Read Online Can't Buy Me Love by Elizabeth Powers - Free Book Online Page B

come.”
    Chase
knew he needed to back down for now – he needed to keep things as they had been
for months, until he figured out how to play this. And when Lena turned back
around and looked up at Chase with a quick glance mixed with suspicion and gratitude
before she pushed herself away from the balcony ledge, he knew that this was
the right course to take. So he simply smiled and held out his elbow for her to
take. He wasn’t giving up, he reasoned. He was just strategizing.
     
     

 
     
     
     
    Seven
     
    Chase
saw no reason to proceed any differently with Lena, until she made it clear
what kind of differences she expected. As planned, they had met one evening
after work at the shelter, and Lena had laid out some of the issues they were
having with fundraising and with the shelter’s finances. Chase had immediately
stepped in to help, but he insisted on spending time in the kitchen on the
weekends as well. And while Lena didn’t entirely understand why he preferred to
use his first name while he worked here, she accepted it and was careful to use
it when they were with others. But he and Lena didn't run into each other
often, since Lena worked normal business hours during the week, and Chase
volunteered his time on the weekend. Every once in a while, Lena would show up
on a Saturday morning to clear out her in-box and to just connect with her
weekend staff, but it was sporadic at best. So when his invitation to the
annual fund-raising benefit dinner for the American Cancer Society arrived in
his mail, Chase left work early on Friday afternoon and found Lena in her
office at the shelter.
    “Go
with me?” he asked, after handing her the invitation.
    She
sighed. “Seriously? Didn’t they just have some sort of fund-raiser last month?”
    “You’re
thinking of the benefit for the Children’s Hospital.”
    “Just
how many of these do you get in any given month?”
    “They’re
well-coordinated,” he smiled. “Can’t have competition for attendance. Will you
go?”
    “I
thought we weren’t seeing each other anymore,” she pointed out.
    “I
think we left it as 'taking things as they come’,” he replied. “I assumed you’d
be invited as well. If you’d rather go with your parents or another date...”
    Lena
sighed and shook her head. “No. I’ll go with you. Do you want me to meet you
there?”
    “You
sound so enthused,” Chase grinned. “But I can pick you up. Is 7:00 all right?”
    She
nodded. “It’s fine. Thank you for the invitation,” she said automatically.
    Chase
chuckled. “No need to thank me, Lena – I know it’s probably not at the top of
your list of fun things to do.” He sobered as he added, “But I do appreciate
you going with me. I don’t think I could bear the thought of finding another
date right now. With everything going on at work...”
    Lena
laughed. “Ah, just the invitation every girl wants. ‘I can’t find anyone else
to go at this late date, so will you...?’”
    “You
know that’s not what I meant, right?”
    “Ever
thought of going stag?” Lena asked out of curiosity.
    “Oh
Lord no. Wow. No.”
    “Why
not?”
    Chase
glared at her. “Have you met Mrs. Turnby’s two daughters?”
    Lena
had. And the thought of Chase being cornered by the two very insipid and
mean-spirited women made her as uncomfortable as it apparently made Chase.
    “OK.
Point taken.”
    “Yes.
And since I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, it’s just better all around
if I have a date.”
    Lena
sent him an answering sympathetic smile.
    “OK.
I’ll get out of your hair. But when you have a chance, let’s schedule some time
to sit down and talk about your fundraising newsletters. I have a few ideas
that might help.”
    Lena
looked up at him. “Chase, if you can improve our fundraising, I’ll kiss your
feet. So yes, anytime. I’ll make the time.”
    “I’ll
schedule something through Amelia. I want to take a look at your donor list as
well. Are you OK with