“I’m asking you to do some work for us.”
He looked at Liz again. Her skin heated. Her heartbeat jumped to double-time. He was actually considering it.
For her.
Something warm and syrupy flooded her system. He’d never done anything like this. It was overkill as a thank-you for her helping him through the flu. Donating money was more within his comfort zone. Especially donating anonymously. A secret donation of money, no matter how big, was easy for him.
But A Friend Indeed didn’t need his money as much as his help. And he was considering it.
Holding his gaze, Liz saw the debate in his eyes. He’d have to give up time, work with people. Ordinary people. Because someone from A Friend Indeed would have to accompany him. A stranger couldn’t go to the home of one of their abused women alone.
But, his money hadn’t been accepted. If he still wanted to do something nice for Liz, it would require his time. Something he rarely gave.
Continuing to hold Liz’s gaze he said, “What would I have to do?”
Liz smiled. Slowly. Gratefully. She didn’t care as much about a thank-you as she cared about A Friend Indeed. About the families in the homes that needed repairs. She’d been up close and personal with most of them, since her group was in charge of cleaning them for the families, and she knew just how bad some of the homes were.
Alyeen said, “Liz? What would he have to do?”
Liz faced Ayleen. “Cain paid his way through university working construction jobs in the summer. If he could spare the time, the house we moved Amanda into a few weeks ago has a lot of little things that need to be repaired.”
“It’s been years since I’ve done any hands-on construction. I can’t make any promises without seeing the house.”
Ayleen clapped her hands together with glee. “Understandable. I’ll have Liz take you to Amanda’s.”
Liz’s heart thumped. She wanted his help, the group needed his help, but she didn’t want to have to be with him to get it.
“I’m not sure I can,” Liz said at the same time that Cain said, “That’s not necessary.”
“You’re a stranger to us,” Ayleen firmly told Cain. “For the safety and assurance of our families, I want you with someone from the board at all times.” She faced Liz. “Liz, you’ve been at Amanda’s every weekend since she moved in anyway. And you obviously know Cain. You’re the best person to accompany him to Amanda’s tomorrow.” She smiled at Liz. “Please.”
Drat. She shouldn’t have mentioned her knowledge about Cain’s construction experience. But she had been amazed and grateful that he was willing to help. She’d be crazy or shrewish to refuse to do her part.
“Sure.”
Ayleen maneuvered Cain into a seat, but not once did Liz even glance in his direction. It was one thing to appreciate the gift of his help, quite another to be stuck spending time with him. Worse, the whole idea that he’d be willing to actually work, physically work, to thank her for a few hours of caring for him gave her a soft fluttery feeling in her stomach.
She ignored it. They had to spend time together the next day. Maybe hours. She couldn’t be all soft and happy—but she couldn’t be angry with him, either. He was doing a huge favor for a charity that meant a great deal to her.
Of course he’d wanted to do it anonymously. Being with her probably wasn’t a happy prospect for him any more than it was for her. With anybody else she’d be figuring out a way to make this deal palatable for them. So maybe that’s what she needed to do with Cain. Find a way to make this easy for him, as if they were two friends working together for a charity.
The thought caused her brow to furrow. They’d never been friends. They’d been passionate lovers. A distant married couple. Hurt divorced people. But they’d never really been friends. They’d never even tried to be friends.
Maybe becoming friends was the real way for them to get beyond their troubled marriage? To pretend, even if only for a few hours, that the past was the past and from this point on they were two nice people trying to help each other.
Cain was already at Amanda’s house the next morning when Liz arrived. Instead of his black Porsche, he waited for her in one of his Nestor Construction trucks. An old red one.
Keeping with her decision to treat him as she would a friend, she smiled and patted the side of the truck bed. “Wow. I haven’t seen one of these in years.”
He walked around the truck and Liz’s smile disappeared as her mouth fell open slightly. She’d already noticed his T-shirt, but for some reason or another, the jeans he wore caught her off guard. He looked so young. So capable. So…sexy.
She cleared her throat, reminding herself that this was a new era for her and Cain. Friends. Two nice people working together for a charity.
“Mostly, we use Cain Corporation trucks now.” He grinned. “But when I ran Nestor Construction, this one was mine.” He patted the wheel well. “She was my first.”
“Ah, a man and his truck.” Eager to get out of the sun and to the reason they were here, Liz turned to the sidewalk. “Come on. This way.”
They walked to the front door and Liz knocked. Joy answered, but Amanda was only a few feet behind her. She grabbed the giggling three-year-old and hoisted her into her arms. “Sorry about that.”
Liz laughed. “Good morning, Joy,” she said, tweaking the little girl’s cheek as she passed.
Joy buried her face in Amanda’s neck. “Morning.” Amanda looked pointedly at Cain. “And this is Cain?”
Cain held out his hand for shaking. “Sorry about our first meeting.”
Amanda smiled. “That’s okay. Neither one of us was in good form that day. Can I get you some coffee?”
Cain peered over at Liz.
Liz motioned for everyone to go into the kitchen. “Of course, we’d love some coffee.”
When Amanda walked through the swinging door out of sight, Liz caught Cain’s arm, holding him back. “If she offers something, take it. A lot of the women who come to us have little to no self-esteem. It makes them feel good about themselves to have coffee or doughnuts to offer. Take whatever she offers and eat it.”
Looking sheepish and unsure, he nodded and everything inside Liz stilled. For the first time in their relationship she knew something he didn’t. He needed her.
Their gazes caught.
Liz smiled, downplaying the reversal of their roles and seeking to reassure him.
The corners of his mouth edged up slowly in response, and his entire countenance changed. Crinkles formed around dark eyes that warmed.
The hallway suddenly felt small and quiet. The memory of how much she’d loved this man fluttered through her. With one step forward she could lay her palm on his cheek. Touch him. Feel his skin again. Feel connected to him in the only way they’d ever been connected. Touch.
But one touch always led to another and another and another. Which was probably why making love was the only way they’d bonded. They’d never had a chance to be friends. Never given themselves a chance to get to know each other.
Sad, really.
Instead of stepping forward, she stepped back, motioning to the door. “After you.”
He shook his head. His voice was rich, husky when he said, “No. After you.”
He’d been as affected by the moment as she had been. For a second she couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, as another possibility for why he’d been