Read Online Catching Serenity by Joann Durgin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Joann Durgin
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we’re not strangers since we’ve shared cherry cheesecake and conversation. Secondly, I’ve already hired you to decorate my office, an equally important job. The way I look at it? It’s trust . You’ve proven yourself intelligent, articulate and you come highly recommended from a trustworthy source. What more could I want?”
“ Thanks, I think.” She frowned.
“ Sorry. That might sound clinical, but what I’m trying to say is, I think you’d do a great job, and I’d rather get started sooner than later.”
“ In a town like Croisette Shores, with its galas and charity events, there’s plenty of people far more qualified to help in your fundraising quest.” Plenty of women would trip all over themselves to help this man raise just about anything.
“ That might be true, but I’m asking you first . It’s your job to turn down, Serenity. Because you grew up in this neighborhood, I thought you might want to help and you’d certainly have more of a vested interest. Listen, I know you’re busy getting your own business going, and I don’t want this to be a burden to you. I’ll pay you a consulting fee for your time. We’ll get a group of town citizens together to form a committee, and you’ll more or less help me coordinate the effort. Plus, it’ll be spread over a period of almost a year before the playground is operational. If you turn me down, I’ll understand. Disappointed, but I’ll understand.”
She held up one hand. “You’re pretty good at heaping on guilt, too, it seems.” First Dad and now some guy she barely knew. “I’m not saying no. I’d love to help out my old neighborhood, but this is...unexpected. All I ask is that you give me a couple of days to think about it.”
“ Fair enough. You’re hired to decorate my office and you promise to consider the playground project. Whatever you decide, I’ll pay you well for your expertise and your time. Deal?” He offered his hand.
Hesitating only a moment, Serenity put her hand in his. As she suspected, it was warm. Strong and manly, like his voice, his laugh and seemingly everything about him. “Deal.”
When she started to withdraw her hand, Jackson held on tighter. From the spark in his eyes, it’s like he could see inside her soul, as crazy as it seemed. Danny could never “read” her the way this relative stranger could. What a scary thought. Was she an open book? No, more like Dr. Ross could see past the façade and delved straight into her deepest insecurities and vulnerabilities. For years, she’d kept so busy that she’d fallen into bed from exhaustion every night. In large part, doing that very thing became her manner of survival. This man was her client and she needed him, but it’d be much easier all the way around if they kept any relationship between them strictly business.
“ Serenity, I sense—”
Withdrawing her hand, unease swept through her. She didn’t want him making conclusions about her personal life. Better to cut him off now. Aware he watched, Serenity pushed her foot on the ground to start the swing. “Do you make a habit of sharing personal conversations with women you’ve just met? Or is it the psychology thing kicking into high gear?” That sounded harsher than she’d intended, but it was too late to retract.
Jackson stopped his swing and reached to stop hers. She didn ’t protest and he waited until her swing stabilized and slowed. “I was going to say I’d be honored to pray for you.”
“ Oh.” She shot him a sheepish glance. “I’ve never shared cheesecake, deep conversation and swings with a practicing, praying psychologist. Bet you can’t swing as high and fast as me,” she said, digging her foot into the ground to gain a solid push, feeling childish.
Beside her, Jackson mirrored her actions. “The one minute challenge has begun. This I can do, but don’t challenge me in a spelling bee. That’s another thing I don’t do so well.”
“ Only if you can spell
“ Thanks, I think.” She frowned.
“ Sorry. That might sound clinical, but what I’m trying to say is, I think you’d do a great job, and I’d rather get started sooner than later.”
“ In a town like Croisette Shores, with its galas and charity events, there’s plenty of people far more qualified to help in your fundraising quest.” Plenty of women would trip all over themselves to help this man raise just about anything.
“ That might be true, but I’m asking you first . It’s your job to turn down, Serenity. Because you grew up in this neighborhood, I thought you might want to help and you’d certainly have more of a vested interest. Listen, I know you’re busy getting your own business going, and I don’t want this to be a burden to you. I’ll pay you a consulting fee for your time. We’ll get a group of town citizens together to form a committee, and you’ll more or less help me coordinate the effort. Plus, it’ll be spread over a period of almost a year before the playground is operational. If you turn me down, I’ll understand. Disappointed, but I’ll understand.”
She held up one hand. “You’re pretty good at heaping on guilt, too, it seems.” First Dad and now some guy she barely knew. “I’m not saying no. I’d love to help out my old neighborhood, but this is...unexpected. All I ask is that you give me a couple of days to think about it.”
“ Fair enough. You’re hired to decorate my office and you promise to consider the playground project. Whatever you decide, I’ll pay you well for your expertise and your time. Deal?” He offered his hand.
Hesitating only a moment, Serenity put her hand in his. As she suspected, it was warm. Strong and manly, like his voice, his laugh and seemingly everything about him. “Deal.”
When she started to withdraw her hand, Jackson held on tighter. From the spark in his eyes, it’s like he could see inside her soul, as crazy as it seemed. Danny could never “read” her the way this relative stranger could. What a scary thought. Was she an open book? No, more like Dr. Ross could see past the façade and delved straight into her deepest insecurities and vulnerabilities. For years, she’d kept so busy that she’d fallen into bed from exhaustion every night. In large part, doing that very thing became her manner of survival. This man was her client and she needed him, but it’d be much easier all the way around if they kept any relationship between them strictly business.
“ Serenity, I sense—”
Withdrawing her hand, unease swept through her. She didn’t want him making conclusions about her personal life. Better to cut him off now. Aware he watched, Serenity pushed her foot on the ground to start the swing. “Do you make a habit of sharing personal conversations with women you’ve just met? Or is it the psychology thing kicking into high gear?” That sounded harsher than she’d intended, but it was too late to retract.
Jackson stopped his swing and reached to stop hers. She didn ’t protest and he waited until her swing stabilized and slowed. “I was going to say I’d be honored to pray for you.”
“ Oh.” She shot him a sheepish glance. “I’ve never shared cheesecake, deep conversation and swings with a practicing, praying psychologist. Bet you can’t swing as high and fast as me,” she said, digging her foot into the ground to gain a solid push, feeling childish.
Beside her, Jackson mirrored her actions. “The one minute challenge has begun. This I can do, but don’t challenge me in a spelling bee. That’s another thing I don’t do so well.”
“ Only if you can spell
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