by Shirley Jump
Marnie sighed. “He’s Jack Knight. The owner of Knight Enterprises.”
A light dawned in Erica’s eyes and she let out a little gasp. “Jack Knight? Of Knight Enterprises infamy? The same one that invested in Dad’s business years ago?”
Marnie nodded, then explained how she’d met Jack, and what had transpired in the weeks since, leaving off the bit about kissing him.
“Okay, but that still doesn’t explain why you blush every time you talk about him,” Erica said.
Marnie sighed. “He kissed me.”
“He...what? He kissed you? Really? Oh, my God,” she said, her voice reaching Roberta-worthy decibels. “Did you kiss him back?”
“Yes, but only because he took me by surprise. And it won’t happen again, I can tell you that. I reacted out of...instinct.”
Yeah, right. She’d kissed him because of a reflex, not desire. Liar.
Erica typed something into the laptop computer beside her, waited a second, then turned the screen toward Marnie. “Oh, I’m sure it was instinct to kiss that hunk of yummy. Any woman with a pulse’s instinct.”
Marnie looked at Jack’s image, one of those professional photos done for the corporate website. He had a serious, no-nonsense look on his face, along with a navy power suit and a dark crimson tie. The Jack Knight in the photo was powerful, commanding. None of the teasing looks or charming grins he’d given her. And yet, her body reacted the same, with that instant zing of desire. Curse the man for being so damned good looking. “Okay, so he’s cute.”
“So, what are you going to do about him? Now that you’re done kissing him?”
“I don’t know. I want to hate him, and I do, I really do, but...”
“A part of you is starting to like him?”
Marnie shook her head. “No, not at all.”
Erica just laughed. “You do realize that when you shook your head, you then gave a slight nod? If this were an interrogation, it would totally negate your strong protests to the contrary.”
“The trouble is, he seems nice. Not at all the evil corporate raider I pictured.” Marnie thought of the gym he’d invested in, the coffee shop owner who loved him and raved about him, the family he adored. Twice, Jack had told her he wasn’t as bad as she thought he was, yet he represented everything that had hurt her mother, her family. She shook her head. “Either way, he’s all wrong for me.”
“Then you better stop kissing him,” Erica said with a grin. “Or next you’ll end up in bed with the enemy.”
* * *
Later that morning, Marnie and Erica closed up the office and headed across town to the Second Chance shelter and work counseling center. The two of them had been volunteering there for years, a good cause that helped struggling people find work.
Even though her workload had quadrupled because of the distracting thoughts about Jack, Marnie welcomed the break from the office. She’d get away from her sister’s prying eyes, the ringing of the telephone, and the daisies that still sat on her desk. All reminders of Jack, and how close she kept coming to falling for Mr. Wrong.
She wanted a steady, dependable man. One who wanted a quiet, predictable life. None of this heady, crazy, spontaneity that came with Jack. He was a risk, a giant one. Hadn’t she already seen how bad a risk like that could ruin someone? She had no desire to do the same.
A silver sports car glided to a stop in the lane beside her, and she flicked a quick glance at the driver. Darn it. Every silver car she saw reminded her of Jack Knight. Heck, even though she knew better, he’d been on her mind the better part of the day and nearly all night. Her hormones hadn’t gotten the memo from her brain that he was No Good for Her. Maybe she just needed more time.
And less silver sports cars on the Boston roads. Because despite her better judgment, she couldn’t stop from looking in the driver’s side window, a part of her hoping to see a dark-haired, blue-eyed man.
Erica had dropped the subject of Jack, thank goodness, and talked on the drive about her plans for the weekend. They drove across town, then parked outside a converted two-family home that had been turned into a combination shelter and education center for people down on their luck. Second Chance had been started a few years ago by a group of local businesspeople who wanted to give back to the community, and had been successful with a large percentage of the people it served. Marnie had supported the organization from day one with monetary donations, a couple of career workshops, and clothing donations. She’d used her network to help several of the residents find jobs, and sent numerous leads to the director. It was a good cause, and one she wished every business in Boston would get behind.
She and Erica grabbed two big bags of clothes Marnie had to donate, and headed inside. Linda, the director, came out of her office to help. Linda was a tall, thin, energetic woman who always had a ready smile for everyone she met. Her ash blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail, which gave her blue floral dress and practical white sneakers a fun touch. “Oh, bless you, Marnie. The ladies here will be so glad to see all this.”
“No problem. It’s the least I can do. Where do you want everything?”
Linda directed her to a room down the hall that had been converted into a giant closet. “Marnie, if you could just set the items up on the hangers, then they’ll be ready for after our event. Oh, and Erica, since you’re here, too, can I borrow you to help with lunch service for a little bit? We’re short-handed today. We had more people than I expected show up to hear our speaker today.”
“Sure. I’d be glad to.” Erica headed into the kitchen, while Marnie hung up the clothes and set up the shoes she’d brought. It was good, easy, mindless work that kept her from dwelling on impossible situations.
Ten minutes later, Marnie had finished. The antsy feeling had yet to go away, so she started straightening and pacing again. From down the hall, she heard a strong round of applause and the murmur of voices.
The speaker Linda had mentioned. Whoever it was, he or she was enjoying an enthusiastic response from the attendees. Linda often brought in motivational speakers, who left their listeners with a renewed enthusiasm. Might be worth popping in for a minute and listening, Marnie decided. It was better than rehanging shirts and straightening skirts, or wearing a path from the hall to the window.
She crossed into a large room that used to be a dining room, but had been opened up and turned into a mini auditorium, now utilized for speakers, AA meetings, and other events. Rows and rows of folding chairs filled the space, and not a one was vacant. At the podium stood a tall, thin man Marnie recognized as Harvey, a frequent visitor to Second Chance. He had started out homeless, addicted to drugs, and had turned his life around in recent years, becoming a volunteer and counselor at the very place that helped him. She liked Harvey, especially his positive attitude and his belief in perseverance.
“I can’t thank this man enough for what he did,” Harvey was saying. “He gave me a job when no one else would, he told me he believed in me when no one else did, and he became a friend when no one else was around. I’m proud as heck to introduce my mentor and good friend, Jack Knight, to all of you.”
Marnie bit back a gasp. Jack? Here? Being touted as the best thing to come along since sliced bread? By Harvey of all people?
She ducked to the right to hide behind a thick green potted plant, just as Jack strode into the room, wearing jeans and a pale green button-down shirt that made his eyes seem even bluer. Her body reacted with a rush of heat, and her mind replayed that kiss in the car. God, she wanted him, even now, even when she shouldn’t.
He stepped up to the podium, thanking Harvey for his warm introduction. The crowd greeted Jack with renewed enthusiasm, and several shouted his name and a welcome back. After the applause died down, Jack began to speak.
She expected one of those speeches about corporate responsibility. Or putting your best foot
forward in a job interview. But instead, Jack delivered a commentary that had the audience riveted, and Marnie rooted to the spot.
“You will always have people who will tell you that your dreams aren’t worth having,” Jack said. “People who think their way is the only way, and that anyone who takes another path is wrong. They’ll try to cut you down, or talk you out of your plans. Work to convince you that they have the right answers, or maybe even tell you to pull the plug and give up. Move on. Do something else. It can take a great deal of courage to forge forward, to keep believing in yourself. But I’m here to tell you that it’s worth it in the end.”
Applause, a few whoops of support.
Jack nodded, then went on. He didn’t read from cue cards, or anything prepared, but rather, seemed to speak from his heart. His gaze connected with every person in the audience, and they connected right back with him. “You’ve heard the old adage that you have to fight for what you believe in, and that is true. But they don’t tell you that the first fight you have to have is for yourself. Start by fighting for you, and fighting those doubts that keep you stuck in the wrong place, because you matter.” At this, he pointed at the crowd, then at Harvey, then at himself. “And once you know that, the rest of the battle gets easier.”
More applause, more whoops. Marnie felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to find Erica beside her.
“Oh, my God, is that Jack Knight?” Erica asked.
Marnie nodded. “I had no idea he was going to be here today.”
“Wow, he’s even cuter in person than he is in his picture,” Erica whispered. “And without the suit and tie, he’s downright sexy.”
“He is,” Marnie admitted. “And the people here love him. His speech is great.”
“Seems to me that’s a good enough reason to take a chance on him.” Erica shrugged. “We could have him all wrong.”
“Or he could be the greatest BS artist to come along in years.”
“True. But he did bring you daisies. Doesn’t that mean he deserves a second look? Or at least a chance to explain why he did what he did with Dad’s business?” Erica cast another glance at Jack. “Until you do, I don’t think you can truly know whether to hate him or love him.”
“Love him?” Marnie scoffed. “I can barely stand him.”
Erica laughed. “Oh, yeah, I can see that in the way you stare at him.”
“I fixed him up with other women, Erica. I’m not interested in Jack Knight.”
Except she had gone out on two, no, three dates with him, if she counted the dinner with their parents. And she’d been thinking about him non-stop for days. Kissed him twice. Desired him more than she’d desired anyone else.
“Pity. He seems like a really nice guy.” Erica glanced over her shoulder, saw Linda heading for the kitchen and gave her sister a light touch on the shoulder. “I have to get back to lunch service. Just remember what Dad used to say. You can’t judge the house until you see the inside. You don’t know the whole story of Dad’s house, and you don’t know the whole story of Jack’s. You don’t know if Jack tried to help Dad and he refused to listen. Our father was a great visionary but not the best businessman in the world.”
“All the more reason why he needed an investor who would help him, not just throw some money at him then step back and watch him drown. Regardless, Jack is a constant reminder to all of us of what happened with Dad. We don’t need that in our lives.”
“Maybe. But you won’t know unless you ask him about it.” Erica leaned in to whisper in Marnie’s ear, with emphasis on the last few words. “Stop being afraid to look inside and find out the truth. You keep this tight little leash on everything, Marnie. Sometimes taking a risk is good for you, and your heart.”
Erica left the room. Marnie debated following, but Jack’s voice drew her in again. “That’s the business I’m really in,” he was saying, “one where I support dreams. I am honored to have been rewarded for my work, too.”
Financially, the cynic in Marnie thought.
“I’m not talking about money,” Jack said as if he’d read her mind. “It’s the people. When you put passion and belief into what you do, it translates into the people around you, and you pay it forward with every business decision you make. For me, it’s the bookstore owner who has the funds to start a literacy program for adult learners. The daycare owner who can now afford to offer a drop-in service for parents who are looking for jobs. The handyman firm that has expanded into two more cities, and hired great people like Harvey here. These are people who took a risk and it paid off. Their thank-yous are worth more than any number on the bottom line, and at the end of the day, bring you a satisfaction you won’t find anywhere else.” He stepped out from behind the podium and into the audience, as far as the mike’s cord allowed. “So take a chance, go after your dreams, and you’ll enjoy a return on that investment that is ten-fold.”
The audience erupted into applause. People got to their feet, cheering Jack and his words, reaching for him to tell him how impressed they were, thanking him for his message.
Heck of a speech, Marnie thought. Almost had her convinced he was a nice guy.
The crowd began to disperse, some people heading for the platters of cookies and coffee at the back of the room, while others opted for lunch in the kitchen. Many of the people raved about Jack’s speech, clear fans of him now. Maybe her father had been sold on some “support the dream” speech, too, and been too blind to see the reality of the situation.
Except that didn’t match the father she’d known. Yes, he’d been terrible at business—more of a creative than an accountant—but he’d been an incredible judge of character. Tom could pick a con artist out of a room of a hundred people, and many of the people he’d had handshake deals with over the years had turned out to be his best friends. He’d known in a minute if someone had a good heart or bad intentions.
If that was so, then why had he signed an agreement with Knight Enterprises? How could he have missed the writing on the wall? Or had Jack tried, and failed, to help Tom’s business?
He brought you daisies, Erica had said. Doesn’t that mean he deserves a second look?
Marnie lingered in the room, watching Jack interact with several of the people at Second Chance. She stayed behind her veil of greenery, her feet rooted to the spot. A woman Marnie knew well, a single mom named Luanne, stepped over to Jack. Within seconds, Luanne was crying, and Marnie’s heart went out to her. She knew life had been tough for Luanne lately—not only had she lost her job, but also her home after a bitter divorce. She’d been staying at Second Chance for a few weeks now and had been the one with the idea of a donated career dress day to help the women looking for work.
“You told us to follow our dreams,” Luanne said to Jack, “but I lost all mine. I don’t know what to do now.”
Jack’s face was kind, his eyes soft. “What did you do before for work?”
“Data entry at a newspaper, working in the subscription department.”
“And did you love that?”
The room had emptied out, with most of the people heading for lunch in the kitchen, a few lingering in the hall. Spring sunshine streamed in through the windows, bright, cheery, hopeful, like it was trying to coax Luanne into believing brighter days were on the horizon.
Luanne shook her head. “I hated that job. I only took it because I wanted to be a writer. Then one year turned into two, turned into ten...” She shrugged.
Jack reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a pen, one of those expensive ones, with a heavy silver barrel. He pressed the ballpoint into the woman’s hand. “Take this,” he said, “and write with it.”
“Write what?”
“About your journey. About your life lessons. About anything you want. Back when I was young and had lots to say, I wrote novels and short stories. I even started out in college pu
rsuing a degree in writing, before I switched to a major in business. A part of me still loves writing, the whole process of collecting my thoughts and forming them into stories.” Jack shrugged. “No one will ever read what I write, but that’s okay because it’s just a hobby for me. You, though, you have a dream and a passion. I could see it in your eyes when I gave you the pen and said ‘write.’ It was as if that lit a fire deep inside you. So go, and write. The world needs more writers, especially ones with life experiences to share.”
Luanne scoffed. “Who wants to hear my sob story?”
Jack held her gaze, and that smile Marnie had memorized curved across his face. “I do. And I bet the publisher at the community magazine wants to hear it, too. Send it my way when you’re done, and I’ll get it to him.”
Tears glimmered in Luanne’s eyes. She clutched the pen so tight, her knuckles whitened. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Don’t thank me. Just take this dream, and spread it to another. Someday, you’ll give someone else a pen or a kind word or some advice, and that will start them on their journey.” Jack gave Luanne a gentle hug, then said goodbye and crossed to the coffeepot.
Marnie told her feet to move. Told herself to leave the room. But she remained cemented where she was, behind the plant, watching Jack approach.
Jack Knight, the demon who had destroyed her father, helping a woman down on her luck. Jack Knight, the man who kept getting her to step out of her comfort zone and let her hair down. Jack Knight, the man who had ignited something raw, urgent, and terrifying, deep inside her. Telling people to go after their dreams. Was it all a front?
A riot of emotions ran through her in the few seconds it took Jack to go from one end of the room to the other. She kept trying so hard to hate him but the feeling refused to stick.
In the end, indecision won out. Jack’s blue eyes lit and his smile broadened when he spied her behind the plant. A sweet, delicious warmth spread through Marnie, and despite her better judgment, she found herself stepping out from behind the plant and giving him a smile of her own.