Page 30 of Fire in My Heart

“You don’t have to feed me.”

Charlotte touched my arm. “Of course I do.”

I’d noticed that Charlotte always invited me in for a meal. Was that manners that had been instilled in her, or did she genuinely want to spend time with me?

Then she wandered toward her car that she’d parked at the barn. I should walk her, but I couldn’t seem to make my feet move. Why had I invited myself over to her house? I had no business spending more time with her than I had to.

Unfortunately, I was starting to enjoy it. But I had to remember I didn’t know her. Not really. Dad said she was hiding from something. I could tell myself I was doing this to find out what, but it was more than that.

Wes appeared at my side. “You have a good time with Charlotte?”

I swallowed down my initial answer which was yes. When had I ever had a good time with a woman? The fact was that I didn’t go on dates or spend time with them outside the bar orthe bedroom. “She did a good job. Remembered everything I taught her about the trees and even cut one down.”

I stalked toward the bailer to make sure things were running smoothly. I couldn’t rest unless I oversaw the operations.

Wes followed me. “I heard she was holding up the line in the parking lot this morning.”

I stopped near the bailer, the sound making conversation difficult. I waited for the tree to be wrapped, then said, “I moved her off parking attendant and let her interview people as they were getting out of their vehicles.”

Wes raised a brow. “I would have thought you’d tell her she should be working, not talking to people.”

“She was collecting information on the customers so she could tailor her marketing efforts.”

“Wow.” Wes rocked back on his heels.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I looked away from the activity so I could scrutinize his expression. He was genuinely surprised.

“I just didn’t think you’d go along with it.”

My jaw tightened. “Dad wants me to work with her.”

“Since when does that mean you’ll do it?” Wes asked.

I felt his gaze on the side of my face. “I’m impressed with what she’s doing so far. I don’t like her ideas, but she’s gathering useful information.”

“She still want you to dress up as Santa?” Wes asked.

“Yes,” I said stiffly.

“You didn’t agree, did you?”

I moved away, done with this conversation. I wanted to shower before I showed up at Charlotte’s place for dinner.

Wes hurried to keep up with me. “You agreed to dress up for Santa photos?”

“Did I have a choice?” I could blame this on my dad, but I still could have said no. Charlotte had me agreeing to do thingsI wouldn’t ordinarily do. I should think about why that was, but I didn’t want to.

“You always have a choice. Isn’t that what you tell the juvenile delinquents you take in?”

My jaw hurt. “I want Dad to be happy.”

“Sure, you do.”

I stopped and swung my gaze in his direction. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You work so hard because you feel like it’s what you have to do.”

“Yeah, for Dad.”

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