Page 10 of The Taste of Charity
I shake my head quickly. “No way. I’m not hiring someone who probably doesn’t know a damn thing about this kind of work.”
“Don’t be so damn stubborn. She might not know all of this right now but I guarantee she’s a quick study and she needs this. It could get her back on her feet.”
I grumble under my breath and she grins. “Is that a yes?”
“Fine. We’ll go over there tomorrow and see if we can find her. But I’m only going to give her a trial. And if she doesn’t work out, I’m not going to feel guilty for canning her.”
“Yes, you will,” she smirks.
She’s right. I fucking will. I’m a damn pushover for anything this freaking woman wants from me.
But I can’t tell her no for any reason when she shoots me those dancing eyes and smiles like she doesn’t have a care in the world. Like she wasn’t crying on my shoulder a month ago. Like she wasn’t a damn broken doll.
Like she wasn’t grieving a loss so horrific that most people wouldn’t have been able to crawl out of bed or a bottle.
And yet, she went and found a purpose at that kitchen. She believed in some force stronger than her. Some force that had a reason for completely wrecking her life. She may have initially meant to get hurt…I can see it in her eyes occasionally, the need for penance. The need to escape the past and bury herself in the horror of what happened.
But lately all I see is a woman so damn strong that it’s fucking humbling. She stands tall, barely five foot two if that, but she stands up and fights for others with more determination and humanity than anyone I’ve ever seen and its fucking got me hard as a rock half the time.
Which says a lot about me, right? She’s fighting for homeless people and the forgotten and I just want to bury my aching dick in her until she’s screaming for me.
On the other side of the coin, I feel the need to take care of her in all ways. Debauched and innocent.
“Hey? Where’d you go? We still have work to do tonight? I want to take another look at that filing cabinet and see if there’s anything I need to tell Brook. Anything specific she needs to look for.”
She turns away and I grab her arm, surprised when she gasps and her cheeks flush. I can feel her warm skin under my fingers. Can feel the tiny shivers when I touch her.
“Let’s leave it for tonight. I want to take you out. We’ve been spending all this time together and yet we’ve never gone out. I want to take you out, all dressed up, and make you feel as good as you’ve made me feel.”
“That’s not necessary, Jameson. We’re friends. I don’t do things for you so that you repay me or take me somewhere fancy to eat. I do it because I like helping you.”
“I know that. But I want to do this. And by the way…I don’t think I mentioned going somewhere fancy. I want to take you to my favorite place to eat.”
Her dark brow quirks up and I see a little lip twitch and a smirk takes over my lips. I know she’s going to say yes. I can see the curiosity on her face. She can’t resist the lure of finding out more about me. And in the meantime she gives me a little bigger glimpse into the fascinating woman that she is.
“Fine.” A tinkling laugh makes me grin wickedly. “Only because now you’ve got me curious.”
I lead her out of the shop, locking the door behind me. Pulling her along by her hand, I chuckle and then wrap my arms around her. “Oh, Uptown. You’ve let me see the first chink in your armor. Now I know how to always win when I want something.”
Her full lips pout and she groans. “That’s cheating. You can’t use a flaw against me.”
“All’s fair in love and war.”
“Which is this? Love or war?” She stops and shakes her head. “Nope, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.”
I lean over and whisper in her dainty ear. “Love. With you it will always be love, princess.”
I see her shiver and a frown crosses her face. I back off and let her dance away from me. It’s too soon. I shouldn’t push her like this. But I freaking want this woman and I can’t hold it back anymore. My head and heart are completely at odds. My head knows it’s too soon but my heart tells me that I’m not going to win her over if I don’t do my best to hold her attention. Hold her heart like the precious gem that it is.
“Now. Just so you know. I expect you to dress up a little bit but jeans are still required. And a sweater because it’s a little chilly tonight.”
“Are we walking? Is it close?”
“Huh-uh. No more information for you until I come pick you up at 7 tonight.”
“I can meet you there,” she growls and I see her guard going back up.
“No. This is a traditional date and I’m going to do all the things a man does for a woman when he respects and admires her.”
