Page 116 of A Whole New Play

The opportunity is incredible, and I appreciate him thinking I have what it takes to help his company succeed. But there are more important things than work. I know that now. But I’m unsure how to communicate that in an email in the right tone.

Maybe I should just call him? It’s too late now, but I can text him first thing in the morning to ask him for a good time to talk.

With that plan in mind, I close the email I’d been creating and start to clean up my inbox.

“The kids are finally down.”

I look up. Carter stands in the doorway. He’s still wearing his button-down and slacks from his meeting with his lawyer, but his hair is ruffled and he’s switched his contacts for glasses. And damn if he isn’t the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.

“That’s great. They had a big day.” Abby was so hyped up from winning that I wasn’t sure she’d ever calm down enough to fall asleep.

“They did.” Carter leans a shoulder against the doorframe and crosses his arms. “Corey told me about Sara.”

“Oh.” My smile fades. “Honestly, I forgot all about that.” I stopped thinking about the crazy woman after she was escorted out of the science fair.

“I called Davis on my drive home from the school. He’ll start looking into getting a restraining order tomorrow.”

My eyes widen. “Is it that serious?”

“Yes,” he doesn’t hesitate. “Trust me. It’s for the best.”

I’m missing information, but I don’t need to know the details. I know Carter will take care of everything. “I believe you.”

“So, what happened with the job?”

The abrupt subject change makes me pause. I take in Carter’s stiff stance and see the muscle twitch in his jaw,

“I got the job.” Pain sparks in his gaze, but I’m quick to try and douse it. “Don’t worry. I’m not taking it.”

His eyes search mine. “Why not?”

I frown. “What?”

Carter straightens and clears his throat. His features are stony. I feel like I’m about to be on the receiving end of a lecture. “Why aren’t you taking the job?”

“Because I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

My forehead creases. “I’m sorry. I’m confused. Did you want me to take the job?” And move fifteen hundred miles away?

“I just want to know why you’re turning it down. You told me it sounded like a great opportunity.”

“It did.”

“And that it’s not every day someone your age can become the CFO.”

“It isn’t.”

“Then why would you turn it down?”

I can’t tell if his question is sincere.

In case it is, I gently remind him, “If I take the job, I have to move to California.” I’d like to think there’s a chance he forgot that. But there’s no way… Carter isn’t a fool. He wouldn’t forget that piece of information.

“So?”

“So?” I croak and search his expression for an explanation for his behavior.

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