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“I assure you, I am ready to have one job that fits my needs, rather than scrambling to two.” Her eyes finally land on mine for a moment and it’s like I can breathe again.
I smile at her, ready to hire her on the spot, even though I know my ability to focus will go to shit with her around. She lifts an eyebrow, no hint of a smile anywhere on her face, and I sit back, the heat under my collar making me want to unbutton a few buttons.
Something tells me it’s not going to be as simple as I wish it could be with this woman. I don’t think I’ll be winning her over any time soon.
I glance at Jack, and he gives me a look that I can read right away. He approves and wonders if I do too. I give a slight nod and he smiles.
“Well, it has been a pleasure meeting you, Mazie. I don’t think this interview could’ve gone any better,” Jack says.
Hell, yeah, it could’ve. If she’d looked at me once without envisioning killing me, it would’ve been a helluva lot better.
“Thank you. It’s been wonderful to meet you,” she tells Jack.
“Aidan and I will discuss. We have a few interviews we’d already lined up, but one of us will be sure to let you know right away what we’ve decided,” Jack says.
“I appreciate that,” she says, standing up and smoothing out her skirt.
It’s hard to tear my eyes away from her legs, but I do. I can already tell I’m going to be an idiot around her, but I’m not a complete caveman.
“Nice to meet you, Mazie,” I say, reaching out to shake her hand.
She glances at it and shakes my hand reluctantly, her eyes flying to mine in alarm when there’s a shock. Her hand drops and she stutters, stepping back. “Sorry, it must be my heels on this carpet,” she says.
“It’s what I deserve after the puddle mishap,” I say quietly.
Her eyes widen.
“I tried to find you the other day,” I start, but she glances at Jack, and I look back at him.
“I realized this is the girl that I splashed the other day on the street when it was raining,” I tell him, already breathing easier. I should’ve started the interview by confessing this. “I’m so sorry, Mazie,” I say once more for good measure. “Now that you know where to find me, you can bill me for your dry cleaning.”
She looks so stunned that maybe it’s a good thing I waited to say more. She presses her lips together and backs out of the office like she can’t get away from me fast enough.
This should be interesting.
Because I’m certain Jack wants to hire her.
And I know I sure as hell do.
Chapter 5
Mazie
I check my phone every chance I get in between running to tables. I hoped that I would hear back from them today. I told Jack that I could easily get my Pilates classes covered by one of the other instructors, as we are all always hustling for more hours. So, I won’t need to give notice there. Gino’s is going to be a different story, so I’ll probably have to work a few evenings once I give them notice.
But I was so caught off guard by Aidan, and I didn’t hide my anger very well…it’s possible that it cost me the job. He did apologize and it did seem genuine. What are the chances that he’d be the guy who interviewed me for the job?
“This pastrami is dry,” Darryl grumps. He’s a regular. Mid-seventies, hates everyone but me and his daughter—his words not mine.
“Here, let me fix that up for you,” I say, taking his plate to the back and hiding behind the wall and counting to ten. This is our thing. He needs to complain about something, and I’m a good listener. I march back out after doing nothing to the sandwich. “Here you go. Ted added that special touch you like.”
He takes a bite and chews for a couple seconds before his lips turn up in the corners. “So much better, Mazie girl. You always take care of me.”
I kiss him on the cheek and hurry back to the kitchen to check my phone. There’s a missed call from an unknown number. I check my voicemail and play the message as my heartbeat quickens with hope and apprehension.
“Hi, Mazie, this is Aidan Willoughby. Please give me a call at…” I grab a pen and quickly write down the number.
I hurry over to Desiree and tell her I need to make a call. “I’ve got you covered. It’s slow tonight. You can probably take off if you want.”
