Page 9 of Sunset Serenade
Chapter Five
“Let me get this straight,” Lucy said, her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed. “This guy offered you a huge paycheck, a place to live, health insurance, free food, free flights – and youdidn’tsay yes?”
Lillian hid her smile. Her sisters couldn’t be more different and watching them trying to understand one another was a never-ending source of amusement.
“Are you even listening?” Rose let out a huff, her cheeks flushed. “He thought I was some famous psychologist. I can’t keep pretending to be her.”
“You never pretended to be her. Heassumedit.”
Rose shook her head. “Same thing.”
“No, it’s not,” Lucy said. “Who’s to say she’s famous? She just wrote a book, and it’s not like he read it.”
Rose sighed and turned her gaze to Lillian. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Uh oh. Her silence hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Lillian put her hands up. “I’m trying to reserve judgement until we have all the facts.”
Lucy groaned. “Come on.Don’t act like this isn’t the best thing that’s ever fallen into Rose’s lap.” She paused. “Not to say you don’t deserve it, Rose. What I mean is – it’s long overdue for something good to happen to you.”
Rose opened her mouth, shut it, and then frowned. “You think I’m pathetic, don’t you?”
“No!” Lucy and Lillian said simultaneously.
Lucy softened her tone. “You deserve better than you’ve gotten, that’s all.”
Lillian nodded. “You’ve had a stretch of bad luck.”
For the briefest of moments, it looked like Rose might have tears in her eyes, and Lillian could feel her throat tightening.
Her sister deserved far better treatment than she’d gotten at her last job. Lillian had believed that for years but could never convince Rose to leave. Rose always put the company first and put herself down. Her coworkers and boss hadn’t helped – always happy to pile on the work and blame – and it became an unhealthy cycle.
It didn’t help that no matter what Lillian did or said, she couldn’t get Rose to believe in herself.
The moment passed and Rose looked up, rolling her eyes. “It’s not bad luck when you do it to yourself. I could’ve quit way before they fired me.”
“You weren’t ready, and that’s fine,” Lucy said simply. “That wasn’t your path.Thisis your path.”
Lillian breathed in. Her sister’s tears had passed, and so had hers. “Lucy’s right. Maybe you were meant for this.”
Rose’s mouth popped open. “I can’t believe you’re agreeing with her.”
“Actually.” Lucy turned, wide-eyed. “I can’t either.”
Lillian wasn’t going to be the downer. Not this time.
She wanted to believe good things could happen, and she wanted them to happen for Rose. “Why shouldn’t you take this job? He didn’t say he wanted you for your expertise. He said he liked what you said in the interview, and to be fair, that was all you.”
“If only I could remember what I said.” Rose shook her head. “I’ve totally blocked it out.”
“It must’ve come from the depths of your soul. I tried looking for it online, but they didn’t have a clip up yet.” Lucy waved a hand. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter. You’re into all that romance crap. You’ll be a great matchmaker.”
Rose sighed. “There’s no way. I would be a fraud.”
“It’s not even a real job!” Lucy stood and started to pace the room. “He admitted he’s trying to get someone impressive-looking so he can sell his business. All you have to do is play the part. You fooled him; you can fool whoever is buying the company, too.”
“No. I can’t.” Rose pulled out her phone. “I’m going to text him and turn it down.”
