“Sure.” She agreed. “I can spare some freetime while I’m here.”
Javier’s eyes gleamed as if she told him shefound a pot of gold. “I’m… I… wow.”
“You didn’t think I would say yes.” Shepointed at him. “Did you?”
He laughed. “No, I didn’t. I had this followup speech in my mind of how you needed to give me a chance and howI would be a gentleman.”
She giggled. “I guess I can still surpriseyou, Javier.”
“Please do, Chantelle.” His voice turnedserious. His chocolate eyes gazed into hers. “I can’t wait to seewhat’s next.”
Licking her lips, she reached for her frostyglass of pink lemonade. Her body temperature rose to newheights.
***
“You want to talk? What’s going on?” Eliseasked.
Grateful her sister-in-law agreed to meetwith her, Chantelle rested against the couch inside Elise andGrant’s living room.
“No.” Chantelle heard the sounds of thetelevision in the background, but didn’t pay attention to the movieplaying.
“Then why call to ask if I was home?” Elisewondered.
Chantelle covered her face with her hands. “Idon’t know if I can do this.”
“Do what?”
“Work with Lance.”
“So you’ll give up this chance with your job?I can understand your reasons, but—”
“He brought up something the last time wetalked. Not quite, but he hinted at it. Anyway, it was… hurtful. Itwas low, even for him. It seems we can’t talk without picking atold wounds.”
Elise bobbed her head. “I understand. I onlyhate that you feel you need to give up this opportunity.”
“Maybe it’s not meant to be. Perhaps I’m justanother pretty face that no one will take seriously.” She hatedwhen Edward’s words came back to her mind.
Elise narrowed her eyes at her. “You honestlythink that?”
“That’s what got me in trouble at my lastjob. Everything blew up in my face and I had to change jobs.”
Elise didn’t respond. Only listened.
“I can’t seem to catch a break.”
“Grant didn’t give me details. He only saidyou and Lance dated in high school.”
Chantelle tugged at the throw blanketcovering her legs. Dated in high school? It was more than that. Somuch more. “Yeah.”
“You must have cared about him a lot,” Elisesaid.
Chantelle nodded. “I guess I was the onlyone.”
“I don’t think that.”
Chantelle eyeballed her sister-in-law. “Hecalled it off.” She rubbed at her shoulders. Her eyes glared at theTV.
“I’m here for you,” Elise said
“Thank you.”
Her sister-in-law tapped her fingers to herlips. “Maybe we need to go shopping.”
Chantelle giggled. “How will shoppinghelp?”
“I know you love heels. Will a new pairhelp?” Elise grinned.
Chantelle bit her bottom lip only to giveinto her own smile. “Another pair wouldn’t hurt.”
They laughed together. When her cell rang,her sister-in-law’s grin grew wider.
“Is that him?” Elise asked.
Chantelle gestured for her to be quiet.Walking to the corner of the living room. “Everything okay?”
“You’re not too busy are you?” Lanceasked.
“No, why?” She played with the loose tendrilon the side of her face.
“There’s something I want you to include inthe article, but you must see it for yourself.”
“What’s that?” She asked.
“I’m heading to the community center. Meet methere?”
“Sure.” He hung up, and she turned to Elise.“It looks like I have more work to do.”
Leaving her sister-in-law’s home, Chantelledrove to meet Lance. The community center? Her eyes widened. Sherecalled reading about the charities he donated to, but she neverpictured him being hands on with his projects.
Pulling into the parking lot, she found aspace to park despite the many cars. Cutting the engine, shestepped out of the car and paced to the front door. The windfluttered her clothes because of the draft coming inside with her.Her shoes creaked on the floor, but she entered the front office.She met Lance.
“Hey,” he said.
Chantelle recognized the red hair woman withgreen eyes. Sadie? The red head’s eyes beamed.
“Chantelle!” She squealed.
Chantelle laughed and hugged her. “It’s goodto see you.”
“You too.”
Chantelle looked down, noticing her babybump. Her muscles felt weak, but she forced a smile.“Congratulations.”
Sadie rubbed her bump. Her fair skin glowed.“Thank you. Christopher and I are excited.”
“How is he?”
“Worried every time I make a noise. I swearhe thinks something is wrong if I yawn.” Sadie rolled her eyes, buther smile was bright.
Chantelle giggled, but Sadie only whispered.Her eyes gleamed.
“Lance is amazing. He won’t tell you, buthe’s the reason this center gets huge donations. The kids lovehim.”
Chantelle’s lungs expanded to their fullestthrough deep, satisfied breaths.
Lance gestured between the two of them. “Ihate to break up the reunion, but—”
“Don’t mind me. You two go ahead.” Sadiehugged Chantelle once more. “Great seeing you.”
“You too.” Then Chantelle followed Lance intothe hallway. She licked her lips and exhaled. She wouldn’t allowthe burning sensation in her stomach to ruin her day. “So... whyhere? Don’t tell me you volunteer here?” She watched Lance pin aflyer to the bulletin board.
“Why? A business man can’t volunteer?” Hechuckled. “No, seriously. I want the public to be aware of thisplace. Some of these kids have nowhere else to go.”
Chantelle pulled her phone from her purse andopened her notes app. Her mouth quirked with a smile. Sadie wasright. He wouldn’t tell her all he had done for the center. “I knewabout your charities, but I didn’t know you were thisinvolved.”
“Follow me.”
She did, their shoes squeaking on the floor.“How long have you been volunteering here?”
“A few years. I did some pro bono work. Iguess... I got attached to this place.”
“Lots of kids come here?”
Lance shrugged. “Sometimes. We get more inthe summer months. My schedule gets hectic, but I make time forthem.”
“What all do you do here?”
“Tutoring during the summer months. Lately,I’ve been helping with the sports program. They finally have anindoor court, but some kids prefer the outside, especially forbasketball.” He opened the door for her, and they stepped outsideto the metal fenced-in basketball court.
Chantelle watched the kids run up and downthe court. They had to be no younger than ten years old. Thetallest kid looked older, at least sixteen years old. Chantelle’seyes narrowed on one boy dribbling the ball. He had to be the pointguard. He looked at least ten years old, but he had skills. Sheasked Lance, “Do you know him? The one with the ball?”
Lance bobbed his head. “That’s Zane. Smartkid.”
“You’ve tutored
