Page 34 of Love in Mission City: The Shorts

Before I could even unlock the door, she thrust a paper into my hand.

“This is my resumé.I have a bookkeeping background, and before I had kids, I worked at the bookstore.The Lawrences were great people—are great people—and I didn’t want to quit working, but my husband said it wasn’t proper for his wife to work, and then, you know, two kids, and…well, now they’re in school and my husband is, uh, between jobs and—”

I held up my hand.“Why don’t we take this inside?”I met her gaze as she finally looked at me.Pretty green eyes, with a delicate white face surrounded by a riot of auburn curls.She was barely an inch or two over five feet, so I literally towered over her.

She bobbed her head and her curls bobbed as well.

I unlocked the door, cringing that I hadn’t set the alarm yesterday.Yet everything looked in order.I didn’t have cash in the place, and the computer wasn’t new either.

The motorcycles were secured and everything was fine.

Downtown Mission City was a pretty safe place, so I was good.I guided Darlene to the back room.I had set up two desks with chairs and another chair across from my desk.Trying to look like the boss I wanted to be.

I encouraged the woman to sit in the chair across from me.I sat and glanced over her resumé.Her name leapt off the top line, and as I skimmed, I found other words I recognized.Truth was, it didn’t matter that I couldn’t read the thing properly in a brief span of time.If Dickens trusted her, I was going to as well.

I placed the paper down on the desk.“When can you work, and when can you start?”

She straightened and pushed a lock of flyaway hair out of her face.“I can start tomorrow.I can work Mondays and Thursdays.”

Perfect.I could have my Mondays off and play Thursday by ear.“That’s great.”I named a salary I knew I could afford.

Her eyes widened.

I was verging on panic, but then she spoke.

“That’s very generous.I promise I’ll work hard to earn it.”

In my heart, I had no doubt.I pointed to the other desk with the computer.“I’ll get you passwords.If you don’t like the software, let me know, and I’ll buy you whatever you want, within reason.You’ll need to keep an eye on the front of the shop when you’re alone.”

More head bobbing.“I won’t let you down.”

“I never had a worry.I believe there’s some paperwork you need to fill out—”

Another nod.“I know which forms.I’ll print them out tonight and bring them in.”

“Great.I’m trying to go entirely digital.Paper just messes with my mind.”

“I understand you have some records needing to be organized.Was that correct?”

Damn interfering Dickens.“Yes, that would be correct.”

She clapped her hands.“Great, just hand me the pile tomorrow, and I promise I’ll get it all organized.”She rose and stuck out her hand.

I grasped it.Her smile was genuine, but I didn’t miss the shadows in her eyes.I shook her hand.

“Thank you so much.For all of it.”She bobbed her head one last time and headed out of the office.Unsure whether to see her out or let her figure things out for herself, I let her go.I leaned back in my chair and said a silent thanks to the interfering shit next door.

The man I was coming to love.I should’ve panicked at that thought.I barely knew him.Yet he was so much more than Bookstore Dude now.He was Dickens.My lover.My friend.

After a moment of reflection and letting the thought settle, I headed back to the work area.

The clouds overhead blocked the sun, and the wind blew from the west.

I checked the weather forecast.Ah, rain and thunderstorms were predicted.Perfect.I was protected from the harsher elements, and could get my work done without getting heat exhaustion.

I worked diligently until my stomach rumbled.

Noon.

---