Before I can process that, he nods. “And yes, you need to hire some people. You need to have time to run more adoption events or community involvement, and if you’re always here, taking care of the animals, working to pay for food, you can’t do that.”
“But I don’t have the money.”
He huffs out a breath and pulls his phone from his pocket. He opens the images app, finds the picture he’s looking for, and holds it up to me. “This is the money I donated to the animal shelter this morning.”
My mouth drops when I see the amount. I can run the shelter for three years on that amount. I’m about to tell him that when he continues. “And the shelter will receive ten thousand dollars a month. It’s already set to automatically be deposited.”
I bring my hands up to my mouth. “Oh my God, Cole…”
He takes a step back. “All of this is for you. No strings attached. Whether you say yes or no, this is happening.”
I bring Leo up against my chest, and he stretches in my arms. “I don’t know what to say.”
He shrugs. “Thank you is all I expect.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
He pulls me against him, and Leo meows loudly to make sure his presence is known. Cole and I both laugh. He looks down into my eyes. “Your cat is a cock block.”
I blush and look toward the door of the shelter. “This is too much, Cole. You know that, right?”
He shakes his head. “Not for you it’s not. You deserve this and more.”
I shrug. “The animals do.”
I know I need to say more, but he pulls a small notepad from his jacket pocket. “Here. Make some notes. I want to know what you’ve imagined this place can be, and I’m going to help you make it happen.”
Cole scoops Leo out of my arms and then hands me the notepad. His knuckles brush my chest, and I suck in a breath at the contact, but Cole acts as if he doesn’t notice. I clear my throat. “Why are you doing this?”
He squints at me. “You want the truth?”
I nod. “I always want the truth. Even if it’s hard to hear, I want the truth.”
He blows out a breath. “Because I want you. I want your dreams to come true, but…”
I hold my breath. “But what?”
He shrugs. “But I also want you to live the life you want… and I’m hoping that by hiring help and quitting your job at the diner, it may free up some of your time.”
I gasp. “Quit my job at the diner? I have to make money.”
He chuckles. “Luna, that money is for you to pay yourself and the employees.”
An uneasiness comes over me. I don’t think I can give up a guaranteed source of income. Can I trust Cole? I literally met him yesterday.
He reaches up and brushes the pads of his fingers along my cheek. “Come on, honey. We’ve got lots of work to do.”
He takes off his jacket as we walk back into the shelter. He’s looking around, but I can’t take my eyes off him. He’s rolling his sleeves up, baring his tattooed forearms, and I’m watching him like I could just eat him up.
He taps the notebook in my hand. “Get to work. The quicker we get through work, the quicker we can get to our date.”
I put a hand to my chest, right over my heart, and it’s thumping erratically. “Date?”
He looks into my eyes and nods. “Yeah. Will you go out with me tonight?”
I open my mouth, but before I can say anything, he steps toward me. “Please? I probably should have asked you last night. I shouldn’t just assume you’re free, but it would mean the world to me if you would join me for dinner tonight.”
A part of me wants to say no. I’m scared and know that Cole could hurt me, but there’s also a part of me that really wants to go on this date with him.
