Page 33 of Whispers and Wildfire

“I was going to send you my résumé, but I don’t have your email address,” she said. “And I would have printed it, but my printer broke in the move.”

“That’s all right.” I was trying to act like this was a real interview—and I wasn’t distracted by her sultry cadence or how her lips moved when she talked. I cleared my throat. “What can you tell me about your recent job history?”

“I’m an actor. I’ve done it all. Waitressing, tending bar, answering phones.”

“Do you still act?”

She nodded. “My real career is as a voice actor. But I’m waiting for my next gig to start. Hence, the need for a temporary job.”

“Voice acting, huh?” She’d always been an incredible actress. “Do you still do theater?”

“Not really. I did for a while, but voice acting felt… I don’t know, safer.”

I met her eyes. Safer? Something in her tone tugged at my chest again. I wanted to know why she’d ever felt unsafe. Maybe even fix it.

Clearing my throat, I glanced away. What the hell was wrong with me?

“So, you’re waiting for your next voice acting job to start. When will that be?”

“At least a couple of months. Maybe more.” She shrugged. “Divorce and moving are expensive, and I’m bound by a noncompete until my contract is finished. That means I can’t line up another voice-acting gig to fill the gap. I could use something temporary so I don’t have to go back to eating ramen noodles and searching out the almost-expired discount section at the grocery store. Not that I need a handout. Or your sympathy.”

“I know you don’t need my pity.”

“Nor do I want it.”

“Obviously, Annika already talked to you about the job, but I don’t know if she told you any details.”

“Not much. Just that your front desk person is on maternity leave, and you need someone to fill in. I assume that means things like greeting customers, answering the phone, maybe some admin work.”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“I’ve had jobs like that.”

I nodded. What was happening? Was I actually considering this? I couldn’t hire Melanie.

Could I?

“Look at us, having a civil conversation,” I said.

“I’m proud of us. I wasn’t sure we could do it.”

I grinned. “Me neither. Helps that you’re not in my chair.”

Her lips turned up in a smile.

Okay, maybe Annika was right. Maybe it had been the shock of seeing each other for the first time in a while, and we could learn to get along.

“Were you always so territorial?” she asked.

“Probably. I get a little possessive.”

There was a flash of something in her eyes. Heat? Interest? I couldn’t tell. I expected her to say something snarky, but surprisingly, she didn’t.

“You haven’t offered me the job, but obviously, you will. I just have one question.”

“What makes you so sure I’m going to offer it to you?”

“I’m your best option. There are only so many people in this town. If there was anyone better, he or she would be sitting at the front desk right now and I’d be home trying to decide which bills I can safely ignore this month.”

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