Kathryn Shay - A Time To Give

“Well, you won’t get your studio unless you stand up to him.” Her friend’s exasperation sifted through the phone lines like an electrical current. It touched raw nerves. When Emily didn’t respond, Jordan said, “Never mind. I’ll see you at seven.”

After she hung up, Emily sank wearily into her chair. Damn, she felt like a hamster on a wheel. She’d just get to a point where she thought she could leave the company, and her father’s actions sucked her back in. Not only that, but the mention of a dance studio made her think about having children. Or more precisely, not having them, which was even more depressing than working for her dad. Her hand went to her stomach. She’d give anything to have a child of her own.

It’s your fault, you know. Her ex-husband’s handsome features had been contorted with frustrated rage as he’d hurled the accusation.

The doctor said both of our tests were inconclusive.

You have endometriosis.

I’ve had surgeries to correct that. Look, Paul, I’m not laying blame, but your sperm motility test wasn’t so hot either.

My sperm is just fine.

Sighing, she turned to her computer. Though she’d divorced Paul and still hoped to have the dance studio, she was probably never going to have a baby, given her medical problems. Besides, she was thirty-four with no man on the horizon.

But as she called up her e-mail, she wasn’t able to put the thought out of her mind. Could she get pregnant with the right man? And who might that be?

A fleeting image came to mind—of gray eyes the color of steel, a killer smile and a body to die for. Jeez, she really needed to get a social life.

WHERE THE HELL WAS SHE? For as long as Ben had been frequenting Cassidy Place as a guest, Emily had been a volunteer. She’d only missed three Mondays—and he’d worried each time if she was sick or had quit or…had a date.

Disgusted by his reaction to her, he tried to focus on the crossword. A five-letter word for beautiful. Hmm, Emily? Hell, this wasn’t good. A six-letter word for red. Russet, almost the color of her hair. He slapped the paper down.

“Something unpleasant in there?”

He glanced up to see Alice with a coffeepot in her hand. “No, my mind’s just wandering.”

“Want more coffee?”

“Sure.” What would it hurt? “I was, um, wondering where Emily is. She usually works on Mondays, doesn’t she?”

A knowing gleam lit the older woman’s soft brown eyes. “She’s here—at the dishwasher because we’re short volunteers. Tom, the guy who usually mans it, is sick.”

“Why didn’t you say something? I would have pitched in.”

“I suggested that to Emily. She said you work too hard all day and shouldn’t be doing manual labor at night.”

He stood. “I don’t work that hard. I’m going back, if that’s all right.”

With Alice’s consent, Ben carried his dirty dishes into the kitchen. Guests were required to bring back their own plates. He remembered setting up that edict for Cassidy Place. But some people still often left their mess for the volunteers. Emily didn’t usually complain about it, but on occasion he’d seen her confront a customer for his thoughtlessness. The sight of her dragging a big guy back and making him clean up after himself was amusing.

The kitchen was hotter than usual tonight, probably because the April evening was still warm. Volunteers bustled in and out, preparing food or picking up plates. Emily scraped dishes while another worker loaded them into the dishwasher. Ben recognized the man as Jimmy, the guy who ran security on the floor.

Emily looked up as Ben crossed to them and aimed a megawatt smile his way. “Hi, Ben. Finished with your meal?”

He bused his plate, then rolled up his sleeves. “Yes. And I’m going to take over for you. You like being out on the floor better than working inside.”

Her smile brightened. “How do you know that?”

“You told me once. Come on, I’ll do KP with Jimmy.”

She and the other man exchanged a look.

“What?”

“Jimmy has a date. He wasn’t supposed to be here this late tonight.” She glanced to her helper. “If Ben’s going to work, you can leave.”

The young, handsome black man shrugged. “You sure?”

“Go.” She handed an apron to Ben. “Want to clear or stack?”

“Stack.” That way he might not have to see her face, flushed by the heat, or her hands, long and slender. He wondered if she’d blush like that after sex. What her hands would feel like stroking his back. Over the past year, he’d had dreams….

“Ben, are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” he said, feeling his body tighten at her nearness. Damn, this wasn’t good.

Whipping on the white apron—she wore a matching one over her cropped pants and shirt—he began his task. They fell into easy conversation as they always did when he let himself relax with her. “No dance tonight?”

“I left work early for once and went to the four o’clock class. I changed there.”

“What kind of dance do you take?”

“Ballet, tap and jazz, all on different days. Though tap gives me some trouble. It always did.”

“Always?”

“Uh-huh, I’ve been taking lessons on and off all my life.”

“Nice hobby.” He’d like to see her dance.

“How about you? Got any hobbies?”

He used to. He played racquetball with Trey, went running with his dog, liked a game of pool. “No, not really.”

She scraped dishes. “Do you live alone, Ben?”

“Um, yeah.” He took a plate from her hand. “You?”

“It’s just me and my dog.”

“You have a dog?” Harriet’s shaggy face came out of nowhere. He’d loved that animal so much.

“A cocker spaniel.” Emily’s expression turned tender. “She’s a beauty. She likes to be coddled, so I call her My Lady. Lady for short.” She smiled. “Lady and the Tramp has always been my favorite story.”

“Ah, I should have known you’d like happily-ever-afters.”

She started to say something but a rush of people entered the kitchen, clattering dishes in front of her. Emily conversed with the guests who handed over their plates, then continued the conversation with Ben when things slowed down. “Why did you react when I told you about my dog?”

“I had one once.” She’d been a stray mutt hanging out at the soup kitchen. Eventually, Ben had taken her home.

“What happened to it?”

“I gave her away when I wasn’t able to keep her.”

“I’m sorry. That must have left a hole in your life.”

He didn’t respond. He didn’t want to talk about his dog or think about anything else he’d lost. Luckily, things got busy again. In no time, the evening was over. Dishwashers were usually the last to finish, so the place emptied out quickly, leaving him and Emily alone in the kitchen. When the last plate was clean, he whipped off his apron. “I’ll go see if Alice needs help out there.”

Just then the older woman bustled in. “No, we’re done. One of the stragglers stacked the chairs. But there’s a mess on the floor from a family with kids that the janitors aren’t gonna like.”

“I’ll get a mop and take care of it.”

“That would be great,” Alice said.

Emily watched Ben’s back as he disappeared through the doorway.

“Have fun tonight?” Alice asked.

Chagrined, she felt herself blush. “I like working with him.”

“I like him.” Alice sat on a stool. “I wonder what his story is.”

“Me, too.” Emily crossed to the dessert cooler and removed chocolate cake for the two of them. “He seems so smart, so well spoken. He talks like an educated man. I can’t believe he needs to come here.”

“I was thinking the same thing. His clothes are definitely Salvation Army, though.”