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I didn’t judge. People were people.
I’d just taken it upon myself to clean up as much as I could.
While the tires were important, and we’d continue to work on that front, homelessness was my next project.
Purchasing the park was a first step.
I glanced back, unable to resist the pull Kane had on me.
This time he was gone.
And the frenzy slowed a fraction, but it was as if my cells knew we were in the same vicinity. I doubted they’d normalize until I was a safe distance away from him and he was out of my life once more.
“Where are we with the accounts?”
“Excellent. We have seventeen million in reserves.”
That eased the tightness in my chest. “Good. We may need to use that to buy a park.”
We were quiet as we strolled toward our office. Daddy had given me some prime space that belonged to the shipping company when I’d first founded Earth Warriors. He’d called it a donation for good.
I was pretty sure he’d done it in the hope I’d come back to New York and make a home base. It was his way of trying to keep me close.
As hard as it had been to be away from him and my grandparents, his efforts had failed. Though phone calls were hardly enough, it had kept us close whether I was in Uganda, Ukraine, or Utah. And I’d gotten my persistence from him. He never let distance come between us.Forget the damn phone, Earth Warrior.A few days later, wherever Penelope and I were in the world, he’d show up, lend a hand for however long he could manage to be away.
And I always felt renewed after spending any time with him . . . whether in person or not. I could use an infusion of renewal right about now.
He’d been more than a father. He’d been my friend.
Miss you, Daddy.
But I’d kept Daddy close by naming my organization Earth Warriors after the nickname he’d had for me. After all, he’d given me the love and support to pursue my passions. If not for his encouragement, I wouldn’t be the woman I was. I wouldn’t have had the courage to take life head-on.
I’d secured a small team of volunteers who had worked out of the space. They hadn’t wanted money. They’d wanted to make a difference. And we were.
Neil had joined us a few years after we’d started. New York was his permanent home and he was an excellent Chief Operating Officer.
All he asked in compensation was a place to live, food, and a small expenditure budget. He was one of the most generous people I’d ever known.
And you’re being a monster about him calling you Jo.
At least I only did that in my head.
“I’ve been a bit preoccupied lately, but know that I appreciate all you do so very much.”
The tips of his ears turned pink. “I’m just happy to have you around in person for a little while. We always do our best work when our heads are together.”
I looked down at my feet.
He’d been good about never pressing why I avoided New York, and I appreciated that. Neil was a good man. The kind any woman would be lucky to have.
“We should have dinner. A working one,” he quickly amended.
But there was hope in his eyes that went beyond a professional relationship. What was wrong with me?
Ethically, I’d prefer not to be personally involved with people who worked with me. But it wasn’t a hard and fast rule. Love happened when and where it happened. It was simple and complicated at the same time. I’d never attempted to stop it for others who worked with our organization even when it might have been smarter to do so.
What I felt for Neil was love, though not the all-consuming, soul mate variety.
