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She blinked. “What do you mean? Someone’s always been able to rent the Mousehole cottage.”
“Not since I bought the place.”
“Why not?”
“I live alone.” He started polishing highball glasses and setting them on a shelf.
“The cottage is a totally separate building.”
“It’s close enough that someone would be around.”
“And you don’t want anyonearound.”
“I prefer it that way, yes.”
Ignoring a strange dissatisfaction with his response, Rory tore off another onion slice. “Would you reconsider for two months?”
“No, but why do you ask?”
“Because I accepted a job with Digicore Corporation in San Jose.” She wiped her greasy fingers on a napkin.
He glanced up sharply. “You’re moving?”
“In two months. It was supposed to be sooner, but they haven’t yet gotten funding in place for the project they want me to work on. So I have to wait.” She pushed a swath of hair back over her shoulder. “I hadn’t expected to stay in Bliss Cove this long, and it’s past time for me to leave.”
“What’s the job?” Grant grabbed a rag and scoured the top of the bar. The sinews in his forearm flexed with his rapid movements.
“Software engineer. I’ll be working on cloud systems.”
“Weren’t you doing some programming contract work?”
“Yes, but this is a full-time job with potential for advancement.” Her mouth twisted. “At least that’s what they told me.”
He tossed the rag aside. “You don’t believe them?”
“Another beer over here!” a guy called from the other end of the bar.
“Hold up, Pat,” Grant snapped before settling his gaze back on Rory with theI’m waiting for an answerlook she’d come to recognize.
Maybe the scotch had loosened her tongue because she found herself confessing. “I’ve worked in the high-tech industry since I was a teenager. All through college, I worked different jobs and internships. I’ve probably worked for five or six different companies over the years. I’ve dealt with every situation you can imagine. So while I would very much like to think they’d consider me for advancement, even leading my own project, the stark reality is that women are frequently passed over for that kind of thing. Even women as good as I am. And believe me, I’m damned good.”
“I believe you.” He leaned back against the counter, his shoulders tense. “So why are you taking the job?”
“Because I miss the work, and I’m the best person for it.” She took another sip of scotch.And because, really, I can’t just take contract jobs and work at Sugar Joy forever.
“I love the coding and analyzing,” she continued. “I’ll get great benefits. I guess I’m still holding out hope that I’ll soon havetheperfect job, you know? The one where I can use all my skills and even lead my own project. Plus, I’ve learned how to deal with the shitty stuff.”
A frown carved deep lines on either side of Grant’s mouth. “What’s the shitty stuff?”
“Come on, man, I’m thirsty!” Pat yelled.
With an irritated sigh, Grant pushed away from the counter and strode to the end of the bar to refill the other man’s glass. He paused on the way back to put more peanut bowls on the bar—another Mousehole tradition he’d kept.
“Have you ever thought about serving sugared nuts, Grant?” Madeline Fox, who owned the bath-and-body shop Naked, approached the bar and perched on a stool. “I have an excellent recipe for roasted nuts with sugar, cayenne, and cinnamon. Spicy and sweet is the best combination, don’t you think?”
Rory barely managed to withhold a snort.
“I can see why you’d like it, Madeline.” Grant set a bowl of plain peanuts in front of her.
