Just a Kiss Read Online Free PDF Page A

takes for grants to come through, if they ever do. We don’t have time for that. The board doesn’t see any reasonable alternative.”
    “A fundraiser then! Remember the lobster dinner benefit we did a few years ago? I can throw that together pretty fast, and the town will come through, you’ll see.”
    “Paige . . .”
    “The community needs this shelter, Margaret! You know it does.” The image of Bishop’s sad eyes surfaced in her mind, and her throat closed up tight. “Animals will die without it, dozens of them, needlessly.”
    Something in the woman’s pale blue eyes softened.
    “Just give me three months. I’ll find new sponsors, do fundraisers, get grants, whatever I need to do. Just don’t let them do this.”
    “You’ve already got your hands pretty full at home, Paige.”
    “I make time for what’s important, and when I set my mind to something, I make it happen. I’ll make this happen, Margaret. Please.”
    The woman studied her for a full thirty seconds while Paige worked hard to telegraph her resolution. Her lungs seemed frozen in place as her heart kicked against her ribs.
    Margaret let out a sigh that seemed to come from her toes. “I really think you’re biting off more than you can chew here. Maybe if Riley’s family stepped in to help a little more.”
    Surely the woman wasn’t going to make her choose between running the shelter and caring for Riley.
    “I am Riley’s family. You don’t need to worry about that. I can do this. Not only will I get additional funding, I’ll go over the expenditures and cut every spare cost. I’ll initiate a fee for lost pets and charge for every service we offer if I need to. Just give me a chance, Margaret. Three months, that’s all I’m asking.”
    Margaret’s eyes searched hers for a long moment. “All right. I think I can talk the board into three months.”
    Paige’s breath tumbled out.
    She was in a fog as she walked Margaret out. After the door fell closed behind her, Paige turned and let her weight sag against it.
    Three months to raise thousands of dollars. What had she gotten herself into?

Chapter 5
    R iley maneuvered through the Roadhouse doors on his crutches. The local hangout was noisy for a Thursday night. Loud TVs broadcasted the Red Sox game, and the chatter of patrons rose above it all. It was only the spicy aroma of hot wings that drove him forward.
    “Are you sure you don’t want your wheelchair?” Paige let the door fall shut behind them.
    “I’m sure.” He was sick and tired of looking up at everybody.
    He scanned the restaurant for his brothers, finding them in their usual spot, a large corner booth. He headed that way, working the crutches carefully as his therapist had shown him. His missing leg threw him off balance. He’d almost taken two nasty falls while Paige was at work this week. Not that he was going to tell her that.
    He greeted his brothers energetically as he approached, and they scooted over to make room.
    “Why don’t we get a table,” Paige said. “There’s an open one right here.”
    “What for?” Beau asked. “We always sit here.”
    “I just thought”—her eyes darted off Riley—“it’d be, you know, easier.”
    Warmth rode up Riley’s neck. “It’s all good.” He backed up to the seat, shifted his crutches to his good side, and lowered himself into the booth. The act took a good thirty seconds, and a sweat broke out on his forehead with the effort.
    Remember when sitting wasn’t an event?
    Riley stowed his crutches beside him and picked up the menu. “I’m starving. Where are the girls?”
    “Playing pool,” Beau said. “Or trying to.”
    Riley spotted them in the far corner. Eden stood back while Lucy lined up a shot.
    “Hey, now,” Zac said. “Lucy’s gotten a lot better. We beat you last week, if you’ll recall.”
    “Dumb luck.”
    Zac rolled his eyes.
    Paige popped up. “I’m going to the ladies’ room. Order me the buffalo chicken salad, will you?”
    Riley