Page 49 of The Back Forty
He answers well. Polished. Rehearsed. I double-check his willingness to travel occasionally and remind him we’ll be making a decision by end of day.
When the call ends, Lydia turns toward me with a look that’s half amusement, half relief. “He’s nice,” she says, “but I think Luca's a better fit. Plus, he’s way more attractive.”
I snort. “Since when do you care about that?”
She shrugs, trying to hide her grin. “Since me and Michael broke up.”
That stops me for a beat. Lydia’s always been the most private one in our friend group. I didn’t even know she was dating until I saw her at the coffee shop a few months ago with a tall guy with bright red hair, and even then, she barely offered more than a shrug and a name. Apparently, that guy had been her sort of, casual boyfriend of the past six months.
“Well, you should ask Luca if he’s single,” I tease. “Just maybe not during the interview.”
She smirks and leans back in her chair just as a knock sounds at the door.
“Come in!” I call out.
The door swings open and in walks Luca, looking sharp in a tailored navy suit with a matching tie. His dark blonde hair is freshly cut and styled, and I can tell he's taking this as seriously as I’d hoped. There’s a spark in his green eyes and a hint of nerves in the way he adjusts his grip on the leather portfolio in his hand.
“Great to see you again, Dani,” he says, reaching out to shake my hand. His grip is firm, warm, and confident in that eager-to-please way that makes you want to root for him. I remember how I felt fresh out of school, interviewing for my first big job in sales. It can be overwhelming.
He turns to Lydia and shakes hers too, remembering her name. “Nice to see you again as well, Lydia.”
I gesture to the seat across from Colt’s desk. “Make yourself comfortable and we'll jump right in.”
He settles in, visibly trying to calm his nerves, and I appreciate the effort. There’s something earnest about him. No polished performance, no buzzword bingo. Just a guy who wants a shot.
Lawson will appreciate that attitude, too.
“So,” I begin, resting his resume gently on the desk, “we covered your education and background last time, but I want to reconfirm a few things. To start, your willingness to relocate to Whitewood Creek permanently, your flexibility with travel, and how soon you’d be able to start if offered the role.”
He straightens a little, nodding. “Absolutely. I’ve already started looking into apartments in town, and I can be ready to go within two weeks. Sooner if needed.”
I glance at Lydia, who arches a brow and offers the smallest, most unhelpful smirk. She likes him and my gut has already decided.
“That’s great to hear,” I say, making a note beside his name. “And what about travel? Most of our pitches are out of town and occasionally, you may need to tag along to support Lawson and me. I can't say what the percentage of time would be since Lawson's made it clear that he'll continue to handle that for now, but I want to be sure you're willing and able to step in if needed.”
“That's not a problem,” Luca says quickly. “Honestly, that’s one of the things that excited me most about the job. I like being out in the field, talking to people. I think that’s where the best marketing happens, on the ground, not behind a screen.”
Lydia lets out a quiethmmbeside me, which I know means she’s impressed but trying not to show it too much.
I lean forward a little, resting my forearms on the desk. “Alright. Last thing. Why Whitewood Creek? You said you were open to relocating, but I’m curious. What’s the draw for you?”
He nods. “I grew up in a small town. I temporarily enrolled in school in a city and ended up transferring to a smaller school nearby because I missed the home feeling I get when the city isn’t so crowded. When I came out here for our first interview, I walked down Main Street and it just… clicked. I could see myself living here. Building something. Knowing my neighbors. I don’t know, it just felt right. I can't explain it, but it feels like I'm meant to live here.” He shrugs like maybe that was too much, but I get it. I had the same exact feeling when I first moved here after leaving California. Something about the town pulls you in and speaks of new beginnings.
I glance at Lydia, who gives a tiny nod, like we’re in some unspoken agreement.
“Well,” I say, standing and smoothing down the front of my skirt, “I think that’s everything I needed to hear.”
Luca stands too, just slightly awkward in a way that reminds me he’s still new at this but will do his best.
“I’d like to offer you the position,” I say, extending my hand again. “You'll be my sales and marketing assistant for the egg division, distillery and wedding partnership. We’d love to have you join the team.”
His eyes widen, then crinkle with a smile as he shakes my hand. “Seriously? Thank you! Wow. I'm so excited to get started. I won't let you down.”
“I know you won’t,” I say, meaning it.
Lydia stands as well, offering her own congratulations as I glance at the clock on the wall.
“I’ve got a few more things to wrap up this afternoon, but how about we meet up tonight to go over onboarding details, next steps, and first day plans?”
