Read Online This Very Moment by Rachel Ann Nunes - Free Book Online

thought. This is just a deal we made, not a date. Yet the anticipation of seeing her again had been building for nearly a week. He had thought about calling her—but what would he have said?
    Kylee opened the door with a cheerful smile. “Hi. Come on in. I have to get my purse in my room.”
    He whistled appreciatively, eyeing the glittering bronze and gold dress she wore. It was long sleeved and completely modest, but the snug fit and the design of the bronze over gold gave it the allure of a strapless dress. The warm colors set off her blond hair and green eyes better than the silver dress she had worn before. “You look wonderful!”
    She spun around for him and gave a little curtsy. “I told you I have a lot of these things. This is my favorite, though. I haven’t worn it for a while.” She took his arm and led him inside her living room. Unlike his condo, her apartment was small and filled with furniture, color, and life. “Look around, if you like. I’ll get my purse.” She disappeared down a narrow hall.
    Bill gravitated toward the throng of pictures on the white-painted mantel above the pseudo fireplace. These would give him a glimpse into Kylee’s life. Besides a snapshot of Nicole, Bill didn’t recognize anyone in the pictures. Probably friends or family he had never met. Was one of the men Kylee’s ex-husband? One small picture in an elaborate gold frame drew his attention: a close up of a tiny newborn baby, eyes shut tight against the world. There was something odd about the child that Bill couldn’t pinpoint. He picked up the frame and turned it over. On the back was the single word Emily and a date nearly four years earlier.
    Kylee returned to the room. “I’m ready.” Her smile faded when she saw what he held in his hands.
    “Who’s this?” he asked, unable to stop his curiosity.
    “It’s Emily, one of the many children modern medicine couldn’t save.” Kylee’s voice held a deep sadness. “I keep her picture here to remind me that I can make a difference in children’s lives, even if I can’t save them all.” She crossed the room and took the picture from him, setting it down carefully on the mantel.
    “She was special to you.”
    “Each is special, Bill. That’s why I have to help them.”
    He took her hand, wanting to take away her sadness. “You’re doing a great job. Three million at one dinner is proof of that.”
    “More has come in since then. We’re using it to set up a television ad campaign that I feel is going to top anything I’ve ever done before. We’ll be able to help all of the kids on Children’s Hope’s waiting list, and more.”
    “When do the ads start?”
    “Today. They’ll be on nearly every channel. Not a lot of choice spots, since those were sold weeks ago, but it’ll be enough. And I’ve bought better spots for later.”
    Bill started for the door. “Sounds like you’ve had a busy week.”
    “I’ll say.” Kylee opened a closet and took out a long duster that matched her dress. It didn’t look very warm. “The biggest problem I had was convincing Elaina and Troy—the heads of the charity—to let me use a good portion of the money I already raised to pay for the commercials. They’re afraid to lose what they have.”
    Bill helped her pull on the wrap. “With that video, you can’t go wrong.” Out in the hall, he waited for Kylee to lock her door before punching the button on the ancient elevator.
    “That’s what convinced them. Of course, I had to whittle the video down so that most spots will be either thirty or sixty seconds. Now I’m in the process of trying to get the news on each station to do a story on us. That way we can gain some authenticity in the public eye.”
    “So the people don’t think you’re making off with their money.”
    “Exactly. Several of the newspapers have already agreed to carry the full story.”
    “When the TV ads are aired, how will you collect the donations?”
    “I have a company I usually