Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“Okay. If he’s the photographer, you can go with me.”
He exhales and he's obviously relieved. “Okay.” He points at my plate. “Eat.”
I turn to the table and pick up my fork again, but not without murmuring, “You sure are bossy.”
He just laughs.
When we finish eating and we’re cleaning up, King stands next to me, taking the plate I just washed so he can dry it. “So I’ve got something to ask you.”
I should probably be nervous because I’m finding he doesn't ask easy questions. “What?”
“If you have time, I have a project I’m working on. I had hoped it would be further along, and I could use your help with it.”
He owns the biggest construction company in the South, and I know nothing about construction. “I’m not sure what I could do to help you, but I could give it a shot.”
He laughs. “No, it’s not help with the construction company. It’s something else. I bought the building in front of the junior high school here in Whiskey Run.”
He has my attention now. “I heard. Are you really putting in a community center?”
“Yeah, I want a safe place for kids to go to, and it’s a perfect location. It’s been gutted out and the interior is done, but it needs to be furnished and planned for day to day. I need to hire people, put together some kind of work schedule, an activity schedule and a thousand other things that I don’t have time for. I need someone to oversee it.” He raises his hands up. “Now I’m not trying to interfere with your job. I know it’s important to you. I’m just wondering if you’d be interested in overseeing it. You can hire help. Eventually down the road, I want there to be classes for teaching them things about nutrition, online safety… I mean, I have all kinds of ideas, but I haven’t been able to dedicate as much time to it as I need to.”
I point at my chest. “And you want me to help?”
He nods, and I hop excitedly. “I would love to help, King. Can we go there today and look at it?”
Again, as soon as I agree, he seems to relax. It’s almost like he was worried about asking me. He has no idea how important something like this is to me. I wish it had been around when I was growing up. Every kid needs a place to feel safe and go when their home lives are not what they should be. I put my hand to my chest, right over my heart, and repeat the words even though I know they’re not enough. “I would love to be a part of this. Thanks for asking me to.”
20
KING
It’s late. I should be in bed, but I don’t want to be because after spending the day with Haven, I don’t want the night to end.
She’s talked nonstop since we got home. Asking her to be a part of the community center project was a great idea. She has her notebook out and is writing down all the things she wants to do there. I was already excited about this project, but the way she’s been giddy about it, it takes the excitement to a whole new level.
She sits down on the couch next to me, her hip next to mine, and I don’t want to make any sudden movements because I don’t want her to move. She’s talking animatedly, and I can’t take my eyes off her. I don’t know if she realizes it or not, but she’s touched my hand and reached for me more today than she ever has. I’m trying not to pressure her, but the more time I spend with her, the more I want her.
She stops mid-sentence and puts her hand on my forearm. “Thanks again for letting me help.”
“Help? I think we talked about this earlier, didn’t we? You’re in charge, Haven. You get the final decision on things. You get a salary. You can hire an assistant to take over when you do your modeling or if you need time off. Whatever you want.”
“You’re not paying me, King.”
“It’s a job. You’re not doing it for free. It’s going to take a lot of your time.”
She shakes her head side to side. “No, it doesn’t feel right.”
Somehow I need to make her understand. “I didn’t marry you to get free labor, Haven. I don’t expect you to do this out of the kindness of your big heart. It’s going to take time out of your schedule. I’m paying you.”
She squeezes my arm. “But do you have any idea what this place means to me already? This is amazing, King. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m doing something with purpose. I’m excited about something.”
I sigh because I know exactly how she feels. I put up some of the biggest buildings in the city, but this thirty thousand square foot building means more to me than anything I’ve ever done.