AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I heard her mention it to her mom over the phone but I wanted her to confirm it.
“Are you applying for it?”
What I’d like to know is why she needs the contract so badly. She mentioned something about paying for her brother.
“Yes, but I know there will be a lot of competition for this. I'm not so sure I have a shot,” she says, her eyes casting down at her cell phone in her right hand.
She seems to think she already knows the outcome before she has even shown up for her presentation.
“You made your mom think it was a sure thing,” I say.
Her eyes dart up to mine.
Judging from her confident posture and the way she carries herself, she seems like someone who doesn't readily offer her attention, as if she's inherently guarded… or maybe, someone made her that way.
I get the sense that she's a woman whose trust and attention must be earned. Admittedly, having to work for a woman’s attention isn’t something I’m used to in my line of work.
I don’t use that to my advantage like other players do. Or at least, I don’t anymore.
“You heard that?” she asks, watching me through her long dark lashes.
“Not intentionally but we’re the only two out here so it was a little hard to ignore.”
Her eyes leave mine again as she looks over toward one of the few vehicles left in the parking lot. The cleaning crew parks in the back and she was headed toward the SUV parked in the corner all by itself. It has to be hers.
“I just don’t want her to worry about anything. My brother needs specialized care at a facility in the city and she can’t afford it. I don’t want her to worry about how I’m going to come up with the money,” she says, blowing out a breath and wrapping her arms around her middle protectively.
The cold January night causes her warm breath to billow out from her painted red lips.
I have a feeling that was hard for her to admit to a stranger but she said it like she needed to say it to someone else.
As crazy as it sounds, seeing her standing like that makes me feel protective of her. She shouldn’t be staring off into an empty parking lot looking as defeated as she does.
“Anything I can do to help?” I ask.
“Not unless you can guarantee me the contact,” she says, pulling her phone up and checking the time on it.
It’s freezing and I should let her go home and warm up but then what she just said hits me.
What if I could guarantee her the spot?
Marjorie Carlton is the one who will be hiring for this position, and the Carlton’s have a soft spot for their Hawkeyes families. If Marjorie knew that my soon-to-be wife wanted the contract, I’d bet the captain’s position on the team that she’d give it to her.
“I can guarantee you the contract,” I blurt out.
Her eyes flare up to mine in surprise. She wasn’t expecting that answer.
“Is that right, Mr…?”
“Haynes. Ryker Haynes. And if you forget the name, you can just look at the name on your back.”
“My back?” she asks, blinking up at me.
“You’re wearing my name across your jacket,” I tell her.
She attempts to look over her shoulder but can’t see my name on her back from that angle.
“Number 19, Haynes,” I say, to help jog her memory.
