Page 40 of Dear John

“Another firm like OPS. We’ve worked with them before and they’re good guys. It would be a good move.”

“You’d be leaving your team behind,” I pointed out.

“Well…it’s not like I have much choice at this point. It is what it is.”

That couldn’t be it. Maybe Cash would come around. I didn’t know the man, but I remembered him telling me Cash waslike family. How could anyone be that close and let someone like Kavanaugh go? It wasn’t like he was a bad employee. He’d sacrificed so much.

“Maybe if you stick around for a while, things will change.”

He was already shaking his head before I finished. “There’s no way to make this work.”

I pursed my lips, not sure what to do. “Well, there’s only one solution.”

“And that would be?”

“Join the cast ofAnnie. Fox was telling me there were auditions coming up.”

“I think that’s a hard pass.”

I grinned at him. “I think you would make a great Annie. I mean, you’d have to dye your hair and you might be too tall…”

“And my voice is just a tad masculine.”

“But other than that, you could totally pull it off.”

“There’s no pay in community theater.”

“You could be paid in smiles.”

“I’d rather have money,” he grumbled, pulling me closer to him.

“Then I guess you’d better find a job.” I looked up at him, a grin quirking my lips. “You know, mechanics are sexy.”

“Fucking hell. Not you too.”

15

ISABELLE

“You ready?”

I looked up at Knight, closing my magazine as I cocked my head at him. “Ready for what?”

“We’re going out.”

Panic tore through me as I remembered what happened last time. “Uh…you know, I’m good.”

“I need help.”

“No—I…it’s not a good time.”

“Well, I still need help.” He walked over to my closet and opened the door, grabbing a jacket for me.

I stood, my heart racing as I thought about going out again. It wasn’t like I stayed inside at all times, but after what happened the last time…Ebarardo wouldn’t like it.

“Hudson—”

He turned at the plea in my voice, but that didn’t stop him from walking over to me and handing me the jacket. “Please,” he asked sincerely.

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