Page 8 of Caught in the Axe
“They said you were coming back for a few weeks to handle the sale of the business. And that you needed help with documentation and records while you’re here.”
Huh. That was impressively accurate. “Yes. But it’s a bit more than that,” I hedged, going for gentle despite the anxiety and frustration that had taken up permanent residence inside me. “I have a ton to get done in a short amount of time, and I’ve got to keep up with the workload for my day job back in Boston too. So I need someone with bookkeeping experience who can interpret financial records.”
She continued to smile so brightly I had to fight to shield my eyes. “Okay, great.”
I blinked at her unhelpful response. “Do you have that experience?”
“Owen,” she chided. “Of course I do. Maybe your family never mentioned it, but I finished my BA in business administration last year. It took me a while, given all the moves, but I did it. My work history has been spotty, for obvious reasons.” She raised her eyebrows like I was supposed to know what she was referring to. “But I’m a hard worker, and you’d be helping me out.”
Despite my better judgment, I found myself leaning forward, totally invested in assisting her with whatever she needed.
Because her presence was turning my brain inside out. I couldn’t decide whether I should ask to see her résumé or ask her out on a date. Ha. As if that were a possibility. I’d barely have enough time to sleep and shower while I was here, letalone consider having fun. And even if I did, where would I take a beautiful woman in Lovewell? The diner? After all that my father had done, if I set foot in the place, Bernice would probably spit in my coffee.
I found myself smiling when she spoke, laughing at her jokes and desperate to keep the conversation going. No woman in recent memory had made me feel this way. God, the universe really was fucking with me.
“So tell me about your experience.”Yes, Owen. Get this conversation back on track.
Since the moment she’d arrived, my brain had been short-circuiting. It was as if I’d never been in the presence of a beautiful woman before.
God, maybe Enzo was right. It had been a while for me.
“I’ve been back in Lovewell for almost a year. I’m staying with my mom. Before I came home, I was in Florida, doing bookkeeping and advancement work for a nonprofit.”
Forcing myself to focus on her words rather than her lips as she spoke, I nodded.
“Before that, it was Providence and Indiana.” She shrugged as if I should be familiar with her life story. “I got my associate’s degree at a community college and then started working on my bachelor’s.” Her shoulders rounded a bit then, and her voice went quiet, as if she were embarrassed. “It took me a long time.”
“That’s impressive,” I said, infusing an extra dose of admiration in my voice. It was, and she had no reason to be ashamed of the path she’d taken.
With her bottom lip caught between her teeth, she twisted the silver ring on the fourth finger of her right hand. She was nervous. Was I makingher nervous?
She lowered her head and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Anyway, my last job sparked a desire for me to learn more. So I’ve spent the last year applying to grad programs.” Clearing her throat, she dropped her hands to her lap. “I plan to earn a master’s in nonprofit leadership. I’m waiting to hear back from a few business programs, but I applied late, so my chances are slim.”
I rested an elbow on the table but remained quiet, intrigued by her dedication.
“In the meantime, I’m here, and I like to keep busy. I work at the diner in the mornings, and a few afternoons a week I do math tutoring at the library for a few kids in town. I also teach dance classes at the studio in Heartsborough when I can.”
A huff of a laugh escaped me. “And you wantanotherjob?”
“God, yes. I’m saving up for grad school, so I need all the cash I can get. Plus, this would be helpful business experience, which is hard to come by up here.”
There was no way to know if she’d actually be useful, but I admired her hustle. And after a twenty-minute conversation with her, I felt better than I had in weeks. So it was worth a try.
She was determined and cheerful, and let’s face it, I needed the help.
“Okay,” acquiesced, “but I can only pay thirty dollars an hour.”
“Are you shitting me?” She slapped a hand over her mouth, and her cheeks went pink.
I laughed. “I wish I could offer more, but that’s all thebudget will allow.”
“No,” she said, grasping my forearm. “You misunderstood. That’s so much more than I anticipated.”
Ignoring the zing that shot up my arm at her touch, I cleared my throat. “Once we successfully close the sale, you’ll receive a bonus, and trust me, it’ll be well earned. You’ll be expected to work hard, and the hours won’t be the traditional eight to five. I have to do my actual job too, so I’ll be digging into this stuff mostly on nights and weekends.”
Once this was done, I would go back to Boston, but not before I asked her out. She was too beautiful and intriguing to pass up. And damn if she wasn’t a bright spot in this shitty town.
She was gorgeous and kind and intelligent, which meant there was no way I’d escape the next couple of weeks without developing a full-blown crush.
