He grabbed his self-control with both hands and deliberately took a step toward safety. Early in his career a coach had told him that he had one job on the field. To catch the football and run it to the end zone. Nothing else mattered. The advice had served him well.
When it came to Bailey, he only had to remember one thing. She wasnt for him. If he kept that in mind, he would be fine.
I should have asked, she said. Did you want some coffee? We have a pot going.
Im good.
Something flashed in her eyes and her smile broadened. He wanted to ask what she was thinking, but before he could, shed opened the door to the mayors office and led the way inside.
The space was large with a huge desk and big windows. There were three flags behind the mayors desk. The U.S. Flag, the California state flag and one that he guessed was the seal of Fools Gold.
Mayor Marsha was in her sixties with white hair. She wore suits or dresses and pearls. On the surface she wasnt the least bit intimidating, but hed seen grown men bow to her bidding and be unable to explain why.
Today she had on a red dress. She smiled welcomingly when he followed Bailey to her desk, then rose and shook his hand.
Mr. Scott, thank you so much for seeing me.
Uh-huh, like he believed hed had a choice. Kenny, please.
She motioned for him to sit. Bailey took the chair next to his and Mayor Marsha settled back in her seat.
The older woman studied him for a moment before nodding. As if shed just made a decision. Kenny briefly wondered how big a pain in his butt that decision was going to be.
As you know, she began, we have various service projects for our FWM groves.
Sure.
Fools Gold had its own version of scouting. Future Warriors of the Máa-zib. The Máa-zib tribe was the former indigenous tribe of the area. They had been a matriarchal society, so the FWM was for girls from age six to maybe ten. They progressed from Acorns in year one to Sprouts and so on until their final year when they were Mighty Oaks. The girls were in groves and there was a Grove Keeper.
Taryn, one of his business partners, was a co-leader of a grove with her husband, Angel. Chloe, Baileys daughter, was in their grove. Kenny had helped her and one of her friends learn knots this past spring.
You know the Sprouts? the mayor asked.
Taryns grove? Sure. He looked at Bailey, but she seemed as puzzled as he was.
Is there a problem with the Sprouts? she asked her boss. Chloe hasnt said anything.
All is well, the mayor assured her. However, there is a slight logistical problem. Each grove has a service project for the year. The Sprouts want to have a toy drive for the holidays. An admirable and ambitious project to be sure. But with Taryn and Angel traveling for the next month, they have no leader.
Taryns not traveling, Kenny said. She would have said something to him and his partners. Hed just seen her yesterday at their staff meeting.
She and Angel are going to Fiji for a month, Mayor Marsha told him. So the Sprouts will need someone to temporarily take over the grove. I immediately thought of you two.
Kenny felt the walls closing in. No way. Not him. He couldnt be responsible for a bunch of little girls. Even if he had the time, which he probably did, he didnt want to get involved that way. It was too close. Too personal. Plus the mayor had said him and Bailey. He couldnt work with her. Not up close. She was too sexy and desirable.
Id love to, Bailey said quickly. She smiled at Kenny, then turned back to the mayor. Its a great idea. This is only Chloes second Christmas without her father. Last year was so hard on her. I was worried how she would handle the holidays. I think focusing on collecting toys for needy children will help her see the joy in the season.
Kenny swore silently. Totally tempting and nice to boot. Wasnt that his luck? How was he supposed to say no now? He would look like a jerk. Plus, he liked Chloe. He didnt want her sad over Christmas. He believed in self-preservation but not in being a jerk.
Kenny swore silently. Totally tempting and nice to boot. Wasnt that his luck? How was he supposed to say no now? He would look like a jerk. Plus, he liked Chloe. He didnt want her sad over Christmas. He believed in self-preservation but not in being a jerk.
Excellent. The mayor handed them each a folder. Here are the approved collection sites. The girls will each need to decorate a bin and then the bins will need to be emptied regularly. The toy drive will start the Saturday after Thanksgiving. That gives you time to organize the decorating and placing of the bins. The toys will be delivered to Sacramento on the nineteenth of December. Theyll be distributed that weekend.
She gave a few more instructions, then thanked them both for agreeing to help. It was only when Kenny found himself outside the office that he realized hed never agreed at all. Not that he was going to mention that now.
He sat in the visitors chair at Baileys desk and opened his folder. The neatly printed sheets detailed everything that had to be done.