming roots, feels that wives should be home with their children. They are very likeable characters, and readers will be hoping they can settle their differences and get together. JOYS OF HOME is an easy to read book about love and family. It is well written and will keep readers’ interest throughout. Linc enjoys family, becomes good friends with Hannah’s three brothers, and is coming to terms with the tragedy in his life. The caring between Hannah and Linc is very powerful and continues to sizzle and grow the more they work together. The secondary characters enhance the story, including their friend, Pam; their boss who wants a one-of-a-kind daycare center; and Hannah’s family, who love and protect her. A heart-warming love story, JOYS OF HOME is a feel-good book and one that readers are sure to enjoy." Marilyn Heyman, Romance Reviews Today "Bonnie Hamre creates a splendid romance about two professional people with personal problems facing real issues that almost every woman in life struggles over. She has penned a story showing how differences can be worked out if a person sets their mind to it. This was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and one that many can relate." Reviewed by: Linda L 5 Angels Fallen Angel Reviews "Bonnie Hamre has done a wonderful job in creating a story that draws the readers in and keeps their attention with detailed characters, a fast moving plot, and lots of sexual tension. I highly enjoyed watching Hannah and Linc come together in their struggle to overcome their pasts and learn to love each other. The love and passion between them was touching and sexy. Joys of Home is a delightful romance that I give 4 Angels."
Reviewed by: Tammy 4 Angels, Fallen Angel Reviews Sample Chapter For JOYS OF
HOME by Bonnie Hamre
“You’d better go in before he starts bouncing off the wall.” Hannah Martinson acknowledged Dennis Platt’s secretary with a jaunty, but false grin. Dennis didn’t call her in unless something serious was up. What could the boss want? There hadn’t been any emergencies this morning. All her projects were on schedule and they had their regular staff meeting scheduled that afternoon. She squared her shoulders, tapped on the door and swung it open. Dennis waved her in. Instead of the impatient frown she expected, he smiled, making his face look boyish and excited. Hannah relaxed. He was in a good mood. There was never any doubt about the way Dennis felt about something. He had a determined ruthless streak that served him well owning and directing a tremendously successful company. Dennis had survived the downsizing of the industry and the off-shore labor trend. Yet he’d never learned how to control his facial expressions and body language. Or maybe he’d never felt the need to mask his emotions. When he was pleased, he showed it. When he was disappointed, angry or dissatisfied, he showed that, too. Dennis stood and came around his desk, then stopped and beckoned someone forward. “I want you to meet Linc Adams here.” A tall, lean man with russet streaks in his dark hair rose from an armchair, towering over Dennis. Hannah automatically gave him her hand as she eyed the information on his employee badge. His picture, name, department and date of hire, only a few weeks before. She knew the department number, one of the engineering group. What was going on? Though she wasn’t in staffing, she knew most of the people working at LuxMax, at least by name. Why was Dennis introducing them? He didn’t and couldn’t take the time to introduce his employees to each other, especially if they didn’t both work directly for him. She glanced up, puzzled, and noted the new man’s dark brown eyes fixed on her intently. “I’m Hannah Martinson. Welcome aboard.” “Thanks.” He released her hand and smiled. “I’ve been hearing about you.” “Oh?” Hannah felt herself responding to his smile, sweet and gentle, a contrast to the strong planes and contours of his tanned face. Traditionally handsome he wasn’t, but she doubted any woman would fail to take a second look. There was something elementally masculine about him. She had no idea how she could be sure about it without exchanging more than the basic courtesies, but she sensed he’d be a man with a strong foundation. A man to trust. His smile grew warmer. “Dennis said something about working together.” “Linc comes to us highly recommended,” Dennis cut in. “We’re lucky to get him.” He turned to Linc. “Like I said, Hannah manages the Special Projects group.” Linc nodded. “I’m impressed.” “Okay, okay, now we all know each other.” Dennis bounced on his toes, his eyes bright. “You were right, Hannah. We need to revamp the daycare center.” Hannah switched her attention from Linc
to Dennis. “Great! That area is too small—” Hannah’s breath quickened. She’d campaigned for more space and functionality, marshalling her arguments and citing meticulously researched rates of return on investment, but what Dennis described was so much more. A vision of what she could do danced before her. The employees would love it! This was a plum assignment, one she could really sink her teeth into, prove to Dennis that he was right in trusting her. Prove to him also that she was ready for the next rung up the management ladder. “Thanks, Dennis. This means a lot to me. I won’t let you down.” She gestured at Linc, including him in her appreciation. “We’ll do our best.” “Whoa.” Linc put up his palms. “Count me out.” Dennis bounced once more then came to rest, like a spinning top winding down. “Did I hear you right?” “I can’t do this.” “You mean you haven’t done this before?” Dennis frowned up at the younger man. “You know building codes, right?” “Well, of course, that’s my job, but—” “But nothing,” Dennis shot back. “You’ve won awards. Aren’t you associated with that group in Stanford? Integrated Facility Engineering?” When Linc nodded, he added, “So this is child’s play compared to some of the other things you’ve done. How difficult can it be?” “That’s not the issue.” Linc’s face closed up. “I’m not the man you need.” “What’s the problem here?” Hannah slanted a quick glance at Dennis, saw his eyebrows drawing together. “Back in a moment, Dennis.” She grabbed Linc’s arm and propelled him out of Dennis’ office and into her own. “What on earth are you doing?” she hissed as she closed the door behind them. “If you don’t accept this assignment, you can kiss your paycheck good-bye.” Linc’s lips tightened. “So I’ll find another job.” She wanted to shake some sense into him, but settled for propping her fists on her hips. “What will it look like on your resume if you’re fired right after you were hired?” “Some things are too important to compromise.” “What things?” He closed his eyes. He looked like a man in pain. “Is it because you’ll be working for me?” she probed, even as she suppressed a flare of male-female fascination. “You don’t like working for women?” His eyes opened slowly. “I wouldn’t expect any problems working with you.” So, the interest was mutual. Too bad. “Well, what is it then?” “It’s personal.” “Important enough to risk your career?” She gestured at a chair. “You know how hard it is to get hired here? How many other guys would give an arm and a leg to be in your shoes?” He remained standing to lift a foot. “Shoe.” “What?” “They’d need only one shoe.” Hannah blinked. “The man’s job is on the line and he’s cracking jokes. Bad jokes.” She threw up her hands. “Look, talk to me. You can’t refuse this assignment.” “Dennis can get someone else.” “But he picked you. Surely that means something.” “It means a lot.” The planes of his face tightened, the brief moment of levity forgotten. “Anything else, I’d be only too happy.” “Why not this?” “Children shouldn’t be parked in daycare centers,” he stated flatly. “They should be home with their mothers.” She sucked in her breath. “Excuse me?” Words like chauvinistic, retrograde, alpha male, throwback, caveman came to mind. Hannah stared at him, taking in his crossed arms, his set jaw. “It’s not a matter of choice for a lot of people. Women have to work. It’s an economic necessity.” “I know that. I’ve worked with a number of women. All very good at their jobs. This isn’t about women working.” He paused. “I also know that if women have children, then they have to take care of them.” “By staying at home?” “At least until they’re old enough to look after themselves. Then their mothers can go back to work.” She stared at him, thinking of the problems re-entry women faced getting their careers back on track, trying to bridge the salary gap. He seemed totally rational, an attractive intriguing man with an inexplicable time warp to his thinking. “I suppose you have reasons for thinking this way?” His face tightened, cheeks turning hollow, almost gaunt. “The best.” Hannah studied his expression. She was sympathetic to whatever made him hurt, but she had LuxMax employees to consider. She kept her voice even and cool. “Daycare is necessary, Linc. Quality daycare is crucial.” She paused, gathering her arguments. “It makes sense to provide it on company premises. Our center operates on hours to suit employee work schedules, not the other way around.” Linc considered that. “Okay. I can see where that benefits the company. Employees work longer hours, productivity goes up. Men could do the same if their wives were home taking care of the kids in the first place.” “The man lives in fantasy land. Nice little Harriet Housewife, white apron and all.” Hannah took three steps in one direction, then turned and stomped back. “I suppose you’re looking for that white picket fence and all the trimmings?” “Sounds good to me,” Linc replied stiffly. “Did you spring full-grown from under a cabbage leaf?” The frown disappeared as his lips twitched. He laughed and patted the top of his head. “Look, no leaf.” She fought a grin. Now was no time to find him appealing, not when she had to convince him to take the assignment. Not if they might be working together. “Think of it as a project like any other,” she coaxed. When he shook his head, she continued, a little more vehemently. “Don’t you understand how important this is? Dennis prides himself on his employee programs. If he wants something, he gets it.” “Not this time. Not from me.” “Why are you being so stubborn? Isn’t there some way we can work it out?” Linc leaned forward, looking directly into her eyes. “For reasons I do not intend to go into, I cannot and will not take this assignment.” “Well, there goes any possibility of negotiation,” Hannah sighed, defeated by his bleak expression. “You win.” Whatever his reasons, they were strong. “I’ll see what I can do to square things with Dennis, but I—” “Whoa. I don’t need you to run interference for me. Dennis can assign me to another project.” She blew out an exasperated breath. “You don’t get it, do you? Dennis is more likely to call Security to escort you out the door.” “I’ll take my chances.” Linc walked down the hall. She watched him knock, then enter Dennis’ office. She waited, expecting an explosion, as the door closed behind him. It reopened suddenly. Dennis poked his head through the doorway and saw her. “Good. You’re still here. Come talk some sense into Adams.” “I tried. Maybe someone else could take the project?” “I want him. I want my daycare center open and ready for business by January second.” “January,” Hannah echoed. “That’s only three and a half months away! Impossible.” Dennis narrowed his eyes. “You’re the boss on this one. Make it happen.” * * * * Make it happen. Just how was she supposed to do that when the other half of her new team refused to play ball? Hannah curled into her mother’s chintz-covered couch and toyed with a glass of wine. She hoped Linc Adams would have a change of heart. His references and recommendations were top-notch. His previous employer had all but cried over losing him. No wonder Dennis wanted him. Dorothy Martinson sighed, loud enough to catch Hannah’s attention. “I thought you came to see me?” “Sorry, Mom.” Hannah sipped her Chardonnay, then made room for the glass among the photographs on the cherrywood end table. Posed wedding photos of her brothers, candid family shots, school pictures, but none older than fifteen years. None of the pictures showed them as toddlers. None of her father. “Dennis okayed the daycare extension. He wants to go all out, gave me an open budget.” Hannah couldn’t believe it. A smile grew as excitement frolicked through her. She’d won! Now it was time to show Dennis what she could do. It was the perfect opportunity for her, and through her, for every employee with child care needs. She took a deep breath. “That’s good. I take it you’re pleased?” Hannah grinned. “Oh yeah.” Even though Dennis hadn’t stipulated any amount, she’d need to be careful, prove she could handle the company’s assets sensibly. She had all the clearance she needed, except for Linc. “The guy Dennis assigned refused the job. Can you believe it? Dennis didn’t exactly say ‘or else,’ but he expects me to convince him.” “How odd.” Dorothy tilted her head. “Why did he refuse?” “He didn’t say why. Just that he’s opposed to daycare centers. That kids belong at home with their mommies. Daddies go to work,” Hannah parodied and recounted her conversation with Linc Adams. “He sounds like your father, dear.” Dorothy’s voice grew pensive. “Didn’t want me to do anything except look after you kids. And then…” Hannah knew what she meant. George Martinson had walked out when she was eight, leaving his family destitute. Dorothy had done what she could, but despite her love and best intentions, she hadn’t been able to undo the damage of being abandoned. Hannah’s brothers, being older, took the brunt of it, but her father’s defection had left scars on the entire family. Even now, she tried to ignore the deep ache within her. “There’s something Linc’s not telling me.” Hannah pushed hurtful memories away as she recalled the pained expression on Linc’s face. “It had better be worth jeopardizing his job.” “You have to admire him, though. Standing up for his convictions. Not a lot of people do anymore.” Hannah considered. “I guess. The best I could do was convince him to think about it overnight. If he says no…” her voice trailed off as she considered the possible outcomes. None sounded encouraging. “And if he says yes?” Dorothy prompted. “I don’t see that happening. He was so inflexible.” She hesitated. “He seems an upright kind of guy, for being so stubborn. Intelligent. Funny. He has a great smile. He made me laugh.” “Nothing wrong with that. Maybe he’d add a little excitement to your life.” “If he were going to be around. And if I were looking, I’d go for someone who doesn’t turn down a good thing. That doesn’t sound responsible to me. And speaking of reliability, that’s something my brothers—” Dorothy sighed. “Don’t get started on them.” “Look at them.” Hannah ignored her mother’s interruption. “A firefighter who’s never home. A sportscaster who worries more about his ratings than his marriage, his third marriage at that. And Bill, the Super Stud. Just because he’s a market analyst, it doesn’t mean he has to sample every woman he meets!” “Well, they do have their moments,” Dorothy murmured. “But we’re talking about you. What’s Linc like? Is he married?” “I checked his file,” she admitted. “He’s single.” “So you are interested—” “I was looking for something that might help explain his attitude.” “And what else?” “Mom,” Hannah warned. “We might be working together. That’s all.” She didn’t sound convincing, even to herself. She kept remembering her first impressions of him. Tall, lean and compelling, he’d tweaked a few strings inside her. She’d have to watch that. Instead of watching him. His nose had an interesting notch to it, making her wonder if he’d been born that way or owed the redesign to contact sports. The latter, she decided, as she thought of his long, muscular body. The thought of that body, naked and open to exploration, caught her short. For a moment, she toyed with her imagination…Wasn’t going to happen! Think about something else. She liked the way he wore his hair, styled close to his head in a no-nonsense cut, in keeping with his straightforward masculinity. Pity he was being so hard-headed. “You’re sure about that?” Dorothy asked. “You sound different when you talk about this guy.” Her mother was much too observant. “Even if I did want to start something with him, I don’t have the time. Dennis is cutting us no slack.” * * * * Linc stretched his arms over his head, flexing muscles cramped from too many hours in his home office. He shut down his computer and wished he could turn off his thoughts as easily. He’d let his emotions get the better of him. He’d left San Diego to get away from the unbearable reminders, but this was salt in the wound. He’d dreamed of working for LuxMax. And now this. Talk about a kick in the teeth. And Hannah. She’d looked at him with those clear green eyes and made him feel two inches high. What a blockhead he’d been. Dennis had told him enough about the Special Projects group for him to understand the scope of Hannah’s responsibilities. Though she was young, probably not yet thirty, for a job with that much accountability, Dennis Platt must think very highly of her. She was smart, quick-thinking and loyal. And too damn attractive. Sexy and intelligent. He should have explained it to her, made her understand that it wasn’t some macho belief in the superiority of men, a me-man you-woman thing, that fueled his objections to the project she was so excited about. No wonder, a free hand and an open budget—projects like this didn’t come along very often. It could open a lot of doors for both of them. It made his stomach roil. He had to turn it down. Anything else and he’d jump at the chance to strut his stuff. Even though he’d promised Hannah he’d sleep on it, nothing was going to change between now and tomorrow morning. He couldn’t do it. Couldn’t force himself to handle the memories and the grief, couldn’t expose himself to any more. He stood abruptly, almost knocking over his desk chair. He paced from one side of his home office to the other, his thoughts and desires pressing in from all sides. He had to do it. He needed this new job to make a new life for himself, to move beyond his past and concentrate on the future. He’d left everything behind to make a clean sweep. If he didn’t do it, he was out of a job and back to square one. He could find another job. He was good at what he did, but he’d be shooting himself in the foot. If he did it, he’d have to force himself to function, to keep from remembering. Could he do it? Could he concentrate on the facilities? Separate the man from the engineer? Focus only on the physical…Images of Hannah’s slender body flooded his mind. Legs that went on forever, silky black hair swinging around her face, first concealing, then revealing high cheekbones, a small straight nose and those surprising green eyes. Her suit jacket had covered the curves, but he’d bet they were as impressive as her legs. Linc jerked his thoughts away from Hannah. He wanted friends, and maybe a relationship down the road, but he didn’t trust that surge of feeling he’d experienced earlier. Too much, too soon. Still, this was the first time since…since then, that he’d felt anything below the belt. He’d tried once or twice to make something happen with other women, but only embarrassment had come of those experiences. And now, when he least expected it, Linc felt himself come alive. He’d felt interest and arousal and the strong desire to get to know Hannah Martinson better. A whole lot better. And that was making this decision ten
times more difficult than it was already. He was damned if he did. Damned if he didn’t. What a mess. |