“Are employees and volunteers allowed to take clothes home?”
Terri shook her head. “The donated items are strictly for clients.”
“Are they allowed to buy things?”
Again, the woman shook her head. “It’s important that no one has the opportunity to profit from the items that are donated to Windfall. We have signed contracts with our agencies that they will provide clothing free of charge to those in need.”
It was a simple, effective idea, Chloe acknowledged—matching manufacturer and retailer overstock to agencies through a clearinghouse that ensured the items went where they were most needed. The donors received tax write-offs on products that might otherwise wind up in landfills; the agencies and shelters received much-needed items to satisfy the ever-increasing demand. Even more remarkable, the organization relied solely on private donations and fund-raising events.
“How long have you been working here?” Chloe asked Terri.
“About eight years now. Every year Windfall has grown, and unfortunately, so has the need.”
Terri appeared to be one of a handful of full-time employees, and the woman was dedicated to Windfall. It was clear she put in more hours than a standard workweek simply out of love for the organization.
Chloe continued sorting invoices by date. “How long has Andy been here?”
“That’s a good question. I’m not sure—he was here when I started, and it seems as if he’s always around.”
The door to the office opened and Terri said, “Speak of the devil.”
Chloe looked up to see the man whose face had plagued her dreams last night. Today he was dressed in jeans and a navy sweatshirt that reflected the blue in his eyes. He gave them a wicked grin. “My ears were burning, so I thought I’d come in to eavesdrop.”
Terri laughed and waved him off. “Chloe was asking how long you’ve been here, and I couldn’t tell her.”
“Hmm.” He looked up to the ceiling. “I guess it’s been about ten years now.”
Admirable, Chloe conceded, because she knew the man couldn’t make much money driving a delivery truck for Windfall. Maybe he was the kind of guy who wanted a flexible, low-pressure job to give him time for other pursuits.
Unlike Ted, who tended to operate at extremes. He put in long workweeks, and on weekends, he preferred a drink in one hand and a TV remote control in the other. He didn’t have many interests outside his dental practice and his friends...and Chloe. His career was his top priority, but it would afford them a very comfortable life together.
“How’s the first day going?” Andy asked Chloe.
“She’s doing great,” Terri enthused.
“Just trying to learn my way around,” Chloe said.
He nodded, but seemed to study her. Then he threw up his hand and backed toward the door. “Gotta make a delivery. Have a good one, ladies.”
When the door closed behind him, Chloe felt Terri’s gaze on her.
“Andy’s cute,” Terri offered.
“I hadn’t noticed,” she replied.
“And he’s single.”
“But I’m not,” Chloe murmured, hiding her bare left hand. Even though she’d torn her bedroom apart, she still hadn’t found her engagement ring.
She excused herself to visit the washroom, which happened to be in the warehouse. Chloe tried to seem casual as she checked for any sign of Andy, but the man wasn’t around. Relieved, she took the long way to the washroom, scanning the pallets of clothes for anything that resembled formal wear or dress bags. She smiled at the gloved workers sorting things, and tried to look as if she belonged there.
“Searching for something?”
At the sound of Andy’s voice, Chloe froze between two mountains of what looked to be women’s pajamas. She turned around and smiled. “Yes—the washroom.”
He pointed to the opposite end of the warehouse. “Over there.”
She nodded. “Okay...thanks. I thought you were going out on a delivery.”
“The truck wasn’t loaded yet.”
“Oh. Well, thanks.” She moved to step past him.
“I see you’re still not wearing your engagement ring,” he said, nodding to her hand.
Annoyance flashed through her. “It’s...being cleaned.”
“Gee, it must be a big one if it takes that long.”
She gritted her teeth. “It is.”
He smiled and gave her his signature salute. “See you later.”
Chloe walked away, frustrated. How was she ever going to find her dress with that man seemingly stalking her every move?
Andy watched the lovely Chloe retreat. The plot thickened.
* * *
CHLOE SETTLED INTO a routine of working with Terri in the office from seven to nine every morning and sneaking away whenever possible to walk up and down the aisles of donated items. She was feeling a little desperate by the end of the week, when she still hadn’t seen any sign of inventory from Melinda’s shop. She hoped it was still at the bottom of one of the pallets, waiting to be processed.
She’d been working furiously on the receipts in the office, catching up to only a three-day lag from when the clothes left the warehouse. She continued to ask questions about the process, trying to figure out how she might circumvent the paperwork and find out where the dresses had been stored in the massive warehouse. But as near as she could tell, the receipt she was looking for must be in one of the stacks that the couple of dozen warehouse assistants maintained at their stations. And she couldn’t very well go around asking to riffle through them all.
“Would it be all right if I collected receipts from the warehouse assistants?” Chloe asked on Friday morning.
Terri looked up. “They usually just drop them off when they have a pile.”
“I know, but I was thinking I might come in tomorrow and try to get caught up.”
Terri smiled. “That’s not necessary. We’ve learned to accept that we’re always going to be a little behind in the office.”
“I’d like to,” Chloe pressed.
The woman shrugged. “Okay. You’re amazing. I hope you decide to stay around here.”
Chloe felt a twinge of guilt, but told herself that her motivation wasn’t important—she was doing work that needed to be done. That was what mattered.
Wasn’t it?
Meanwhile, she scrupulously avoided Andy Shearer whenever possible, which wasn’t easy. The man was everywhere. Anytime he saw her in the warehouse, he approached her and struck up a conversation. Worse, he kept staring at her left hand.
And she still hadn’t found her darn ring. Tomorrow after leaving Windfall and running errands, she intended to tear apart her bedroom before her dinner date with Ted. She’d been able to avoid explaining the ring’s absence only because they were both so busy getting their affairs in order before leaving for their honeymoon, they’d barely had a chance to talk, much less see each other. If she got lucky, maybe she’d find her dress and the ring tomorrow. Then everything would be perfect again.
She entered the warehouse and began going around to the assistants to collect receipts. “Just trying to get a jump on the paperwork,” she explained to each one. “By the way, a friend of mine who runs a bridal shop donates to Windfall—do you remember any wedding dresses coming in lately?”
The warehouse assistants spent the entire day on their feet, moving between the loading docks, instructing forklift operators where to drop their load and continually trying to stay on top of all the sorting, plus packing outgoing pallets to meet the various agencies’ requirements. Despite the harried environment, each of them took the time to greet her and respond kindly to her not-so-innocent question, once again dredging up guilty feelings in Chloe for imposing on their time. She’d already spoken to half of them, but no one remembered logging in a shipment of wedding gowns.
“Looks like you could use a hand.”
Chloe closed her eyes and swallowed a bad word. Then she turned and smiled brightly at Andy. “No, t
hanks.”
Ignoring her response, he took the armload of papers from her and proceeded to follow her around as she collected receipts from other assistants, his big ears effectively thwarting her attempt to ask questions.
“You must be getting caught up in the office,” he commented. “Terri can’t say enough about how wonderful your work is.”
“She’s just glad to have an extra set of hands,” Chloe said, feeling her blood pressure rise at his proximity. Why did the man have to be so...observant?
“Speaking of hands—I’m dying to see this gigantic engagement ring of yours. Are you saving it for a special occasion?”
Chloe frowned. “Don’t you have something to do?”
He grinned. “Nothing more interesting.”
She turned her back and collected a sheaf of papers from the next assistant. “I’m not that interesting.”
“I disagree,” he said smoothly.
Chloe glanced at her watch. “Oh, look at the time. I have to go.”
“Planning any good parties today?” he asked, following her back toward the office.
“As a matter of fact, I am—my bridal brunch is on Sunday,” she said pointedly.
“Sounds like a blast. Are all your friends as high society as you?”
Chloe stopped and looked up at him, thinking he’d be surprised to know that she came from very modest means, that her entrée into high society had been recent and by way of Ted and her fledgling business. Andy’s arrogance infuriated her.
“You don’t know me,” she said, her chest rising and falling. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“But I’d like to.”
His words sent a warm tickle to her stomach. The thought I’d like to get to know you, too, floated through her head until she realized the insanity of the notion. Exasperated at her response to him, she said, “Are you deaf? I’m getting married in two weeks.”
“Don’t you have any room in your life for another friend?”
Chloe considered the man before her and tamped down the confusing emotions churning within her. He was maddening. And the way her pulse picked up when he was nearby eliminated the possibility that they could ever just be friends. Besides, she didn’t plan to be at Windfall any longer than necessary.
She reached out and took the papers he was carrying, adding them to her considerable stack. “I have all the friends I need,” she said, and walked back into the office.
Terri glanced up at her. “Is everything okay between you and Andy?”
“Fine,” Chloe said, putting down the receipts she planned to tackle tomorrow and picking up her purse. “Have a good day.”
CHAPTER
FIVE
CHLOE WAS EAGER to get to Windfall the next morning, eager to ask the rest of the warehouse assistants if they were aware of a wedding-gown shipment, and then go through all the receipts she’d collected the previous day. A slow drip of panic had begun to remind her that she had only two weeks left to find her wedding gown. She simply couldn’t fathom walking down the aisle wearing anything else.
Terri wasn’t coming in today, so upon arriving, Chloe sat in the quiet office and sifted through the receipts, her heart pounding. When she reached the last one, she heaved a sigh of relief. No receipt from the bridal shop with outgoing agency codes meant that chances were good the wedding gown was still somewhere in the warehouse.
The place was abuzz with activity this morning as more volunteers arrived. Which allowed her to mingle and move among the mounds of clothing without drawing too much attention to the fact that she was checking every section like a dog on the hunt.
“I didn’t expect to see you here today.”
Chloe stopped and swallowed a groan. Then she turned to face her handsome tormentor. “Likewise.”
Andy smiled widely, as if he knew that he got on her nerves and enjoyed it. “I see you’ve left the office to lend a hand out here.”
“Just trying to learn more about the organization,” she said breezily.
“Really? Would you like to see what happens to all these things?”
“What do you mean?”
He jerked his thumb toward a loading dock where a truck sat. “I’m getting ready to make a delivery. Why don’t you come with me?”
Alone with him in close quarters? “I don’t know,” she hedged.
“Come on, I could use an extra hand.” His eyes were warm and hopeful.
How was it possible that someone so maddening could be so irresistible? “Okay,” she heard herself say, even though she felt as if she were entering a hazardous zone.
He grinned. “Great. Let’s go.”
She followed him to the truck self-consciously and allowed him to help her climb into the seat. His big hands felt warm and capable on her arm and waist. A jolt of awareness warmed her all over. He smiled and winked before closing the door, then walked around and bounded into his own seat.
“Buckle up.”
She pulled the seat belt over her shoulder. “Where are we going?”
“To a community center to give out toys. Vaccinations are being administered, and the kids are generally more willing to come if they can take home something to play with.”
Chloe nodded and concentrated on the passing streetscape. “So you come in on Saturdays, too?”
“Most of the time. I thought Saturdays would be busy for you, with parties and all.”
“I’ve cut back a little to have time to get ready for my wedding,” she said, mentioning it as much as a reminder for herself as for him.
“Oh, right—the wedding. Is it going to be a big to-do?” Then he laughed. “Since you’re a party planner, I guess so, huh?”
“I suppose. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of.”
He grinned. “That’s where men and women are different.”
“You don’t want to get married?” she asked drily.
“Oh, sure, someday,” he said, surprising her with his enthusiasm. “I guess I’ve always dreamed about the bride, though, instead of the ceremony.”
Chloe hesitated a moment, then said, “So tell me about your bride.”
He shrugged. “I guess she’s more of an idea than a face, but if I had to describe her, I’d say pretty, of course, with a great smile.”
He threw Chloe a meaningful glance and she smiled in spite of herself.
“Kind and generous,” he continued, “and flexible.”
She frowned. “That’s a little pervy.”
He laughed out loud, a pleasing rumbling sound. “I meant flexible in terms of her attitude—willing to adapt.”
Chloe squirmed, wondering if he was going down his checklist of desirable traits in a woman for her benefit, implying that she wasn’t “flexible.” Not that it mattered. Then she frowned. Did Ted have a checklist? Did she?
“And you’ll know this woman when you see her?” Chloe asked.
He nodded confidently. “I have good instincts when it comes to sizing up people.”
There was that look again, as if he could peer directly into her dishonest heart and see the reason she had volunteered at Windfall. Chloe opened her mouth to confess, but realized suddenly that she didn’t want this man to think poorly of her.
“What does your fiancé do?” he asked.
Safer ground. “He’s a dentist.”
He grinned. “I’ll bet he has perfect teeth.”
Chloe shifted in her seat. How could he make something positive sound so frivolous, as if that was Ted’s best quality?
“Here we are,” he said, wheeling into a parking lot and driving to a far corner to bring the truck to a halt.
Chloe jumped down from the seat before he could come around to help her. She didn’t like the way she was starting to feel toward Andy, or the way he was making her feel about herself and her upcoming wedding. The man had a propensity to turning things on end.
He unhooked the back door of the truck and lifted it, causing the muscles in his arms to bunch in a most desira
ble way. Chloe looked away and chastised herself. She shouldn’t have come.
“I’m glad you came,” he said, as if he could read her mind. “The kids always react better when there’s a woman around.” He winked. “Me, too.”
She couldn’t help but laugh as he handed down net bags of toys and stuffed animals. She felt a little like Santa when they walked into the community center. The waiting room was crammed with small children, many of them sitting on their mothers’ laps or clinging to their knees. It was clear that most of them knew today’s visit involved some kind of needle, and they were under duress. Chloe’s heart squeezed for them.
But their expressions changed when they realized they could choose a toy from the many bags Chloe and Andy brought in. When Chloe extended a small doll to a shy little girl wearing a clean but shabby dress, a repressed memory slid into her head. She’d been a little girl much like this one, sitting on her mother’s lap, waiting to see the doctor. And someone had given her a toy—a colorful windmill on a stick that spun when she blew on it.
Chloe straightened and blinked back tears. Until this moment, she hadn’t realized the toy was charity; she only remembered how much better it had made her feel. She and her mother had benefited from an organization much like Windfall....
“Hey, are you okay?” Andy asked, looking suddenly concerned.
“I’m fine,” she said, hastily wiping her eyes.
“You’re crying.”
“I said I’m fine,” she repeated, more vehemently than she’d planned.
Andy’s expression gentled. He pulled a tissue from a box sitting on a nearby counter and handed it to her, then smiled at the next waiting child. Chloe took the tissue and dabbed at the corners of her eyes, watching Andy interact with the little ones. His comment about kids responding better to women didn’t seem to be true where he was concerned. Despite his large size, the children gravitated to him and squealed in delight as he pretended to steal noses with his thumb and wiggled his ears for them. Chloe felt her heart lurch sideways. Whenever Andy found the woman he’d been dreaming of, he would make a wonderful father. And he was the kind of man a woman would want to have babies with. He just seemed so genuine and full of life.
More Than Words: Acts of Kindness: Whispers of the HeartIt's Not About the DressThe Princess Shoes Page 10