“The first part, yeah. The second, no. She came to see her father. Everything else just… happened.”
“Like fate, on this island.”
“Shhh.” He shot him a look. “Don’t let Mom hear you say that.”
Because maybe deep down he was thinking the same thing.
“Now this is rich,” Eli said. “You had a one night stand with someone who lied about who she was.”
“She didn’t lie. She gave her first name. So did I.”
“Did she know whoyouwere?”
Ethan’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah. She thought I knew her too. We were just talking, then it turned into something else.”
“And now you’re her boss? This just keeps getting better. Dad know?”
“No. And I’d like to keep it that way. Nora and I came to an understanding. The past stays buried. Strictly professional from here on out.”
“Sure, it does,” Eli said, clapping his shoulder before walking off with a grin.
9
A MASSIVE QUESTION MARK
“Good morning,” Blair said on Monday. “You’re nice and early. You almost beat me here.”
“Too early?” Nora asked. It’s not as if she had to deal with traffic since she walked and knew it took less than ten minutes.
It was less than half a mile and she was a fast walker.
Her first day, she didn’t want to overdress, so put on black pants and a nice shirt, then changed out of her sneakers and into dressier shoes in the reception area when Blair came to get her.
“Ethan told me he explained the hours are eight to four thirty with a thirty-minute lunch. He’s not a clock-watcher. Never think that. Sometimes he’s here at seven, other times at nine but could stay until eight that night. It’s not expected of you.”
“He told me. I’m fine with that.”
“He’s an easy boss. Well,” Blair said, “I find him easy, but we’ve got a good relationship. It will take time. I showed you the treat drawer. It always softens him up. If for no other reason than he knows he’s being an ass.”
That would take some getting used to for her. She’d never felt she could tell her boss they weren’t nice or weren’t treating her well.
Then mix in the personal past she had with Ethan.
This morning her stomach was churning more than the blender mixing her smoothie that she’d drank on the way here.
She didn’t have the appetite to put any food in her belly. Her nerves were frayed, her decision to accept this position still a massive question mark in her mind.
But she’d said yes and couldn’t turn back now.
After her pep talk last night, she’d convinced herself she’d give it six months, but not tell a soul that.
Her father would only freak out, a lecture ensuing about her never sticking, having her head in the clouds, or shying away from hard work.
He had no idea howhardit was for her to accept this job and then show up this morning.
“I’m sure it will be fine,” she said.
“First things first,” Blair said. “Here is your badge. Your background checks all came back quickly, but we didn’t expect there to be an issue. Now you won’t have to wait for security to let you in.”
