Season of Hope. Virginia Carmichael

into a smile she hoped would pass as genuine.

      Evie paused at the long, low front desk. She’d been volunteering for years at the Mission, mostly during the holidays or when they were short-staffed. Now, for the first time, she had a position. The responsibility felt heavy on her shoulders. “Hi, Lana. Do I smell cookies?”

      “Gingerbread. It’s a rule that we can’t have finance meetings without cookies. Take one.” The secretary lifted up the plate, a smile creasing her face.

      “Oh, great rule.” Evie snagged a soft, round cookie and took a bite. She’d pay for the cookie later. Power walking an extra mile or two at the gym might cover it. But she wouldn’t think about that right now.

      Lana tipped her head toward the offices. “It’s hard enough to make tough money decisions. A little bit of gingerbread goes a long way toward keeping everybody happy.” Purple-tipped hair, cut military short, gave the impression that the secretary was a little nutty. Add in the wheelchair and Lana was the poster child for unconventional. But Evie had never been anything but impressed by Lana’s warmth and professionalism.

      “Thanks for this,” she said, turning toward the office area.

      “Welcome. We’ve got all your papers filed, but remember to turn in the background check waiver.”

      Evie popped the last bit of deliciousness into her mouth and nodded. She wondered briefly if she would have any chance of stealing Lana away from the mission. Better pay, fewer hours, more vacation. Working at a big newspaper wouldn’t be so different from what Lana was doing now, with coordinating all the paperwork and the staff.

      Her whole body turned taut with anger as she caught herself. Old habits die hard. Plotting to steal away the Mission secretary might be a momentary bit of shallowness for some, but for her, with all the ugly past she carried, it burned like a searchlight on her weakness. Over and over she had made the very worst choices with only her selfishness as a guide.

      And even now, years after she’d walked away from a miserable situation made by her own bitter jealousy, she caught herself slipping. Self-loathing and frailty, it all felt so familiar. She dragged in a breath, willing the chill to pass. All she could do was continue to ask for grace and hold on to hope. A girl with a past like hers didn’t have much choice.

      “Evie!” She knew even before she turned it was Jack, his cheery tone echoing around the lobby. He was half a foot taller and a hundred times more fun. Just the sight of him, with his energetic bounce, made her forced smile morph into something absolutely genuine.

      “Wait up. I got stuck in traffic. Oh, and here’s Gavin. Looks like everybody’s late tonight.” Jack motioned toward the entry and tugged off his ski jacket as he spoke.

      A man with sandy blond hair stepped through the glass double doors. He didn’t look up, gaze focused a few feet in front, mouth set in a line. More than preoccupied, he seemed to be carrying the worries of the whole city.

      Evie cocked her head, watching him. So, this was the Gavin Sawyer who liked to snowboard with Jack up on Wolf Mountain. From what her brother had said, she’d gotten the impression Gavin was sort of an awkward science type, obsessed with viruses and germs. The man striding toward them was the furthest thing from a pale, nerdy lab rat that she could have imagined. Broad shoulders, strong jaw, he was classically handsome but for the little bit of a hunch to his shoulders, like he’d spent his life feeling too tall for the room. His suit fit well, the shirt pressed and tie straight.

      This was not a guy who would be happy behind a desk all day, or in a cube farm. She gave him another head-to-toe survey, trying to pinpoint what it was that gave her that gut feeling. Athleticism, maybe. He was only a few feet away and still hadn’t noticed them. He seemed to be in his own world. He looked down at his watch and she grinned. There was something bright on the face, like a cartoon, and the strap was cherry-red.

      “Wow. Earth to Evie.” Jack’s comment was followed by a loud snort of laughter.

      She turned, face already heating. “Sorry, what did you say?”

      “Let me introduce you.” He stepped directly in Gavin’s path.

      “Wait, Jack. I don’t—” She gave up and let him go. Trailing behind her twin, she attempted to look collected and cool. Jack was the outgoing, popular one. Give her a frantic newsroom an hour before the paper went to press anytime, but small talk just wasn’t her strong point.

      Jack clapped a hand on Gavin’s shoulder in greeting. “Hey, you made it. This is my sister, Evie. She’s the editor of The Chronicle and our new board member.”

      He turned, face polite, perfect mouth lifted in a smile. But Evie saw a flash of something in his expression that made her catch her breath. A narrowing of the eyes, a thinning of his lips. It was dislike, clear and simple.

      “Hi. Glad you’ve joined us.” Gavin’s deep voice caught her by surprise. His tone was perfectly pleasant, if a bit distant. Nothing there suggested the feelings she’d sensed just seconds ago.

      “Thank you.” She flashed a bright smile and focused on slipping out of her blue wool coat. She struggled to compose her thoughts, letting her hair hide her face for a moment. Had Jack told him an unflattering story? Was Gavin one of those naturally distrusting types? She could understand that, just a little. But the expression he’d had was more disdain. Her stomach dropped a few inches as she wondered just what he’d heard. Or seen.

      “Gavin is our resident disease specialist so if you have any odd rashes, be sure to let him know,” Jack teased as he walked to Lana’s desk and took two cookies.

      There was an awkward pause. She crossed her arms and looked at Jack, who was grinning at her. She wanted to smack him.

      Gavin let out a deep chuckle and shook his head. Disease specialist didn’t sound like a particularly fun job and certainly didn’t fit with her first impression, but the guy took Jack’s teasing in stride. Better than Evie, who barely resisted giving her brother the look of death.

      “Thanks for the cookies, Lana,” Jack called as he headed toward the Mission’s locked office area.

      “Consider it a bribe. Don’t forget the Christmas tree is being delivered this weekend. I want you all to be there to help us keep the kids under control.” The secretary grinned and pushed the button on the desk that unlocked the doors and Gavin waved Evie ahead.

      He held the door and as she passed, the smell of fresh air and soap wafted her way. As if acting on instinct, Evie glanced at his hand to see if he wore a ring and then grimaced at her own blatant curiosity. Gavin was handsome, smart and smelled wonderful. He also seemed to have taken an instant dislike to her. She was here to help the Mission’s finance board, not find a date.

      As she started down the hallway, Evie caught the toe of her glossy black pump on a wrinkle in the old brown carpet, pitching forward. Strong hands quickly gripped her elbow, rescuing her from the headfirst trajectory.

      “Careful. The Mission definitely needs new carpeting.” His low voice in her ear held more than a hint of laughter.

      Of course he would have to be a witness to that acrobatic turn. Jack was halfway down the hallway, oblivious. Evie blew out a breath, calming her pounding pulse. Nothing like a near miss with the floor to get your heart rate up. “Right. It’s practically unsafe to walk around in here.” She met his eyes, wishing it didn’t matter how ungraceful she seemed.

      Fine lines marked the corners of his brown eyes. His hands felt warm and sure against her arm, lending her a support she hadn’t known she needed. Evie wanted to lean close, to soak in the strength, to let someone else make all the big decisions, just for a moment.

      Instead, she drew her elbow back from his gentle grip. “We’d better get in there before they start without us.”

      Gavin nodded, the ghost of a smile still playing around his mouth.

      Turning back toward the conference rooms, she steeled herself against the feelings that swirled in her heart. Besides the