He started the car and pulled onto the busy street. When he slowed to a halt at a stop sign and looked over, she met his gaze.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I just… I didn’t expect you to take me to something like this. I think it’s amazing that you donate money to this kind of cause and I’m thrilled to see these kids perform.”
He lifted one shoulder. “I’m just full of surprises,” he said in a self-deprecating tone.
She put her hand on his arm. “Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”
She loved the show. Cammie had never seen The Nutcracker before and she was enthralled. The dancers were so talented, it was hard to remember they were only between the ages of thirteen to seventeen. The costumes were beautiful, and the music gripping.
After the kids took their bows in front of the large auditorium, they stepped out, still in costume, and greeted everyone in the audience. Their pride radiated from them in waves and Cammie couldn’t help but think that Leo, a self-proclaimed Grinch, had shared a little Christmas magic with her without realizing it.
They met with the teens before leaving and shook their hands. Cammie gushed over their performances, and though Leo, too, congratulated them, he was much more reserved but still made them feel good about themselves.
As they left, Cammie asked, “What’s the story behind this? How did you get involved with this group? Why are they the ones you sponsor?”
He was quiet for a moment, and she waited, unsure if he was gathering his thoughts or trying to shut down her question with silence.
“So, I grew up well off,” he finally said. “I mean, I have a great job, and I make good money doing it, but my family is wealthy. We’re what people callold money.”
She knew he wasn’t bragging and waited patiently for him to continue.
“My point,” he went on. “is that growing up without wanting for anything can skew your perspective on life. I wasn’t a cold or mean person. I just… I didn’t see it, you know? I could hear about a person going hungry or getting evicted because they couldn’t pay their rent. I just didn’t relate to it in any way.”
“But something changed?” she asked.
He nodded. They strolled toward his SUV parked a block away. Above them, the sky was dark, and around them, chill permeated the air. She shivered and Leo slipped off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
Such a gentleman, she mused, grateful for the warmth he’d provided and enjoying the heady scent of his cologne wrapped around her.
“Yes, something changed. When I was sixteen, I went to private school, and my junior year, a kid named Luke showed up. He was on scholarship and when the kids found out, he was put through hell. The more insecure kids picked him apart to avoid dealing with their own issues. Or they were just self-involved little shits who believed they were better than Luke because they were lucky enough to be born to rich parents.”
“But you became his friend,” she guessed.
“Yeah, and he was a cool guy. Smart. Played the guitar and wanted to be a neurosurgeon. The closer we became, the more I realized just how different his home life was from mine. Nothing in his world was secure. Then there was his sister. Leslie was fourteen and loved dancing. She’d always wanted to take lessons, but her parents couldn’t afford them.”
They reached the car, but he was still speaking and she listened, caught up in the story.
“I saw her heart break, and I wished there was something I could do to help. I told my mom, and she offered money to Luke and Leslie’s parents, but they declined, insisting that they didn’t want charity. They were holding onto their pride, they said.” He shook his head. “I never understood it. But I suspect that’s another perk to being raised with plenty of money. You can’t comprehend why it’s a sensitive issue.”
She nodded, understanding him better now. “So, you were inspired by their story and that’s why you support this program, right?”
“Yeah. Luke’s stuck with me, so when I started making money, I made sure to put some of it toward worthy causes. Feeding the hungry, assistance for needy families, and the dance studio’s program for underprivileged youth.”
Her heart warmed at his generosity. “Did Leslie ever get the chance to dance?” she asked.
He grinned. “She actuallyrunsthe program. I’m still friends with Luke, who is living out his dream as a neurosurgeon. When he told me about Leslie’s work, I knew I had to be involved in some way. She’s been able to grow the program exponentially since I started donating.”
They were at a stoplight, and she couldn’t resist leaning over, placing a hand on his jaw and turning his face to hers before giving him a light kiss that quickly deepened.
His story made her heart swell with affection. She’d noticed that he could be a little grumpy sometimes, but she was starting to get glimpses of a softer, more thoughtful side of Leo Watson. And she felt something bigger growing between them.
A car honked behind them, and he ended the kiss.
Leo began driving, a smirk on his face. “I was going to take you home, sweetheart, but what do you say about checking out that view I was telling about last night?”
This time, she had no qualms about saying yes.
