Page 81 of Feeding Hope
“I’ve told them we don’t make money. That we don’thavemoney.” Her mouth curved in a humorless smile. “They don’t seem to understand what a non-profit is—or they just don’t care.”
Frost’s eyes lifted to hers then, sharp and unreadable. Either way, she had the distinct sense it had just becometheirproblem.
“What time do you open the doors every day?” Frost asked, his gaze fixed on Constance.
There was something about her that caught under his skin. She wasn’t polished or softened into something easy. Her hair was a riot of curls barely grazing her collarbone—honey-blonde and unapologetically wild, chaos worn like intention. Those deep green eyes didn’t just land on him; theysearched, like she was reading past the surface and deciding what was worth keeping.
Even now, cornered, uneasy, she carried herself with quiet purpose. No shrinking. No apology. She was a different kind of trouble. One he’d take his time with.
“I get here at seven every morning,” Constance said. “That’s when I bring in the pre-made meals. Then I start setting up boxes.”
She crossed to a small table and gathered a stack of papers, returning to hold them out to Frost and Jinx. “These are requests. Boxes for babies, kids, the elderly. The meals are for people who don’t have any other way to get fed.”
Saying it out loud did something to her. The fear that had been curling in her chest burned down into something hotter. Sharper. Anger settled in her stomach. How dare they come intoherplace…into something she’d built with her own hands, and demand what they hadn’t earned.
“Maybe I should get a gun,” she muttered.
“Let’s hold off on the gun,” Jinx said carefully, watching the tension roll through her.
Constance planted her hands on her hips. “I bet every one of you is armed.”
Her gaze swept them, unapologetic. “It’s Texas. You’re all cowboys.” She jerked her thumb toward the parking lot. “Some of you just ride steel horses instead.”
Her mouth curved, sharp and daring. “Still cowboys.”
She watched as they all smirked.
“Let’s get you home,” Jinx said. “Where do you live?”
“I live out by Big Star Ranch.”
“Undertakers place.”
“Who?”
“Sorry, Ethan Cole. He’s our chapter president. He goes by Undertaker.” Jinx explained.
“So, Jinx is your nickname.” She asked as she heard snickering from Rev and Wolf.
“It’s called a road name, but yes Jinx is my road name. My government name is Jason Bauer.”
“And your’s, Frost?” She asked, staring at him.
“Grant Voss.”
More snickering came from the two men standing by the door. She watched as Frost glared at them. “Why are the two of you snickering over there like two little girls?”
Her question was met by shocked stares as Frost and Jinx chuckled.
“His name sounds like a cologne ad.” Wolf said with a chuckle.
“And what’s your government name? Both of you?”
Rev, sighed, “Ryan Donovan.”
“Oh that’s such a sweet, nice little Irish boy.” She said picking on the man.
“William Harper.” Wolf said.
