A Leap of Faith. Lenora Worth

as stable and honest as the midsummer days were long. But in spite of her trust and awe of him, Autumn was watching and praying. She hoped her own values and God’s good graces would help her in dealing with her new partner.

      I won’t let him wear me down, she told herself as she tried to regain her composure. Then she turned to her overly curious, overly grinning mother. “I think I have time for one more cup of coffee, Mama. Tell me what you have planned for today. Oh, and tell me all about that new perfume you bought the other day. I might have to try some of that. You know I love good-smelling body lotion.”

      Gayle smiled, made a big, long-drawn-out deal of pouring more coffee and buttering more raisin toast. “How lovely that we get to spend some time together this morning.”

      “Isn’t it, though,” Autumn replied, her foot tapping on the tile floor underneath the long breakfast table. “We should do this more often.”

      “Yes, we should,” her mother said, her eyes gleaming. “I have an early meeting at church this morning, but we have a little while before we both head out. Did I tell you I’m working on the stewardship committee? We’re planning a big celebration to show our thanks for having a solid financial plan and wonderful tithing members.”

      “This family thrives on working with money,” Autumn said. “Even in church, apparently.”

      Gayle grinned. “Money can be the root of all evil, but if used wisely, it can also make a difference in this old world. We’re able to help so many people with our mission work and with our food bank and soup kitchen. But it does take a lot of money to finance those things.”

      “I guess it’s in the blood,” Autumn replied. “But I’m thankful that we’re so blessed. Which is why I have to be protective of Maxwell Financial Group.”

      “I wouldn’t want it any other way,” her mother replied.

      “Neither would I.” Autumn tried to chew her toast, all the while wondering what her father and Campbell could possibly be discussing.

      They were discussing her.

      Campbell sat up straight, feeling as if he’d been called into the principal’s office just as he had many, many times during his school years.

      “So, you and my little girl getting along okay?” Richard asked again, his eyes full of enough steel and daring to hold back a gusher.

      “Yes, we certainly are,” Campbell repeated, feeling hot under the collar of his starched shirt. “At least, I think we are. Has Autumn said otherwise?”

      “No,” Richard replied, tapping his fingers on his desk. “Why would she, if there’s not a problem?”

      “No problem,” Campbell said, deciding this was a test of some sort. A test that felt like walking through a minefield. He leaned back in his chair, prepared to defend his honor and his reputation if necessary.

      But when he thought back over the last week, he knew both his honor and his reputation had been sorely tested at every turn. Tested by the scent of some sort of floral perfume that reminded him of midnight in a New Orleans courtyard. Tested by the click of high heels against tile floor and the slamming of a door just across the hall. Tested by amber-hued doe eyes and auburn curls that begged to be touched. Tested every which way by a woman who remained very serious and businesslike, no matter how much he tried to charm her. Autumn’s work habits were precise and unencumbered. She arrived at nine o’clock on the dot and stayed well past five. She cloistered herself in her office, buried herself in data and printouts, then called clients, using her Southern manners, to win them over and reassure them. Then she’d triumphantly march over to his office, her expression all business, and announce they’d snagged yet another high-dollar client. All in a day’s work. And all the while, Campbell couldn’t concentrate on his own clients and files.

      He was slowly losing his grip.

      “The books look good,” Richard said now, rocking back in his leather swivel chair. “Clients are happy. Well, most of them, anyway.”

      “You’ve been over the files?” Campbell asked, glad to be on a subject he could handle.

      “Of course. I’ve checked all the data and I’ve kept up with the markets. I’ve made sure our clients with conservative long-term investments feel comfortable having a new man on board. I’m here to reassure our clients. You know people get itchy when their money is being bandied about. But we’re fine, just fine. New management does not mean anybody around here is going to lose any money. Things are in order, as is to be expected. But then, I never for one second doubted that.”

      Regaining his equilibrium, Campbell sat up. “Okay, then, why don’t you explain what you are doubting? Because it’s obvious you called me in here today for a reason. And I’m beginning to think that reason has nothing to do with our accounts.”

      “You are correct,” Richard said, deadpan. “I’m just concerned about my little girl, is all.”

      Campbell let out a breath. “Well, in case you haven’t noticed, she’s not a little girl anymore. She’s a woman, a smart, self-assured, calculating, infuriating, completely grown-up woman who’s really quite smart. Remarkable.”

      Richard let out a whoop that caused the rafters to shake. “So…she’s getting to you, right?”