Grant’s nostrils flared as he bent to get in her face.“Don’t say it.Don’t you dare say it because it is going to happen with us, and you need to get used to the idea.”
Jennifer inhaled sharply.“No.You can’t just say something like that.We don’t know each other and are from totally separate worlds.I think if you took some time to think about it, you’d agree we’re too different.”
At first, his anger spiked until he reminded himself that she didn’t seem to have a lot of experience.He lifted his gaze toward the ceiling and sighed before looking back at her.
“We’ll deal with th—”
She shook her head.
With a growl of pure frustration, he bent and got nose-to-nose with her.
“As I was saying, we’ll deal with our differences and relationship later.Let’s just deal with your shelter right now.”He sat back.“Please, Jennifer.You and I having a personal relationship doesn’t have anything to do with this.”He gritted his teeth and ignored her shaking head.“What’s important to you right now?The shelter, right?Do you really want to walk away from a potential donor?”
Jennifer bit her bottom lip as a worried frown puckered her eyebrows.
“How much money does your shelter need?”he asked.
She shook her head again.“I—”
“Jennifer!You are so close to going over my knees right now.Stop pushing me.Now tell me how much?”
Her eyes widened at his threat.
“Twenty thousand dollars.”She cringed at the amount and looked at the buttons on his dress shirt because she couldn’t look him in the eyes.
“That’s it?”
Her gaze flew to his.He had to be joking.“Yes.”
He grasped her arm and led her to a chair in front of his massive desk before he walked around to sit in his chair.She watched as he took something from a desk drawer.
“Grant, I rea—”
The look he gave her stopped her mid-word, and only when he was sure he had her silence did he lower his gaze back down to his desk.
A minute later, he walked around the desk and sat on the edge before handing her a piece of paper.She watched him suspiciously before she looked down.She choked when she swallowed, and she gasped at the same time.
He walked to her side and lightly patted her back.“Sorry.”Amusement was evident in his voice.
“Grant, I can’t accept this.It’s more than I even asked for.”Tears started to pool in her eyes as she stared at him.
Grant leaned against the desk in front of her and pulled her up to stand between his legs.“Don’t you dare cry.”His hands gripped her hips gently, even though his words sounded harsh.
Jennifer sniffed.“Grant...”
He tilted her head back with the side of one of his hands so she could see his face.
“Jen.Listen to me.We had an organization here last week.We also gave them one hundred thousand dollars.”He nodded when that got her full attention.“And do you want to know who they were?”He waited for her nod.“The Boy Scouts of America.”
“Why would—”
“Because they want to build a newer campground for the boys.”
“But that’s a lot of money,” she said and tried to control her tears.
“Yes, it is.It’s for the land and to build a weather shelter.”He stayed silent for a moment to let that information sink in.“So, you tell me.Are they more worthy than your animals?I know it’s a great organization.I remember wanting to join when I was a kid.But it’s boys camping and learning about the wild.I assume with this money, you’ll be able to save some animals’ lives.Am I right?”
“Oh, God, Grant.You have no idea what I could do with this.”Her eyes burned with emotion.
