Page 5 of Bad Boy Bachelor Christmas
“They’re going.” I poured him a cup of coffee and grabbed creamer out of my fridge. While he fixed it the way he liked it, I leaned up against the kitchen cabinets. “Marge is officially off my payroll. It’s strange as hell.”
“Shit.” Justin sipped his coffee to test it, nodded in satisfaction, and put the creamer back in the fridge. “Were there any tears shed at her retirement party?”
“Not one. Good vibes only. I think she was ready more than she let on.”
“Needed to slow down a bit?”
I nodded.
“Fair enough, the old broad has been working for your family for what, thirty something years?”
“Forty,” I corrected.
“That’s loyalty right there. I hope you still gave her a hefty Christmas bonus.”
“Why is that any of your business?”
Justin rolled his eyes and shrugged one shoulder. “Just sayin’. Staff like that, they don’t come around often. Speaking of which, have you hired someone to replace her?”
I explained how Marge had insisted she help set me up with her replacement. As it turned out, the best she could do on such short notice was a temporary solution at best. “She got in touch with some bigwig at the University of Oregon and asked for the design student at the top of her class. Marge went there before she came to work for my grandfather. I guess she still had some connections.”
“A student, huh?”
“It’s an internship. Low risk. If it doesn’t work out this year I won’t have to fire her at least, and I’ll have all next year to find someone who’s a permanent fit. Someone like Marge.”
“Old, traditional, and predictable?”
“Hey,” I warned.
Justin held up both hands. “What? You know I love Marge as much as the next guy. I’m just putting it out there that her style could use some, well, sprucing up. No pun intended.”
“Marge is a talented designer.”
“Marge has been doing the same thing for four decades and getting away with it because people are fine with the old red, green, and gold because of tradition.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“It’s the modern world, North. At some point you’re going to have to step into it.”
The modern world. I’d never really felt like I had much of a place in it. I preferred the solitude of the old Waylon tree farm to the hustle and bustle of the city. I liked the small town where I lived well enough, but from within the walls of my sanctuary. I’d felt the sting of stepping out into the unknown. It was a pain I only needed to feel once to learn my lesson from.
My phone buzzed. Justin nodded for me to go ahead and answer it.
Marge’s voice filled the other line. “North, are you home?”
“Yes, why?”
“The girl is coming up to the property today to start her internship. Her counselor and I got our wires crossed in communication. I thought she was coming upnextweek. She’ll be there shortly. Any minute, really. I hope you’re prepared to greet her warmly,” she said, stressing the last word. “She’s from Ashland, Oregon, so she’ll be staying on your property for the duration of her internship.”
I frowned. “Wait. What?”
“Don’t get your boxers all twisted. It’s not the end of the world for you to have some company out there in the middle of nowhere. It might do you some good, in fact. But it’s a far cry from what she’s used to. So benice.”
I grunted.
“And choose your words,” Marge added. “She’s young. Probably a bit naïve. But my friend said this girl has promise and talent oozing out of her pores. I think she’s just what you need this year to replace my dusty old behind.”
“How young are we talking?”
