A Time To Give

They ate their treat and discussed some of the other guests until Ben came back to the kitchen. He crossed to a janitor’s closet, rinsed out the mop and put the things away. “That’s done. I’ll be heading out.”

Emily watched him. He’d taken off his long-sleeved denim shirt and wore only a black T-shirt. He had such nice shoulders. Great pecs. Flat abs. Paul used to spend hours at the gym and never looked as good.

Alice kicked her under the table. Good thing, or she’d probably start drooling. “Time to close up.”

Ben scanned the area. “Nobody’s here to walk you out?”

Like most soup kitchens and shelters, Cassidy Place was in a location that could be dangerous after dark.

“No, Jimmy usually does. If not, Tom.” Alice grabbed her purse. “No matter. We’ll be fine.”

“I’ll see you to your cars.”

Alice smile approvingly. They shut off lights and secured the doors, then went out the back and locked up. Alice’s car was closer—thank you, Lord. The older woman drove off as they headed toward Emily’s Taurus.

The spring moonlit night was unseasonably warm, but the difference in temperature from the hot kitchen was enough to make Emily shiver.

“Cold?” Ben asked as he shrugged into his denim shirt.

“A bit. I have a sweater in the car.” When they reached it, she unlocked the door and grabbed her wrap off the front seat. He watched her as she got stuck putting it on, a button caught in her hair, some of which had come out of the braid. “Ouch,” she said, tugging to loosen it.

“Here. I’ll get it.”

She turned her back to him and he moved in close. His body heat felt wonderful.

“It’s twisted up in here. I have to pull out the tie.” She felt a bit of pressure, then nothing. “There, I’ve got it.”

Emily stilled. Time seemed to freeze. Then she felt her braid come undone completely. When Ben’s hands sifted through her hair, she felt the touch in the pit of her stomach, and lower.

“Ben?” she whispered, her voice throaty.

“Your hair’s grown since I last saw it down. The color’s so many different shades of red, like a sunset in St. Croix. It’s beautiful.”

“Th-thank you.”

He lifted her sweater so she could slide it on. Once she did, he squeezed her shoulders. That touch made her weak in the knees. She leaned back.

Abruptly, he dropped his hands and stepped away. “Best you get in the car, Emily.”

She turned to him. His face was awash with moonlight. His features weren’t softened by it, though. If anything they were harsher than usual. Without censoring her actions, she squeezed his arm. “You’re a nice man, Ben.”

He retreated another step out of her reach. “Get in the car,” he said tightly.

She angled her head, confused by his reaction, by the force of his words. “All right.” The parking lot was deserted. Traffic whizzed by on the street and a firetruck’s horn sounded far away. “How will you get home?”

“I don’t live too far from here.”

“Let me give you a ride.”

“Hell, no.” His dark eyebrows furrowed. “You shouldn’t be offering rides to guests at a soup kitchen.”

“You’re not just a guest, Ben. We’ve both known that for a long time.”

His shoulders tensed and his hands fisted at his sides. “That’s all I am. Now get in the car.”

She waited.

“There’s danger here, Emily. Don’t think anything different.”

She gave him a weak smile. “Not from you.” Opening the door, she slid in. “Thanks for helping out with the dishes,” she said as she fastened her seat belt. “Good night.”

“Good night.” He shut the door.

Emily started the car and drove off. “I lied, Ben,” she confessed into the dimness of the car as she turned onto St. Paul Street and caught sight of him standing where she’d left him, watching after her. “You are dangerous.” Tonight when he’d touched her confirmed something she’d suspected for a long time: his attraction to her.

Which, of course, was not a good thing. She knew in her heart Ben would never let anything come of their feelings for each other. Despite his obvious poverty, he was a proud man. Since they were from two different worlds, he’d never let her into his life. Even if she wanted to be a part of it.

You do, girl.

Of course she did. But there were many things she wanted and couldn’t have. A baby. A dance studio. Freedom from self-imposed vigilance of her father. Ben whatever-his-last-name-was was simply another thing to add to that list.

CHAPTER THREE

THE COCKER SPANIEL WAS BEAUTIFUL, with its big soulful eyes, delicate features and golden red fur. When Ben entered Cassidy Place and saw her in the partially enclosed alcove, curled up on a bed of blankets, he couldn’t resist kneeling in front of her. “Hey, Lady, what are you doing here?”

The dog stood, barking first before nuzzling into his neck. He held her there a minute, mesmerized by the throb of her body—and the little bodies obviously inside her. “You make me miss my girl, Lady.”

“Want a puppy?” He didn’t have to turn to see who was behind him. That soft voice and that body had haunted his dreams for two weeks since the night in the parking lot when he’d touched her.

He stood while the dog continued to sniff him. “No can do. But thanks.” Emily was dressed for dance class again. This time, the tights and leotard were dark wine under the black skirt. “How are you, Emily?”

“I’m fine. We missed you last week.”

“I, um, had something else to do.” Which was to avoid her. He wouldn’t have come to the soup kitchen tonight if Trey hadn’t called earlier. After he’d hung up, Ben’s isolation had become too big for him to handle. “So this is Lady.”

“Uh-huh.” Emily hugged the dog. “How’re you feeling, girl?”

“When’s she due?”

“Not for ten days.” She looked up at Ben, the scoop of her form-fitting spandex top revealing the top of her breasts. “I leave her alone all day and now, at night, she cries when I go out. Hormones,” she said, a twinkle in her beautiful eyes, which were more brown than green tonight. “So I brought her with me.”

Hormones were something Ben knew a lot about. Especially these past few weeks. His body had been in hibernation for two years and he was pissed that Emily had woken it up.

“She looks close to ready.” He’d delivered his own dog’s pups once, so he could read the signs.

“I know. And she was restless tonight.” She rose. “Go back and lie down, girl.”

The dog obeyed.