Page 38 of Single Girl in the City
Aware that the house was small and the walls were paper-thin, Abi stepped out onto the stoop and closed the door behind her. “What do you want?”
“To offer you the job.”
“I’m hired?” Her heart leaped and fell at the same time. On the one hand, she was going to be able to take some of the responsibility off his shoulders. On the other, she’d have to see him every day, knowing she was keeping a secret.
“I can train you faster than anyone else.”
“And you’re okay with me leaving at the end of next month?”
“That works for me.” As he said it, her heart gave a little ping of sadness. She knew she was leaving, knew he was right to think that way, but he was okay with her leaving, even going as far as to say it worked for him. It was ridiculous to feel a slip of rejection, but she felt it all the same. “I train you, then you help me find and train a replacement.”
Her replacement.
“You know, you don’thaveto hire me.” Why was she backpedaling? This was what she’d been working toward. “I won’t stop being your friend or anything.”
He took that in for a moment. “Is that what we are? Just friends?”
“I hope so,” she said quietly, ignoring the “just” part. After that kiss, she wanted more. But wanting and doing were no longer going to exist in the same realm in her life.
He studied her for a long moment, his eyes warm and soft. “I want to hire you. I should have said that the moment I read your résumé.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“But there are conditions.”
She swallowed. “What kind of conditions?”
“If you come to work for me, we have to keep it friends only.”
“You mean no benefits?”
His gaze fell to her lips. “No kissing, no touching, no benefits.”
“No benefits then,” she agreed, shifting closer.
“I don’t want to complicate things.” His voice said he wanted to get all kinds of complicated with her and what was beneath her shirt.
“No complications.” She moved even closer as if being sucked into his sexy vortex. “I have some conditions too.”
H grinned. “You do?”
“It’s only fair that I get one.”
His lips quirked. “Is this a shakedown?”
“No, this is me adding my own addendum to the agreement.”
“That’s fair.”
“When our time is up and I leave, I want you to remember that we were friends.” Man, that was a selfish request. When she told him the truth, he’d have every right to walk away and never talk to her again. But she just hoped that a small part of him would think back to this moment, and all the moments they’d shared, before the extent of her deceit was aired.
“I’ll remember everything about you.”
“Including why you hired me, which is because I make your life easier.” She needed to hear him say it so that no matter what, he’d remember at least that part.
“I’m hiring you because I trust you and I trust your judgment.”
As if someone had entered her into the Ice Bucket Challenge, she pulled back. Because if that wasn’t a sign to fess up, then she didn’t know what was. Owen was all about trust and honesty and, while she hadn’t lied, she’d been keeping things from him.
