Free Bachelor to the Rescue by Lorraine Beatty

We must adhere to the directives in this bequest or lose the library.”
    â€œCouldn’t you speak with the donor and explain the situation?”
    â€œI don’t know who he or she is. Our benefactor wishes to remain anonymous. The donation was a way of housing their personal book collection. I think the stringent specifications stem from this person’s desire to ensure the building will do their books justice.”
    While she sympathized with his position, that didn’t help her situation. She’d have to find a job. Quick. “I understand, Mayor. However, I would have appreciated some notification so I could have made other arrangements. I came to Dover prepared to start work.”
    â€œI apologize for that. It was an oversight. But I promise you, I’ll let you know the moment things are ready.”
    As Lainie walked through the old courthouse, she searched for a way to make ends meet for the next few weeks. She was not going to live off Shaw for a month until she could start work at the library.
    She pushed open the old wooden door and stepped outside into the warm sunshine and a welcome breeze. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw Shaw jogging up the stone steps. “What are you doing here? It’s the middle of the day.” There was a hopeful look on his face that intensified his cobalt eyes.
    â€œI wanted to know how it went.”
    â€œNot good. There’s nothing he can do until the building is completed. Something about the conditions of the donation.”
    Shaw nodded. “I was afraid of that. I’ve had to navigate a maze of oddball construction requirements to accommodate the building design. Even with the structural problems, I could have been finished with the job weeks ago if it hadn’t been for the details required.” A small smile moved his mouth. “I guess it’s up to me now.”
    â€œI can’t wait that long.” She glanced around the square. There were plenty of shops and businesses. Maybe she could get a job with one of them. “I used to wait tables. I could work at the diner part-time.”
    â€œI may have another suggestion. Come to work for me.”
    Lainie frowned. “I don’t know anything about construction.”
    â€œThat’s not what I had in mind.” He glanced over her shoulder. “Let’s grab something to drink and I’ll tell you my idea.”
    A cool glass of tea sounded wonderful. She could use a few moments to process the meeting, but she didn’t have the time. “I can’t. I need to get back to the girls. Gwen is watching them for me. What kind of job are you suggesting?”
    â€œI need a bookkeeper. Between the library job and my other projects, I don’t have much time to stay on top of my business accounts and I’m falling behind. If I had someone to handle the paperwork, it would free me up to spend more time on the job. I’d pay you a fair salary and you could work from the house so you wouldn’t need a babysitter. And you’d have free rent.”
    It was a tempting offer, but the thought of being further indebted to Shaw didn’t set well. If she said yes, she’d still be taking his help, but at least she’d be earning her own money. She wasn’t too proud to remain his tenant. She’d scanned the homes and apartments for rent section of the Sunday paper, and been shocked and disappointed at the prices. She’d expected the cost of living to be cheaper in a small town. “I don’t know.”
    Shaw smiled. “Think about it. We’ll talk tonight, and I’ll show you what I need you to do. It would help both of us, Lainie.”
    She looked into his blue eyes and saw that hopeful glint again. “I’ll think about it. But that’s all I can promise.”
    â€œFair enough. I’d better get back to work. We should get the drywall upstairs done today.”
    As she drove home, Lainie