Page 56 of Lennox Lane

He lifted a box onto the dolly. “Moisturized.”

“You look humbled.”

“I look helpful.”

“You look like community service is working you.”

Andre barked out a laugh.

Lennox pointed at Lane. “You enjoying this?”

“Immensely.”

“I donated money.”

“And now you’re donating sweat. Full-circle philanthropy.”

He leaned close enough to lower his voice. “You like seeing me work.”

Lane’s eyes swept over his arms, then back to his face. “I like seeing you follow instructions.”

He smiled. “Give me some later.”

Her mouth opened.

Andre made a choking sound behind them.

Lane’s eyes narrowed, but color warmed her cheeks. “Unload your truck, criminal.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She walked away, and Lennox watched her go because he was a man with eyes who loved to see a perfectly round ass in motion.

Andre slapped a box against his chest. “Keep moving, lover boy.”

Lennox caught it with a grin. “Yes, sir.”

By the time the truck was empty, the food bank had opened. Families moved through the front pantry with baskets. Volunteers guided people down the aisles of shelves organized by category. In the kitchen, steam clouded the pass window as containers of hot meals were lined up for pickup. Ms. Cora seemed to know everyone’s name and preferred cereal brand. Marisol moved through it all with her tablet, solving problems before most people noticed them.

Lennox washed his hands in the back, accepted a paper towel from a volunteer who looked at him as if she were still deciding whether he was fine or felonious, then went looking for Lane.

He found her near the side hallway that led to the administrative offices. Her face was balled up but not in an irritated manner. Her jaw was tight, and her shoulders squared. Her smile was so polite it could have drawn blood.

The man standing in front of her was a stocky Black man in a poorly fitted gray suit that pulled too tightly across his middle and shined at the elbows. His tie was too short. His shoes were too glossy. His smile had the oily confidence of somebody who had practiced looking harmless in mirrors and failed anyway. Lennox slowed, and Lane’s eyes shifted to him.

“Everything okay?” he asked, stopping beside Lane.

The man turned, eyes sweeping Lennox from head to toe before his smile expanded. “Everything’s fine. Just having a business conversation with Ms. Sanders.”

Lennox looked at Lane. Her face said, I’m going to explain later and possibly commit a misdemeanor before lunch.

The man extended his hand. “Curtis Bell. Community acquisition consultant.”

Lennox shook his hand. “Lennox Jackson.”

Curtis’s smile flickered. He knew the name. Not well enough to be afraid yet, but enough to reassess the room.

Good.