He hadn’t touched her for the past two weeks, waiting for her to decide when she wanted more. He understood her convictions; while they weren’t his own, he was aware they were an integral part of her personality. Her beliefs had helped her survive a nightmare, and he wouldn’t tarnish the very thing that had saved her for him.
“Okay, we’ll tackle that problem last. What has Georgia done now?”
“She made a face at me this morning when I came in late. She’s not a nice person.”
Shade nodded. “I can agree with that. She isn’t, but she is a good worker. Were you late?”
“Yes,” she said sulkily.
“Why?” His eyes narrowed on her face. She looked worn-out and pale.
“I was tired,” Lily admitted.
“So you’re angry at Georgia because you were late, and she made a face at you when some bosses would have at least said something to you about being late,” he reasoned.
“I may have been wrong,” she admitted after a brief pause.
“Now that’s settled, let’s move on to Jewell. What did she do?” Shade had to admit that that one had him stumped. Georgia soured his stomach, but as far as he knew, Jewell was friendly with Lily.
“Nothing,” she admitted grudgingly.
“Then how is she bugging you?”
“You have her IOUs.” She stopped talking suddenly, narrowing her eyes on his expression. “Or do you?”
“I do. And that bothers you?” Shade pinched his lips together to keep from laughing.
“Yes.”
“All right.” Shade opened the desk drawer before reaching in and pulling out the slips of paper. Opening them, he counted out several of Jewell’s IOUs before putting the remaining ones back in his drawer. “Here, you can have them.” He handed the slips of paper over.
Lily stepped out of the corner, taking the papers before hastily returning to her safe space. Shade didn’t burst her bubble of satisfaction by telling her he didn’t need to use an IOU for what Jewell would eagerly be willing to give him. Lily’s reasoning sometimes boggled his mind, although the longer he was with her, the more he was coming to understand her na?ve thinking.
“Next up, what’s bothering you at the church?”
Lily stared down at her hands. “Pastor Dean can’t find anyone to run the church store. No one outside the church wants the position because it doesn’t pay. No one in the church who would do okay at it wants it because it doesn’t pay, and the few people who did volunteer did terrible. Jordan Douglas told everyone in her bible study class how much money someone made who came in the store. Marie Newman told Lark Jackson he didn’t need a new coat, that the one he had was just fine. He had on a thin jacket! Laverne Thomas told Willa to keep the clothes she was donating because the way her weight fluctuates, she would probably need them again in a couple of months.” Lily blew out an angry breath.
“So the job needs someone who is qualified to judge based on financial need if the people coming in require help, be sensitive to their privacy, and work five days a week all for free?”
“Yes! Oh, and they need to be nice.”
“I know the perfect person,” Shade said ruefully. Lucky had been right; he had mentioned a month ago that Lily wouldn’t be able to walk away from the church store.
“You do?” Lily asked hopefully.
“Yes—you. I can’t think of anyone more qualified.”
“Me? I can’t take the job,” Lily protested.
“I don’t see why not. It will give you the opportunity to use your degree in a way which will really benefit those in need, especially children, which is what you wanted to accomplish. You’ll have a better sense of what’s going on in their homes than a social worker with limited time. Anyone who arouses your suspicions, you can tell Knox about. You would be sensitive to their privacy, and you never gossip. But, most of all, you have the most important qualification—you’re extremely nice.”
Lily smiled at his compliment.
“But what about the pay?”
“I have enough money for the both of us.” He held up his hand before she could interrupt. “But, since I know you want your own money, I’ll ask the brothers to each donate enough to pay your salary for the year.”
“I couldn’t ask them to do that.”
“You won’t; I will. Anyway, I already have a couple of their IOUs.”
Lily stepped out of the corner, giving him Jewell’s IOUs back. “Don’t forget to ask the women members,” she reminded him.
“I won’t. Feel better?”
Lily nodded then bit her lip.
“What?”
“There is a family who comes into the store. They have two kids. Could the father have my job? I know there is a wait list, but since you said my job is extra, could you?”
Shade groaned. “Give them my number.”
“Okay.” Lily happily went toward the door.
“Lily, we aren’t finished. Come here.”
She let out a loud sigh. She had apparently forgotten the issue that he had saved for last—the most important one to him.
She started to go back to her corner, hesitating, but then she walked back around the desk, coming to stand next to him.
He stood up, causing her to lean backward until her hands went behind her back to press against the desk.