Shade(172)

“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.#p#分页标题#e#

“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.

“I think I’ve also figured out what it is about me that’s setting your nerves off.”

“You have?” Her eyes widened as she stared up at him.

“Yes, I have. You see, sometimes when a woman wants a man, her body lets her know by becoming … How shall I put it delicately? Horny. Yes, that’s the word I’m looking for. You’re horny.”

“I’m not horny!”

“I can prove that’s what’s bothering you,” Shade said smugly, leaning over her, pressing her back against his desk. His hand went to her thigh, bringing it up around his hip. “And I can fix that problem for you, too.”

“How can you fix the fact that you’re an arrogant ass?”

“I can’t, but I can fix it where you won’t care,” he said confidently, sure about his ability to satisfy the woman whose breathing changed the second he drew closer to her.

His mouth covered hers, cutting off her smart-aleck reply. She immediately opened hers wider, letting him take what he wanted, and she needed to give him.#p#分页标题#e#

He slipped his hand under her skirt, pushing it up to her waist, and then he stepped back, pulling off her panties. Lily didn’t even tense, lifting her leg to help him slide them over her shoes.

He then went to her pussy, finding her wet and needy, her clit engorged and begging for his touch. He stroked it and Lily pressed herself harder against his hand, trying to get him to exert more pressure.