Page 72 of Win Big

“What?”

“You look cute. Ready to roll?”

“Yup.”

I give him directions to Hope Home. He parks in the lot beside it, turns off the SUV, and opens his door.

“What are you doing?”

“Coming in to help.”

“Oh.” I bite my lip. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to.”

“What if they recognize you?”

“I don’t care.”

I nibble my lip.

“Oh.Youdo.”

“Just... please don’t call me princess. Everyone knows me as ‘Ev.’ You won’t be able to help cook—you have to go through a screening process. But they’ll probably be fine if you help serve.”

He follows me in. I’m greeted by a couple of the staff there—Joan and José—and other volunteers. On Sundays, it’s quite often me, Layla, Robert, and Rufus. I introduce Wyatt as “my friend, who’d like to help serve” and Joan and José shake hands with him, neither of them giving any indication they know who he is.

I head into the kitchen where Layla, Robert, and Rufus are already working.

“Sorry I’m late!” I call to them as I tie the big apron around my waist.

“No worries. We figured you’d show up.” Rufus gives me a big smile.

I put on a pair of latex gloves and set to work chopping up vegetables for a big salad. Rufus is mixing up a bowl of chicken salad to make sandwiches, and Joan is stirring a huge pot of soup. “That soup will be popular today. It’s cold out there!”

I’m aware of Wyatt up front, probably setting tables. I have no idea what he thinks of this, except... he’s here. That’s kind of sweet. He doesn’t have to do this. My heart feels full in my chest and I’m smiling as I work.

I think about last night... about how careful he was with me, and yet when he realized what I like, he gave it to me. He’s generous and thoughtful... and oh God, so sexy. Sex with him was indescribable, more than just a physical experience. I feel like I’ve been changed, like I never knew what sex and intimacy really were, sharing our thoughts and feelings and desires.

Also, my thighs hurt and every time I move it reminds me of everything we did, and I want more.

It’s actually a little scary.

We were just supposed to go on a few dates and maybe get our picture taken a couple of times.

It’s okay. I can do this.

The kitchen is warm and I’m sweaty. I wipe the back of my hand across my forehead, then pick up a huge stainless-steel container of food and haul it out front to the big table where we set up the lunch.

There’s Wyatt... he’s wearing gloves and a hairnet—oh my God!—and sitting at a table talking to Tiana. She’s a regular here, and in the last year her life has totally changed.

“I got sick,” I hear her telling Wyatt. “My doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. Then I couldn’t get out of bed anymore and I missed time from work and I lost my job.”

He shakes his head, listening intently, and my heart does a flip in my chest. I set the tray on the table, but pause to listen.

“I had doctor bills and no money coming in,” she continues matter-of-factly, although I know how hard this has been for her. “I had to give up my apartment. I went to a lady on the street and asked her to give me lessons on how to be homeless.” She chuckles, her dark brown face crinkling as she smiles.

Wyatt’s eyes flash and the corners of his lips turn down. I can tell her story moves him. Hell, it movesme,my throat thickening.

---