Page 6 of Flirting With Forever
Both were tall and dark haired, both handsome and very similar in looks. Related? “Hi,” she said to the man she’d talked to earlier.
“Right on time,” he said. “Cole, your first interviewee.”
She managed a smile. Hopefully first and last, she mused. “Hi, I’m Sloane. Sloane Walker,” she said, the lie rolling off her tongue with ease. Every town required a new name, and she’d practiced this one the last few days.
“Cole Blackwell.”
“I’m his brother, Alec,” the other guy said.
That explained the resemblance.
A younger man came out of a door toward the rear of the store carrying a large box. “New shipment just got here.”
“Thanks, Ky. I’ll give you a hand. And get out of your way and leave you to it,” Alec said to his brother.
She glanced up at Cole and found him assessing her. Her nerves kicked up another few notches because there was a…hardness there that reminded her of her father. This was a man who’d seen some things.
“Follow me,” Cole said, leading the way toward a door at the opposite end of the building. He used a key to unlock it and then waited for her to walk through in front of him.
Her stomach knotted up like a noose. “I thought I’d work in there.” She jerked a thumb toward the convenience store.
“No. That’s a separate business. If you get the job, you’d be working in here, answering phones, taking appointments and bookings, as well as eventually handling payments. Did you park nearby?”
“Uh, yeah,” she said quickly. “Actually, I’m right outside in the alley in back. I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s fine. That’ll be your space if you’re hired so the front doesn’t get too crowded for the customers.”
She really needed this job but— “So I’d be working for you?”
“Yeah. We offer a wide variety of rental options from golf carts and black car service to skim boards and beach chairs. We also offer loading and unloading for tourists, seasonal things like putting up Christmas lights and checking on homes for out-of-town owners, in addition to small repairs like changing AC filters and basic maintenance every beach house needs as corrosion takes its toll. All of which requires a schedule so everything gets done and nothing is missed.”
“That’s a really wide range of options.”
Cole Blackwell scraped a palm over his face like he thought it was a few too many options but, other than a slight grimace, didn’t comment on her observation.
“Tip of the iceberg. And like I said, it means creating and keeping the schedule up to date, which would be your main job. Alec said you don’t have references?”
Annnd here we go. “No. But I’m really good at organization and know my way around a computer.”
“Name a weakness of yours.”
She blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“Most interviewers ask about a person’s strengths. I want to know your weakness.”
Sloane’s pulse picked up speed. “Uh, okay. I guess it would be that I’m…sort of a loner.”
“No team spirit, huh?”
She shrugged and fought the urge to shift as he pierced her with a searching stare. “Teams are fine, but I also work well alone. I don’t require motivating and like working independently…so I tend to keep to myself.”
“Being a loner is one thing, but if you need help, I want you to be smart enough to ask for it so we don’t lose customers.”
“I can do that,” she said firmly.
“Can you pass a background check?”
Her stomach sank. “I can but— Is that really necessary?”
