Passion Play

“I do know that.” Rose sighed again. “But I really need you to support me in this plan. I’m sure it’s not an accident that Ben and I are on the same presentation panel. Someone deliberately put us together. I don’t want to show up alone.”

Iris crossed to Rose and rested a hand on her shoulder. “If Rosie shows up alone, it will seem as though she hasn’t gotten over Ben.”

With or without Lily’s approval, Rose was moving forward with her plan. But she really wanted both of her sisters’ support. The three of them had always been close, even more so since their parents had died. Iris understood. Why couldn’t Lily? Tension bunched in Rose’s shoulders as she waited for her younger sister’s response.

Finally, Lily turned. “If you’re going to do this, be sure the man you get to play your fake boyfriend is handsome enough to make Ben jealous.”

Rose smiled her relief. “That’s the plan.”

* * *

“I need a lawyer.” Donovan Carroll sat on the gray cushioned guest chair in Xavier Anderson’s office at Anderson Adventures. He balanced one of his company’s oversize coffee mugs on his right thigh. It was a match to the mugs Xavier and Tyler were using.

The tension that dropped into the room after his announcement was tangible. From behind his desk, Xavier’s gaze sprang from his mug to lock onto Donovan. In the matching seat beside him, Tyler, Xavier’s cousin, nearly choked on his coffee.

“Why do you need a lawyer?”

“What’s going on?”

Xavier and Tyler spoke at the same time. The concern in their voices was a reminder that, although he wasn’t related to the Andersons by blood or marriage, they’d accepted him as family since he’d first met the cousins in college.

It was just after 7:00 a.m. on the third Thursday in June. Anderson Adventures was quiet. Very few employees arrived this early. Xavier, the company’s vice president of finance, hadn’t been the same since his recent breakup with his girlfriend. The reason his five-month relationship ended probably disturbed Xavier more than the actual breakup. For that reason, he and Tyler had agreed to start their mornings with Xavier to show their support.

Donovan drew a deep breath, collecting his thoughts. The scent of strong coffee clung to the air. “A pawnshop is trying to move into one of the vacant storefronts in the same neighborhood where our shelters are located.”

In his life away from Anderson Adventures, Donovan, the company’s vice president of sales, served as president of the board of directors of Hope Homeless Shelter in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

Once his friends realized Donovan wasn’t in trouble, the tension dissipated.

“I’d read in the newspaper that Public Pawn had plans to expand its locations.” Xavier rolled up the sleeves of his dark blue jersey.

“I hadn’t realized the company had chosen its first expansion location.” Tyler drank more of his coffee.

“The board has been monitoring the pawnshop’s progress. The owner made the announcement at the end of the day, after news deadlines.” Donovan sighed. “We want a lawyer’s help writing and filing a statement with the Columbus City Council against the pawnshop moving into our neighborhood.”

“How much time do you have?” Tyler appeared calm in his dark brown polo shirt and tan Dockers. Usually the workaholic vice president of product development was itching to get back to work after ten minutes. But since he’d started dating Iris Beharie, Tyler

had become more relaxed—and also more productive.

“Our response is due next month, the third week of July. We have four weeks to find a lawyer who can research, write and file our statement, all pro bono.” Piece of cake. Donovan’s natural wit failed to find the humor in this situation.

Xavier leaned back on his black leather executive chair. “Maybe our legal counsel has someone on staff who could help you.”

Donovan had considered contacting their legal counsel but then dismissed the idea. “The board can’t afford their rate, and I don’t want to ask them for any favors. That would compromise Anderson Adventures’ relationship with them in the future.”

Xavier’s dark eyebrows knitted. “What’s the shelter’s legal-aid budget?”

“It’s somewhere between zero and a prayer.” Donovan scrubbed his left hand over his face. “The shelter recently transferred its legal-aid funds into an operating account.”

“Wow.” Tyler arched his eyebrows. “It sounds like they were faced with tough budget choices—preserve a legal fund they may not need or pay immediate bills.”

“Exactly.” Donovan nodded. “Frankly, we need a lawyer who would represent us pro bono.”

Xavier exchanged a look with Tyler before meeting Donovan’s eyes. “That could prove difficult.”

“I know.” Donovan drummed his fingers against the arms of his chair as he scanned the room.

Like Tyler’s office, Xavier’s space was meticulous. Black three-ring program binders were arranged on the shelf above the desk behind him. On his back wall, project folders were neatly arranged in a black metal file sorter on top of a three-foot-tall cabinet.