Read Online Love Will Find a Way by Barri Bryan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Barri Bryan
Ads: Link
time, we will confer and review and then decide if the appointment will be permanent."
Emily was completely at sea. “I'm not sure what job you're offering me."
"It's a position, Mrs. Franklin.” Lee leaned back in his swivel chair. “The official title is Public Relations Coordinator. You will be in charge of recruiting, training and monitoring volunteers for all the libraries. You will also be active in raising funds and support for the library system. That's why it's necessary to attend so many social functions. At some of these events you will be expected to make speeches, expounding on the general operations and services of our system, or zeroing in on some specific branch or benefit, whatever the situation demands. Occasionally all you will be expected to do is show up and mingle."
A jolt of elation shot through Emily. “It sounds exciting and challenging."
Lee nodded. “It is. But there's another very pedestrian side. You will be expected to visit each of the sixteen branch libraries once each month and then file a report with me about the status and progress of the volunteer program at each branch. It's a demanding, time-consuming task.” He leaned forward. “Well, what do you say?"
"What about salary?” Emily asked, thinking this was too good to be true.
Lee smiled. “Mrs. Franklin, something tells me you are definitely the woman for this job, excuse me, position.” He quoted a figure that left Emily wide-eyed and staring.
When she could find her voice she said, “Mr. Morgan, you have just hired a new Public Relations Coordinator. When do I start?"
Lee rubbed his hands together. “Is right now too soon?"
"Not at all.” It would certainly beat going home to an empty house.
"Then come along.” Lee stood. “Let me show you to your office."
Her own office, this was more than Emily had dared hope for. She was elated. But it was elation overlaid by a lingering sadness that showed no signs of going away. She wondered, as she followed Lee out the door, if she would ever lose this feeling of betrayal and loss.
Chapter 4
Emily smiled at the handsome man who sat across the table from her. “Thad, you are an incurable optimist."
Thad returned her smile. “Well, Buddy, you win a few and you lose a few."
Three months had come and gone since Emily's first date with Thad. He had dubbed her Buddy the night she had quietly but firmly rebuffed his sexual advances. “I can offer you friendship, nothing more.” They were parked atop Lookout Point. A strange place, Emily had thought, for a man of Thad's age and standing to bring a woman.
Thad took her refusal in stride. “You remind me of an old song.” He began to sing, off-key. “I only want a buddy, not a sweetheart."
"I'm flattered that you're attracted to me,” Emily found herself saying. “But sex without commitment leaves me cold."
Thad laughed with good humor. “And commitment, with or without sex, scares the hell out of me.” He eyed her skeptically. “Do you really mean it about us being friends?"
"Yes, I do. I admire you as a person and enjoy your company very much."
Thad rubbed his chin. “I never had a woman friend before. I never knew a woman before that I wanted for a friend, but now ... all right, Buddy.” Wiping his hand down the leg of his pants, he extended it in her direction. “It's a deal."
Emily shook his hand vigorously. “As one old buddy to another, I need to get home. I'm still trying to get used to getting up so early in the mornings."
After that brief but honest encounter, Thad stopped trying to get Emily into his bed. But he continued to call once or twice a week and to escort her to some of the many social functions her new job demanded she attend. He had also acquired the habit of meeting her for lunch each Wednesday at the restaurant across from the library.
Over the past three months, they had become good friends, discovering somewhere along the way that they had a great deal in common and shared a
Emily was completely at sea. “I'm not sure what job you're offering me."
"It's a position, Mrs. Franklin.” Lee leaned back in his swivel chair. “The official title is Public Relations Coordinator. You will be in charge of recruiting, training and monitoring volunteers for all the libraries. You will also be active in raising funds and support for the library system. That's why it's necessary to attend so many social functions. At some of these events you will be expected to make speeches, expounding on the general operations and services of our system, or zeroing in on some specific branch or benefit, whatever the situation demands. Occasionally all you will be expected to do is show up and mingle."
A jolt of elation shot through Emily. “It sounds exciting and challenging."
Lee nodded. “It is. But there's another very pedestrian side. You will be expected to visit each of the sixteen branch libraries once each month and then file a report with me about the status and progress of the volunteer program at each branch. It's a demanding, time-consuming task.” He leaned forward. “Well, what do you say?"
"What about salary?” Emily asked, thinking this was too good to be true.
Lee smiled. “Mrs. Franklin, something tells me you are definitely the woman for this job, excuse me, position.” He quoted a figure that left Emily wide-eyed and staring.
When she could find her voice she said, “Mr. Morgan, you have just hired a new Public Relations Coordinator. When do I start?"
Lee rubbed his hands together. “Is right now too soon?"
"Not at all.” It would certainly beat going home to an empty house.
"Then come along.” Lee stood. “Let me show you to your office."
Her own office, this was more than Emily had dared hope for. She was elated. But it was elation overlaid by a lingering sadness that showed no signs of going away. She wondered, as she followed Lee out the door, if she would ever lose this feeling of betrayal and loss.
Chapter 4
Emily smiled at the handsome man who sat across the table from her. “Thad, you are an incurable optimist."
Thad returned her smile. “Well, Buddy, you win a few and you lose a few."
Three months had come and gone since Emily's first date with Thad. He had dubbed her Buddy the night she had quietly but firmly rebuffed his sexual advances. “I can offer you friendship, nothing more.” They were parked atop Lookout Point. A strange place, Emily had thought, for a man of Thad's age and standing to bring a woman.
Thad took her refusal in stride. “You remind me of an old song.” He began to sing, off-key. “I only want a buddy, not a sweetheart."
"I'm flattered that you're attracted to me,” Emily found herself saying. “But sex without commitment leaves me cold."
Thad laughed with good humor. “And commitment, with or without sex, scares the hell out of me.” He eyed her skeptically. “Do you really mean it about us being friends?"
"Yes, I do. I admire you as a person and enjoy your company very much."
Thad rubbed his chin. “I never had a woman friend before. I never knew a woman before that I wanted for a friend, but now ... all right, Buddy.” Wiping his hand down the leg of his pants, he extended it in her direction. “It's a deal."
Emily shook his hand vigorously. “As one old buddy to another, I need to get home. I'm still trying to get used to getting up so early in the mornings."
After that brief but honest encounter, Thad stopped trying to get Emily into his bed. But he continued to call once or twice a week and to escort her to some of the many social functions her new job demanded she attend. He had also acquired the habit of meeting her for lunch each Wednesday at the restaurant across from the library.
Over the past three months, they had become good friends, discovering somewhere along the way that they had a great deal in common and shared a
Similar Books
