Page 8 of In Good Company

Her nose scrunches as she looks at me in disbelief. “Why?”

I laugh, the sound of it vibrating my chest. “I keep asking myself the same thing.”

A breeze dances between us as we stare at one another, neither one of us saying anything. Seeing her again tonight was a surprise but a welcome one. I can’t explain why I want her to work for me so badly other than she’s a phenomenal chef…and I’m intrigued by her.

There’s something about her that makes me want to know more. What else will she call me out for? What witty remarks will come out of her mouth?

No one tells me no. The wealth and allure of my name get me anything I want. Yet Lucy seems to want nothing to do with me.

My determination to get her to agree to the job offer might also have something to do with the fact that I’ve been reunited with her again. For an inexplicable reason, I’m interested to know what the last five years have been like for her.

“Give me your phone.” I reach my hand out.

She stares at my open hand. “Don’t you have a phone?”

I shift on my feet as I try to stifle an annoyed sigh. “Obviously, I have a phone. I want yours.”

“Why do you need mine if you have one?”

“So I can put my number in it.”

“I dated your brother. You shouldn’t be asking for my number.”

I smirk. “I’m not asking you for your number. I’m giving you mine. I’ll pay double whatever Thomas and Rina offer you. Once you think about it a little longer, you’ll realize you’d be stupid to not take mine.” I wiggle my fingers to remind her I need her phone.

She lets out a dramatic sigh, but she does pull out her phone and unlock it before placing it in my hand. She keeps hers on top of it for a moment, our fingertips just barely brushing.

I move first, shocked by the electricity I feel at the small connection of our skin. I pull my hand back and pull up her contacts. “Good girl,” I whisper, the words taking me by surprise. Luckily, it seems like the praise came out low enough that she didn’t hear me.

She’s quiet as she waits for me to type my number in. I hand it back to her when I’m done, holding it in the air between us with my thumb and pointer finger. She takes it and tucks it into her pocket, her eyes never leaving mine.

“It was nice to see you tonight, Lucy,” I tell her, tucking my hands in my pockets. I step away from her car, allowing her room to go to the driver’s side.

“Goodnight, Callahan.”

I click my tongue. “What’d I say about calling me that?”

“You told me you prefer Cal. Doesn’t mean I have to listen.”

I shake my head, unable to hide the blooming smile on my lips. “I really hope you change your mind about the job offer, Lucy.” I resist the urge to tell her shewillbe changing her mind about it. I’ll make sure of it.

Any hope I have that she’ll make it easy on me and change her mind tonight leaves me when she gives me a polite smile and whispers, “Goodnight, Cal.”

I stand in place, watching her get in the Bronco and drive away, wanting to make sure she makes it out of the driveway safely. I don’t move until after her headlights disappear down the road.

As I walk to my car, I hope that it’s only a matter of time until I hear from her again.

If I don’t, I’m not afraid of taking matters into my own hands.

FIVE

LUCY

“So, are you going to tell me how your test cook went with the Bouchers, or am I just supposed to be left wondering all day?” Charlotte, my closest coworker and best friend, asks, resting her elbows on the bar and looking around the empty club restaurant.

I meet her eyes, lifting my shoulders in a shrug. “They offered me a position for the summer, so I think it went okay.”

Charlotte lets out a loud squeal as she pushes her body off the bar and runs to me. “What? We’re two hours into our shift, and you’re just now telling me this?” She grabs my shoulders and gives me a shake. “Well, get on with it. Did you accept?” She pauses for a moment, her bottom lip jutting out in a pout. “Does that mean you’ll be leaving me?”

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