Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 57576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
“You can’t just be celibate for the rest of your life.” I shift in my chair. “And you can’t pretend there’s anyone you’re more compatible with than me.”
Reese holds my gaze for a second before saying, “Are you talking about just sex? Like…friends who also have sex?”
“No. Like friends who go on dates and have sex and don’t see other people.”
“That’s a relationship.” She gives me an exasperated look.
“Look, let’s start with a date. One date.” I hold out my index finger for emphasis. “What can I do to convince you to let me take you out on one date?”
She considers my proposition briefly before saying, “There is one thing.”
“What? I’ll do it.”
“I could use about two hundred thousand dollars to save the programs being cut at the shelter.” Her expression is smug, like she knows she just got out of the date because there’s no way that’ll happen.
“Two hundred thousand? For the Women’s Mission?”
“Not really. I mean, that’s really how much funding they lost, but I’d never ask you for that kind of money. I’d never ask you for any money, actually.”
“I can do that.”
She shakes her head. “I was joking, Knox. I never should’ve said anything about it, that’s my fault.”
I pull my cloth napkin from my lap and set it on the table, sitting back in my chair. “I’m serious. I can bring them a check tomorrow.”
“No,” Reese says emphatically. “You’re not giving them the money, and I’m not going out with you. Let’s move on to something else.”
“Reese, just listen to me. I’ve got lots of money saved. I’m a bachelor and I’ve been playing in the NHL for eight years now. If this would save your friend’s job and make you happy…I want to help.”
Her eyes swirl with emotion as she looks at me silently for a few seconds, before saying, “Thank you for that. It’s incredibly generous of you, truly. But I don’t want…I mean, I don’t know what the future holds for us, and I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”
My heart sinks. “You’re saying you’ll feel like you can’t dump me if I’ve given that kind of money to your cause?”
“No.” She closes her eyes, looking pained. “I mean, I don’t know. I just think it would be too…tangled, to have you bailing out the shelter like that. I honestly was just joking when I said it.”
“It’s probably a tax write-off for me. And it would come with no strings attached.”
She smiles at me. “From the first time I met you, you’ve reminded me that there are good people in this world. People who aren’t always just looking out for themselves.”
“Does that mean yes to the money?”
“No. But thank you for the offer. It means more than I can say.”
I slouch in my seat slightly, feeling defeated. “So you’re just going to let your friend lose her job? And let the programs get cut? Are your classes part of the cuts?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
We sit in silence as I think about it.
“You said this is federal funding, right?”
She nods.
“Our new team owner is a mega rich businessman with lots of political contacts. Want me to see if he’ll make some calls?”
“From what I’m told, the budget we’re allowed is already decided for this year. The shelter has its funding through the end of October, and that’s it. He might be able to help with getting it reinstated next year, though.”
The wheels are turning in my mind. “Okay, so I’ll have Durand see if he can get it reinstated next time around. As for this year, our team has a foundation that raises money for charities. Let me talk to Mia about putting something together for the shelter.”
Reese looks stunned, her lips parted. “Do you think it’s possible? It wouldn’t give her much time.”
“Let me see what she can do, okay? And if we get the money raised, I’m taking you out on a date. Deal?”
Her grin is just like the one she gave me that day on the beach in Kauai. Playful, but also a little bit hopeful. It’s the smile of a woman who hasn’t given up on love just yet.
“Okay,” she says softly.
Finally. I’ll do whatever it takes to make this fundraiser happen, because if I can’t find a way to make Reese my girl soon, I’m gonna lose my damn mind. I think about her night and day.
“May I interest you in dessert?” our server asks as he approaches our table.
I look at Reese, who wrinkles her nose.
“Just the check, please,” I say.
After he walks away, she leans across the table and whispers, “I tried their dessert last time I came, and it was terrible.”
I quirk a brow. “Was it, or do you just have high standards?”
“Probably both,” she admits. “I was thinking we’d sneak in the back door of Magnolia and get one of my chocolate baskets. If you have time.”