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We face each other while Cara and Pops watch us like we’re primetime TV. “Full time, twenty-five dollars an hour plus full benefits so you can quit your other job,” he counters.
This is how he wants to play it? Okay. “Thirty dollars an hour plus benefits.” There’s no way he’ll go for that.
“Done, but you’re my full time assistant and accessible by phone after hours.”
Damn it.
The silence hums while I argue with myself, and his gaze stays locked on mine. It’s not like I’m attached to cleaning office buildings. It wouldn’t even be hard to get that job back if this falls through since they pay so little and are always desperate for employees. Some quick mental math tells me this job would be over sixty grand a year. In a small Kentucky town, that’s pretty good.
My lips part twice as I struggle to agree while triumph shines in his eyes.
My lack of response doesn’t faze him. “You can start tomorrow. I want to get the office opened by nine.”
“Fine.” The word slips out through gritted teeth. I’m not sure I won that.
With a wide smile, he gives Pops and Cara a nod. Lila shows up as he’s leaving, and he holds the door open for her. They exchange some words but I’m not listening. My head is still spinning from how fast things just changed.
Pops seems to think highly of my choice, getting up and patting my back as he walks by. “Thirty dollars an hour. You took it to him, honey. Good job. I’m going to go make my Christmas list.” He disappears down the hall to his bedroom.
“What just happened?” I ask Cara.
“The same thing that happened to me with Monroe,” she chuckles.
Lila’s jaw drops. “You had sex with Cooper?”
“What? No!”
She glances at Cara’s smiling face, then looks at me. “What did I miss?”
“He offered me a job. Working in the office here.”
“Oh, are you going to do it?”
“Yeah, it’s a lot more money. Enough to put up with working for him. It’s just temporary.”
“That’s what I said too,” Cara sings. She turns to Lila. “You should’ve seen them haggling over it. The sexual tension was off the chart.”
“Really?” Lila sits beside her, eager for details.
“Scorching. I swear, Monroe and I need to do a boss and employee scene on LonelyHands because…whew.”
“Speaking of Row, didn’t you have something to talk to Lila about?” I ask Cara, and she gives me a tight lipped stare. Throw me under the bus, will you? It instantly shifts the focus from me.
Lila raises an eyebrow, and Cara turns to look at her. “Uh, yeah. I was going to talk to you today. Monroe and I are thinking about moving in together, getting a house here in town.”
Lila beams at her. “That’s fantastic!”
“I don’t want to leave you in a precarious spot when it comes to finances and stuff. You helped me so much last year and I’m really grateful.”
“Don’t be silly! Our rent was just waived for six months. I have a stable job and savings. I’m good.” She wraps Cara in a hug. “I’m excited for you!”
Cara hugs her back. “You’re the best. It won’t be right away. There’s no way I’m missing this show with Maren and the landlord.”
“There will be no show. I’m not taking any shit from an entitled rich jerk. I’m going to do the work and collect a check. End of story.”
Lila leans back on the couch. “Did you see his ass in those jeans, though?”
“I was too focused on the arms,” Cara replies.
