Chapter 11
Charity found herself standing in her apartment, gazing into the eyes of the man who had occupied her thoughts since their eventful meeting over pizza and then the chase down the alley. In fact, it had been his eyes that she had conjured up in her mind as she drifted off to sleep each night in the bed they were standing close to.
The situation felt oddly surreal to have him in her personal space. Not because it wasn’t presentable to a stranger—she didn’t have underwear tossed in the corner of the bedroom or a bra hanging over the shower curtain. She’d grown up in such cramped quarters that she’d learned to keep her living area neat as a way to maximize the space. It was a lesson she carried over into adulthood.
She appreciated her small apartment more than most people could understand. It perfectly suited her needs and was more than what she had growing up. Working with people who had less continued her deep gratitude for what she had.
What made the situation so awkward was realizing that who we were was often reflected in the things we had in our private sanctuary… the pictures on the walls, the scented bath oil sitting on the side of the tub, the colors of the curtains chosen to decorate. And when Oliver stopped to look at the window in the bedroom and stared down at her small garden of potted plants, she felt an odd sense of vulnerability, as if the air in the room had grown thinner.
Crossing her arms around her middle, she stepped back, unconsciously creating distance between them until she could breathe easier.
He turned around to face her and smiled. Her knees quivered, and then she inwardly shook her head to regain her focus. Drawing herself up to her full height, she forced a smile on her lips. But in truth, all she wanted to do was rush from the room.
How many women would love to have this gorgeous man standing in their bedroom? And all I want is for him to leave!
Determined to return to her professional armor, she sucked in a cleansing breath. “Do you have everything you need?”
He stepped closer, his smile still intact as he looked down at her. “Not quite.”
Her lips parted, and she wondered what he meant as he neared. His gaze dropped to her lips, and for a few seconds, she wondered if he would dip his head to kiss her.
Surprised at the ribbon of anticipation wrapped around her body, she jolted when he leaned past her and picked up the tablet he’d laid on her bed. Looking down, he began tapping into the notes he was taking. A mixture of relief and disappointment speared through her, slicing through her anticipation.
Turning on her heels, she walked out of the bedroom and called over her shoulder, “I need to get back to the center.” She didn’t want him to stay in her apartment, and now that she’d shown it to him, she knew he could complete his job without her presence. It suddenly dawned on her that workers would be in her apartment in a few days when they added security.
As she halted in the hallway, her shoulders slumped as she looked down at her feet. Rubbing her forehead as it ached, she hadn’t realized Oliver had walked up behind her until his voice was very close.
“Hey, Charity. Are you okay?”
She was startled and turned to see him right next to her. Wincing slightly, she said, “This all seems a bit overwhelming.”
“Just think how much more secure your center will be when the security measures are in place.”
“Oh, it’s not that,” she rushed to explain. “I’m thrilled for any of the security available for the center. The kids and the staff need to feel safe.”
“And what about you?” He walked to stand directly in front of her.
She had to lean back to keep her gaze on his face, then tilted her head slightly. “I don’t understand. What about me?”
“Don’t you deserve to feel safe?”
Her brow furrowed, and she admitted, “I’ve never felt unsafe here.”
“There’s a fire escape outside, connecting your two windows.”
“Yes, but the ladder is pulled up from the ground. No one can reach it.”
His chin jerked back, and he lifted a brow. Without him saying anything, she squirmed. “Okay, that was a dumb thing to say. Obviously, someone could stand on boxes, grab the bottom of the ladder, pull it down, and then climb up the fire escape. And yes, I keep the windows locked, but someone could break a window.”
His lips quirked as he nodded. “You’re right. I’m not implying that you’ve done anything to make yourself unsafe. I’m saying that you have to think like someone who wants to do harm. Someone who’s looking for a way to get in. Believe me, you can find a way to get into a place that’s not secure.”
Now, her chin jerked back slightly as she listened to his tone. “That sounds suspiciously like you know what you’re talking about.”
“I might be new to this type of security company, but I was an Army Ranger. It was often my job to figure out a way to get into a building.”
She nodded as understanding moved through her. “So when you examine something like a window, a fire escape, a door with only one lock… you see a way for someone to exploit that.”
Relief seemed to spread over his face. “Exactly. Granted, I would have team members with me who had already scoped out the area. But often, in the heat of battle, I had to learn quickly how to get in or out of a situation.” He looked around her living room. “So as lovely as your home is, it could be used as a way to get into the center.”
A gasp slipped from her lips at the reality of his words. “I understand now. Thank you.” She heaved a sigh, and her shoulders slumped. “There is no way that I or the center can pay for any of the security your team is looking at, and I’m so grateful for what Lighthouse Security is doing for us.” She hefted her shoulders in a little shrug. “I just wanted to try to save money. I never wanted to be a weak link.”
“Charity, in the short time I’ve known you, you could never be a weak link. Your apartment? That’s a different matter. But you? Absolutely not.” His assurance was accompanied by a warm smile that struck her core.
A multitude of thoughts raced through her mind. She wanted to thank him but longed to express what the center meant to her. She wanted to learn more about his time as a Ranger and how he came to work for the security company. She even harbored a desire to invite him to dinner, hoping it wouldn’t end up with him running down the street after a couple of teenagers.
As though he could read her mind at that instant, as his gaze held hers, he asked, “Why did you stop me? That night in the alley… why did you let them go?”
Time seemed to crawl as the universe slowed. Oft buried past memories flew at her, now threatening to burst forth. Blowing out a breath, she focused on his gently asked question. “I didn’t know them. Not really. But I’d seen them around… and talked to them before. And I knew they were brothers. I see others like them every day, and I knew they were hungry.”
“They could have been armed. Desperate. Willing to do anything?—”
She shook her head and stopped him with a hand on his arm. He looked down, and she jerked her hand back, stunned she’d touched him. Quicker than she could imagine anyone moving, he snapped his arm up and wrapped his fingers around her wrist, stopping her hand from pulling away. His thumb gently rubbed where her pulse beat wildly underneath his touch.
“I’m not stupid, Oliver. I wouldn’t put myself at risk, but I… I knew they weren’t dangerous.”
He simply held her gaze, and she pulled her hand from his and mumbled, “I suppose we should get back for our meeting with Tricia and Poole.”
His lips quirked on one side. “Yeah. I suppose we should.”
She stared at the quirk, and her mind blanked of anything but wanting to see that expression again. “I know you’re here for work, but you’re more than welcome to come by and see how things are going. Um… if you ever get a chance or…”
His smile widened, and he continued to nod. “You can count on it. Even if I’m assigned to other jobs over the next several weeks, I’d love to come by.”
As glad as she was for his reply, she realized she framed the question for him to check on the work. What she had really wanted to say was that she’d specifically like to see him more. Keeping her smile steady, she started to turn away when he reached out his hand to touch her shoulder, and then hesitated. She turned her eyes up to him in question.
“Perhaps, when I’m here, we could grab lunch.”
She nodded, her smile widening. “I’d like that.”
Turning, they walked back out of her apartment, where she locked her door, then went down the stairs and through the door into the center.
Entering her office a few minutes later, she realized her mistake. As neat as her apartment was kept, her office was chaotic. And with two large men, Tricia, and herself, there was no way it would work. Turning quickly, she said, “Perhaps we can meet in the intake room. It’s a little more roomy.”
Paula was just passing and quickly shook her head. “I’m sorry, Charity. David has taken someone into the conference room since you were busy.”
“An intake?”
“Yes.”
She pressed her lips together. “I’m sorry. If a young person has come in for help, I don’t want to displace them to another room and make them feel unwelcome. Let me see if I can?—”
“Please don’t worry about us,” Poole said. “Your office will be more than adequate.”
Nodding, she led the way in. “I’m sorry it’s so small.” She moved around her desk and then noticed that Tricia and Poole sat in front of her while Oliver stood, leaning against the now-closed door. “Oh, Oliver, I can get?—”
“I’m fine. Don’t give me another thought,” he assured. He crossed his arms over his chest, and she let out a shaky breath.
She knew his assurance was that they should proceed with the meeting and not worry about a chair for him, yet there was no way she wouldn’t give him another thought. In fact, how he looked now guaranteed he would take up residence in her mind.
Forcing her gaze down to the new additions to the plans, Poole walked her through what would be needed for her apartment based on Oliver’s observations.
“I know this means you have to order more equipment,” Charity said. “But I would prefer that you go start on the center. I don’t want to be the reason anything gets held up.”
Tricia waved her hand dismissively and smiled. “Oh, don’t worry about that. The extra cameras in the hallway outside your apartment and the security on your windows are the same as what we’ll install in the rest of the center. We always order more since we never know if we might make a change or if equipment might need to be replaced. So we can get it all done at the same time.”
Pleased with that assessment, she reviewed the provided paperwork. Before she signed as the administrator, she held the pen in her hand, her fingers shaking slightly as she hesitated. Looking up, she locked her gaze onto Oliver, and he stared back with curiosity in his eyes. Her top teeth bit down on her bottom lip as she worked to settle her nerves.
Dropping her gaze from him to Poole and then to Tricia, she admitted, “I’m sure this seems ridiculous to you—my anxiety.” She winced as she shook her head. “The fact that your company is donating time, equipment, and labor that I know would cost more than I could ever imagine… it means a great deal to me. It means a great deal to the staff. And while they may not understand it, it means the world to the youth who come through the center.”
Oliver dropped his arms to his side and leaned away from the door, his expression now one of concern. For a second, she thought he would come to her, but Tricia spoke first. “Charity, LSIWC is more than honored to do this for you and the center. Please don’t feel indebted. We’re impressed with this facility and what you’re doing for these kids.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, and no one spoke. She appreciated the chance to work through her emotions. Finally, looking up, she continued. “Do you know who some of the most vulnerable population of our country is? It’s the children and young people who have no home. Too young to really take care of themselves. And some would prey upon them. I can’t stop all their suffering, but I want to give them a safe place to come so they can become adults caring for themselves and others around them. The fact that your company, your generous boss, and each of you is doing this for us means the world to me. Thank you.”
Blinking to hold back the tears that threatened to fall, she dropped her gaze back down to the paper in front of her and signed her name with a still-shaky hand. As they stood, Oliver opened the door and stepped out, allowing the others in her office to follow. She escorted them to the front door and extended her hand. With a lighter heart, her smile came from deep inside. Tricia shook her hand, and then the two women pulled each other in for a warm hug.
“I’ll be back in two days with my workers,” Tricia promised. “I’ll be here every day to oversee the work. You’ll also have other Keepers stopping by to check on things.”
Tricia stepped back, and Poole moved forward to shake her hand. “Tricia was honest when she said it’s our honor to work with you.” He then turned to Oliver and said, “We’ll see you later, Oliver.” They walked through the door, and she realized he must have driven separately.
Standing in the reception area with people milling around, there was no privacy, yet she felt they were the only two souls in the room. Taking Oliver’s extended hand, she loved the feel of his rough palm and the way his fingers wrapped around her smaller hand. The strange tingling she’d felt when he touched her the first night they met returned, and she couldn’t imagine why she had that feeling with him and no one else.
“I know you have other…um… duties, but I do hope I will have the chance to see you again,” she said.
He didn’t release her hand as he smiled down at her. “As a new employee with LSIWC, I’m sure my boss will have plenty of work for me. But he’ll also want me to see how this project goes, and it’s not that far from where I’m living, so it’ll be easy to stop by.”
Glancing down at their still-held hands, she was uncertain what to say, but he didn’t appear to have that difficulty. “Anyway, we need to have lunch… or dinner. That is if you’re still interested.”
“Absolutely!” She rolled her eyes at her enthusiastic reply. “And I promise that I’ll try not to chase anyone when we’re out.”
He leaned until his mouth was close to her ear as his hand squeezed hers slightly. “It would be fine if you chased me.”
Unused to flirting, she blinked up at him, staring at the twinkle in his eyes. Chuckling, she slid her hand from his. “We’ll see.” Her simple reply must’ve surprised him.
He threw his head back and laughed as he stepped back. “That sounds like a challenge, Charity. And I love a challenge.” He started to step back, then pulled out his phone. “Would it be possible for me to get your phone number?”
She nodded and pulled her phone from her pocket, rattling off her number. He sent her a text. “Now, you’ve got my number, too.”
He offered a chin lift toward the reception desk, and Charity was reminded that there were other people around. He then turned his attention back to her and said, “I’ll see you soon.”
She nodded and watched as his lips curved before he walked out the door. Turning, she spied Paula, grinning widely at her, both thumbs up. Rolling her eyes, she walked back toward the classrooms.
The rest of her day was spent checking on her staff and the residents, and completing paperwork. Bright Futures Home was part of a statewide initiative to assist homeless youth. They were one of the newer shelters to open, and she was grateful for the guidance the state and local directors gave. And even though she had a top-notch staff of counselors, support, staff, and house parents, she still wanted to be involved. It was a fine line not to make the professionals underneath her feel like she was constantly watching over their shoulders, but she couldn’t sit back and just do paperwork.
So she spent time every day with each staff member, and unless she had a meeting out of the building, she checked on the kids as they left breakfast and headed to the school buses and also greeted them when they came in from the school buses at the end of the day. She was glad that most of the work would be done while the younger kids were at school and the older kids were either at job sites or training.
At the end of another busy day, she did a final sweep through the dorms, checked in with security, then headed through the door to her apartment. She’d just made it into her living room when her phone buzzed. Looking down, she blinked at the number.
Oliver? Tapping on messages, she looks at the text.
I don’t think I can wait until next week. How about dinner Friday night? Unless you”ve got a better suggestion, I hear there’s a great pizza place near the center. Or anywhere you say.
She couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face. At twenty-nine, she could hardly act like one of the sixteen-year-olds in her care, yet she felt a giddiness, knowing that he was serious about taking her to dinner.
She quickly tapped out a response. Dinner sounds good. Pizza is always perfect. What time should we meet?
I don’t think you have to worry about me knowing your address anymore. Let me pick you up.
He was right. Her usual reticence and refusal to give her address no longer applied. I can be ready by six. My door or the center?
Since this is a date, I’ll pick you up at your door.
Labeling this as a date puts a lot of pressure on me. We better make it 6:30 so I can be sure to have the time to run a brush through my hair and find a pair of shoes that will squish my feet appropriately for date night.
She waited as the three little dots danced, surprised at how her anticipation ramped up with each message.
With brushed hair and fancy shoes, you’ve now just upped my pressure. I’m wondering if a pizza joint isn’t the right location for such an elegant date.
Laughing out loud, she walked farther into her apartment and plopped down on the sofa. Kicking off her shoes, she tucked her feet under her butt.
I think in honor of the place we first met, the pizzeria will be perfect.
Perhaps you should leave off the fancy shoes in case the opportunity to run down an alley presents itself.
Rolling her eyes, she had a feeling he would never let her live that down. As soon as that thought crossed her mind, she jerked, realizing she’d just anticipated having a relationship lasting long enough to have a How We Met story to retell. Tapping out another message, she hit send.
I promise not to run down any alleys unless a serial killer is chasing me. I assume you aren”t a serial killer since you work for a security company and were in the Army.
On my honor, I am not a serial killer. And I will give you no reason to have to run down an alley. So bring on the fancy shoes, and I’ll see you on Friday.
She held her fingers over the keys but hesitated, realizing that while she’d dated, this was the first time in a while that she was really looking forward to one. Finally, she typed Can’t wait. After hitting send, she wondered if that made her sound too eager. Tossing her phone onto the coffee table, she sighed.
Oh, Lordy. I am so in over my head.