Page 16 of Falling for Nicole
“Yeah, and?”
I was under the impression Nicole was going to know why she was here. It’s not like my sister to keep anything from her.
I run my hands through my hair before laying it all out on the table. “I need a manager for this place. I can’t find anyone suitable and Lilly thinks you’d be perfect.”
“Wow.”
For some reason I thought she might like the idea but as she walks over and places her palms flat on my desk I think I may have misjudged it. Pulling my gaze away from her cleavage that’s now right in my eye line, I look up to her face. It’s hard and her eyes are boring into mine.
“It all makes sense now. Lilly asking questions about my previous jobs, what my duties were. She’s been begging you to employ me, hasn’t she?” Nicole doesn’t give me time to figure out an answer. “And now you’ve exhausted all other possibilities you’re giving in and offering it to me. The last person on this earth you’d want to work for you.”
I’m fucked. Well and truly fucked.
“I haven’t been able to find anyone else, no.”
“So I’m you’re last chance? I’m assuming you want to open before bank holiday?”
“That would be ideal, yes.”
She pushes herself from my desk. I’m partly glad and partly disappointed she’s removed her tits from my face.
“I’m presuming you’re going to make it worth my while to even consider it. I mean, no offense, but I’m not sure you being my boss is a good thing.”
“I agree, which is why you’re my last choice. It’s got nothing to do with your skill.”
“So…” She comes to sit in the seat opposite me and waits for my offer.
“I can’t offer you a lot. I may believe this place is exactly what this town needs, but I’m putting my neck out and trying something new. What I can offer you, though, is a safe place to work.” I glance at her cut lip and grit my teeth as the image of someone hurting her returns. “Once we’ve got everything in place, you’ll be in charge. You can do the staff rotas so you can pick and choose your shifts. I’ll give you as much flexibility as possible if you give me your all.” I’m pretty sure I’m only asking for her all at work.
“Money?”
I write a figure down on a scrap of paper beside me and slide it over. It’s obviously more than she was expecting because her eyebrows rise the second she sees it.
“Done. When do I start?”
“Now?”
“Now? At eleven o’clock at night?”
“Okay, fine. Tomorrow morning. Be here first thing and we’ll start going over everything and getting this place ready for some customers.”
“So that’s it? I now work for you?”
“It sure looks that way, Gingernut.” I can’t help but laugh when she growls at my use of one of her many nicknames.
Her mouth opens as if she’s about to tear me a new one when the sound of paws hitting the wooden floor out in the bar area take her attention. Seconds later her dog comes rushing through, followed by my windswept sister.
“He doesn’t stop,” she pants as the fur ball collides with the wall behind me before putting his sopping wet feet on my thighs so I can give him some love. He must have realised I’m no real threat to his mum, because last time he saw me he was bearing teeth.
“I said you could let him off the lead, Lills. He won’t run away.”
“I wasn’t brave enough so I ran with him. You two all sorted here?”
“I think so,” I say before Nicole has a chance to respond.
Getting up from the chair Nicole bends down to take the dog’s lead before heading towards the door. “I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”
“First thing.”
