“One of the reporters outside mentioned Ben donated some money to the center?” she began, feeling a little awkward about her ignorance on the subject.
Gloria’s dark eyes lit up. “Five million dollars is not some money, sweetheart. I’m still overwhelmed by Mr. Barrett’s generosity.”
Five million dollars?
“I must say, I’m very impressed with the man,” Gloria added with a smile. “That he donated half of his recent inheritance to various child service agencies across the country is commendable, but giving the other half to the center? It’s unbelievably generous.”
“I can’t believe he did this,” Maggie murmured. Then a frown reached her lips. Ben’s gift was so incredible that for a moment she’d forgotten about her last encounter with the woman in front of her. “Gloria, Ben’s donation means that the reporters won’t be going away for a while…”
Gloria’s face softened, remorse reflecting in her gaze. “Maggie, I may have overreacted during our last meeting. My biggest concern at the time was what the attention would do to the center, not to mention how the parents would feel. Turns out most of them are thrilled by the free publicity.”
“They are?”
Gloria nodded wholeheartedly. “Many of them feel this will be good for the community, maybe spur the city counselors to take notice of what’s happening outside their offices. And now, thanks to Mr. Barrett’s generosity, we’ll be able to bring about a lot of changes.”
Leaning forward, Gloria rested her palms on the desk, her expression growing excited. “His donation will allow us to completely renovate the center, and we’re planning on building a new playground and an on-site tutoring center for kids with learning problems.”
“What about the shelter?”
“That’s the best part. We’re going to use a portion of the money to build a women’s shelter, in a separate location. More space, more counselors, it’ll be wonderful.”
Maggie was speechless. Well, considering her last meeting with Gloria, she hadn’t expected the woman to be so pleased about the turn of events.
“So you’re okay with the media hanging around?” she asked warily.
“I don’t have much of a choice,” Gloria replied with a dry smile. “With a donation this size, it’s expected. Besides, it really is good publicity, which is something I failed to consider when we spoke last time.”
“I’m glad something good came out of all this,” Maggie finally said.
“Something great, you mean,” Gloria corrected. “I also forgot to mention, we’re going to offer after-school workshops for the kids. Drama, music, art. In fact, we’ve just hired a drama teacher. He’ll be working with the kids all summer.”
“That’s wonderful.”
Gloria rose from her chair. “I’d like you to meet him.”
She furrowed her brows. “You would?”
Catching her mystified expression, Gloria offered a slight smile. “Humor me, will you?”
Still a bit perplexed, Maggie stood up and followed Gloria out of the small office toward the main corridor. Most of the rooms in the Broger Center were miniscule, but they did have a large indoor gymnasium the kids used during the winter and on rainy days, and Gloria led her in the direction of the gym. They paused in front of the splintered double doors.
“And Maggie, I would like to speak to you afterwards about that permanent position,” Gloria added as she reached for the door handle.
Her heart soared. “Really?”
“You’re going to make a great counselor, kiddo.”
Maggie expected Gloria to enter the gym first, but the woman simply opened the door and gestured for her to go in.
“You’re not coming?” she said in surprise.
“Naah.” Gloria gave a small grin. “I already got his autograph.”
His autograph?
Baffled, Maggie walked in, and then stopped in her tracks when she laid eyes on Ben.
Clad in a pair of faded blue jeans, a snug black T-shirt and black combat boots, he stood near one of the long wooden benches in front of the boys’ locker room. “Hey, Red,” he called when he saw her, his deep voice bouncing off the gymnasium walls.
She gulped. God, he looked good. He’d shaved, but his angular face still possessed that hint of bad-boy sexiness, and his perfectly shaped lips looked so damn kissable Maggie shivered. She glanced over her shoulder at Gloria, but the woman had discreetly disappeared, leaving her and Ben alone.
“What are you doing here?” she squeaked.
He crossed the waxed floor with lazy strides, each step he took making her pulse quicken. When he finally stood in front of her, her heart was thudding against her ribs and pounding in her ears.
“I’m going to be teaching a free acting workshop here for the summer,” he replied with a charming smile.
“Why?”
He shrugged. “Because I have the summer off. I figured it would be fun.”
“I mean, why here?” she stammered. “I’m sure thousands of people would pay big bucks to learn acting from you.”