Page 37 of Homecoming

“Um. What sort of salary would I be looking at?” She winced after, knowing she could have phrased it more eloquently.

He plucked a sticky note from a neat stack on his desk, scribbled a figure on it, and leaned forward to set it before her.

Holy shit.

She should ask other things. She should take the time he’d allowed her, those few days for thinking things over.

But what the hell: no one else had offered to take her on, and she didn’t figure, even if they did, they’d be offering that kind of money.

She laid a hand over the note, the sum he’d written, to keep from staring at it like an idiot. She met his expectant gaze, and said, with what elegance she could gather, “Thank you. I gladly accept.”

His grin widened, showing a flash of teeth, and the expression put her in mind of a predator hiding in the long grass. “Excellent.” He offered one manicured hand for her to shake. “Welcome aboard, Ms. Cook.”

~*~

“Oh my God, Mom, you didn’t!” Ava whirled on her mother, her expression scandalized, and, really, Leah had pictured this going differently.

They were at Maggie’s kitchen table, having something of a late, celebratory lunch, complete with champagne. Maggie shrugged as she set chips and salsa down in the center of the table. “I did. She needed a job, and I knew where she could find one that actually pays a living wage.” She settled into her chair with the imperious air of a queen: which was to say, the air with which she did everything. “I don’t see what the big deal is.”

Ava heaved a sigh. “With Ian? Really?”

“Ian?” Leah asked, looking back and forth between mother and daughter.

“Ian’s basically family at this point,” Maggie said, opening the chip bag with a loud pop that had the ring of finality to it.

“Ian?” Leah asked again.

Ava turned to her. “Your new boss.Mr. Shaman.” She rolled her eyes. “His name’s actually Ian, and he’s–” She pressed her lips together, and Leah had the sense she was biting back club secrets. Which were none of her business, she told herself, though it stung a little, being out of the loop.

“Shit,” she said, pulse giving a jump. “He’s not some kind of creep is he? He was wearing a wedding ring. Is he some kinda sexual harasser?”

“No,” Maggie said at once, with a firm shake of her head.

“No,” Ava echoed. “He’s gay, actually. And married.”

“And he’s club family, apparently,” Leah said. “And he’s gonna pay well. I’m not seeing the problem here.” She gave Ava’s foot a nudge under the table with her own.

Maggie sent her daughter a very maternal look.

Ava threw up her hands. “Okay, okay. There’s not a problem. But Ian is…let’s just say not all of his business is…above board.”

Maggie snorted.

Leah smiled. “I forgot you were married to a minister.”

“You know what I mean,” Ava said, sourly.

“No, I absolutely have no idea what you mean.”

Ava looked at her – and then the look softened. “Ian is…well, if you knew him, I think you’d understand. Plenty of civilians work for him, and I think most of them have no idea about his – other business. He does do legit stuff, same as the club. But working for him won’t be the same as working for H&R Block.”

Leah shrugged – but she did give the idea a moment’s consideration. She’d hesitated to accept Maggie’s help – but out of a sense of pride. Not wanting to be a burden; not wanting to feel like she’d needed help.

Had she been hesitant about being tied more officially – financially – to the club? She didn’t think so. But it was a big step down a road she’d never traveled before. She’d been friends with Ava, been friendly with the club, but had always stayed on the fringes. There was no paperwork or money to tie her to it.

She waited for a tickle of fear that didn’t come. Her life – such as it was – lay in Knoxville now, for better or worse. She’d never been popular; why shy away from closer affiliation with the Dogs now?

She smiled at her friend. “I’ll take my chances.”

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