Page 45 of Resisting Fate
“That must’ve cost a lot,” Missy put in, thinking of the e-readers.
Hailey smiled brightly. “See what can happen when the community comes together for a great cause?”
Lexi piped up. “We all know it was you who made it happen not the community.”
Hailey’s lashes fluttered down before modestly claiming, “I might’ve gotten it started, but they did the rest.”
Not only had Hailey reached into her own pocket to buy food and toys (and probably the e-readers too) to start the giving campaign, she’d also taken lots of pictures and posted them on social media and in flyers around town with the headline “Clover Park giving is piling up the joy!” The woman was a dynamo and as beautiful on the inside as the outside, which was a lot.
“You know what, Hailey?” Missy said. “I’m going to volunteer the entire weekend—from setup to cleanup. As long as you’re working, I’ll be there.”
Hailey squealed.
“Many hands make light work,” a warm masculine voice said from behind Missy.
The hair on the back of her neck stood up. Ben appeared at her side, flashing a sexy dimpled smile before turning to her friends. “Hello, ladies,” he said in a warm honey tone that immediately set Missy on edge. She wasn’t about to stand by while he flirted with her friends in front of her. If she and Ben were going to be friends, then there had to be some ground rules—no flirting, no kissing, nonothingwith another woman in front of her.
Oh, God. I want him all to myself. The uncharacteristic jealousy did not sit well with her.
“Hi,” Lexi and Hailey both murmured, looking from him to Missy curiously. She hadn’t shared with her friends about their hookup, though they knew she was temporarily working for him.
“Hello,” Sabrina caroled.
She worked hard to appear unaffected by Ben standing next to her, but she could feel the heat in her cheeks, her entire body in overdrive, nerves tingling in anticipation. He wasn’t even touching her, but the attraction was electric, making her want to throw herself at him. This was terrible.
Hailey turned to Missy, for once not commenting on a possible coupling. “Thank you so much for volunteering. I didn’t want to say anything, I mean, it is voluntary, but it’s very hard for me to be every place I need to be this weekend. I’d dearly love to have someone working with me the whole time. We’ll need to text and call regularly to coordinate all the details.”
“Geez, Missy, make us look bad,” Lexi said.
“Yeah,” Sabrina put in with a smile. “Hailey, you know I’d be there more if I could.”
“It’s okay,” Hailey sang. “It’s a busy time of year for everyone.”
“Sounds like a big job,” Ben said. “I’m in. You need any heavy lifting done, I’m your man.” He flexed an impressive bicep. “Or anything else. Missy can vouch for me. I can wash, dry, serve food, you name it.”
“Omigod, you’re a life saver!” Hailey exclaimed, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. “Yes! I’d love to have you there. There’s tons of stuff that has to be moved for setup and cleanup. I was going to make do with some wheeled dollies and wagons.”
“Wagons?” Ben echoed. “You mean like a kid’s wagon?”
“You gotta work with what you have,” Hailey said. “I’m very creative that way.”
Ben stared at Hailey. “I’ll get some of the guys to work the wheeled dollies.”
They had an intense discussion of logistics and inventory before settling the scope of the job.
Missy turned to Ben, feeling soft and mushy for this wonderful man who did wonderful things. She’d never met another man like him. She didn’t think they existed.
He chuckled. “What?”
“Nothing,” she mumbled.
Someone clanged the side of a glass. And then Josh hollered with the voice of a general. “Quiet!”
They all turned to Josh, who had walked out from behind the bar to announce, “Baby’s here! Mom and baby TJ are doing great!”
Everyone cheered and hugged each other. Missy impulsively hugged Ben, who hugged her back, lifting her off the ground, making her laugh, her heart soaring with happiness for Charlotte.
Ben set her down and grinned. “I’m an uncle again.”
“I’m an aunt again,” she said, her eyes watering. She blinked rapidly. “I’m so happy for them.”
“Champagne and cupcakes!” Sabrina exclaimed.
Nothing had ever tasted sweeter.
