She frowned at him. “Why do you have to make it sound so nefarious?”
“And why are you avoiding the answer?”
“If my idea works, I was hoping you’d see fit to shorten my time here.”
He smiled. “I was right. There is a catch.”
“I just think we can help each other is all. Would you consider sponsoring a fund-raiser?”
A fund-raiser? He had to admit he hadn’t seen that coming. “I am the last person who should be asking people for money.”
Gabrielle shrugged. “I don’t agree. People know who you are. You’re up for a couple of awards for your latest movie release. And you have another movie about to be released. I think you’d be surprised by the public’s support.”
Deacon shook his head. “It’s not going to happen.”
“Consider it your way to put some good back in the world.”
“You mean my penance.”
She shrugged and glanced away. “I suppose you could put it that way.”
There was no penance big enough, generous enoug
h or selfless enough to undo his actions. “No.”
“Because you don’t want to do something good?”
Why did she have to keep pushing the subject? He had to say something—anything—to get her to let go of this idea. And then he thought of something that might strike a chord with her. “Have you looked at me?”
“Yes, I have.” Her gaze was unwavering.
“Then you know that I have no business being seen in public.”
Her gaze narrowed. “I think you’re trying to take the easy way out.”
“Easy?” His hands clenched. “There is nothing easy about any of this. You of all people should know that.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. That didn’t come out the way I meant.”
He wanted to know what she had meant but he decided the subject was best left alone. “I need to get back to work.”
“I think with a haircut and a shave that you’d look...” She stepped closer to him. At last, she uttered softly, “Handsome.”
Too bad he didn’t believe her. There wasn’t a stylish enough haircut to distract people from his scars. And a shave would just make those imperfections obvious. He shook his head. “It isn’t going to happen.”
“What isn’t? The haircut or the shave? Or the fund-raiser?”
“All of them.” Why couldn’t she just leave him alone? It would be better that way.
She crossed her arms and jutted out her chin. “I can do this. And you can participate as much or as little as you want.”
“What do you know about fund-raisers?”
“Enough. I’ve organized one for my library each of the past five years.”
“A library fund-raiser?”
She nodded. “Funds are being withheld from libraries across the country. Lots of them are closing. In order to keep doors open, libraries have become creative in raising money. So many people need and use the resources made available by the library, but the government is of less and less help at keeping the lights on. It’s a real struggle.”