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We were desperate, so I needed to make a good first impression. Bouncing out of my seat, I tried greeting her like she was the one interviewing me. “Grace Jansen?”
“Yeah. That’s the real me,” she said. Reluctantly, Grace shook my outstretched hand. “And you’re actually Lucas Valentine.”
“I am.” I smiled, trying to mimic Leo’s notoriously disarming appeal with the opposite sex hoping to score in a different way. My brother and I might have the same face, but for whatever reason, my execution didn’t work as well.
Grace stiffened, cleared her throat. She was well-qualified for the role of Vice President of Operations. Her many accomplishments on her CV were proof enough she could lead a team of engineers, accountants, and customer service personnel. Whatever price it took to get her onboard, I’d pay it. Even if it included a bit of humiliation.
“Please, have a seat.” Noticing the rumpled napkin Leo left where he was sitting, I pointed to the empty chair next to mine. “I should apologize for the mess.”
Grace sat and crossed her arms. “Apologizing might be a good start,” she said.
Whoa. Where did that come from?Grace was out of line, but I ignored her rude remark. I needed her more than she knew. As long as she was willing to move to Covington Falls and be my VP, I could tolerate her being gruff.
“Um, I’m sorry. My brother was sitting there. He was supposed to be joining us, but he had an emergency. It’s probably for the best, anyway. Most people find it weird being interviewed by the two of us at the same time since we’re twins.”
Grace’s eyes went wide. Her face darkened with a pretty flush of pink. “Twins? Did you say twins?”
“Yeah.”
“You have a twin brother?”
“Yes.”
Her perfect eyebrows quirked up. “Oh. Oh.” She chuckled and said, “Well, I hope everything’s okay.”
I waved off her concern. “Leo’s good at putting out fires.”
“Leo Valentine,” she whispered, trailing off into a private thought.
“I hope that doesn’t intimidate you. Having to put out fires, I mean.”
Her eyes met mine again, and she said, “Not at all. I have experience putting out my fair share of fires.”
“I noticed that on your resume. Impressive. I was impressed.”
Grace smiled. “I’m sorry,” she said, placing her hands on the edge of the table.
I panicked then. I hadn’t even begun the interview, and she was already rejecting the job. “Can I get you something to drink? Let me get the waiter.”
“No, I’m fine,” Grace said. “Mr. Valentine—“
“Please, call me Lucas.”
She let out a deep breath. “Lucas. I feel I should be honest with you.”
Oh, boy. Here it comes.Twenty rejections in a row were unacceptable. “Why don’t we order something to eat?”
“Maybe you should hear me out first.”
I swallowed hard. “Okay.”
Grace smiled again, but it was crooked. “I love my job. Looking for another one was my recruiter’s idea. I’ve been to a dozen job interviews at this conference and honestly, I barely did my research. I don’t really know anything about your company, except that your brother looks like you and people find that awkward during interviews.” She laughed. “I can relate to that right now, but anyway, I thought I should let you know that. Before you paid for my Salade Lyonnaise.”
I let out a strangled breath.Was that it? She was worried she wasn’t prepared?
“I suppose this interview is over, isn’t it?” Grace asked.
I smiled and said, “Could I ask you a question?”
