Page 15 of Executive Benefits

We talked for ages about Christmas decorations and a few more quips about my not falling in love with a silver fox, and Mia left with promises that we would go shopping over the weekend for Christmas decorations. I laughed at myself. For all the stuff I had, I didn’t have time in Buffalo to decorate for any holiday.

While I was hoping to build a strong connection with the local businesses and still reach out to clients nationwide, I was also hoping the small-town vibe would rub off on me a little.

After my shower, I ran a brush through my hair and wiped the steam-covered mirror clean. Looking at my reflection, my hair was shorter than it had been before I moved to Heart’s Creek. It wasn’t an "on a whim" cut but something I'd always wanted to try, a short bob coming to my chin.

I did it right before we moved.

I didn’t even tell Mia when I was doing it.

When I showed up with my brown hair in a sleek bob, she just about lost her shit. I smiled at the memory and pulled out a toothbrush.

My new hairstyle gave me a more mature look, the look of someone who wasn’t running away from her problems but was instead building a new life from lessons learned.

My eyes dropped as I finished brushing my teeth.

I clicked the light out and walked into my bedroom.

Speaking of lessons learned… Mia’s words bounced around my head. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing the same thing I did in Buffalo. And as much as I hated to admit it, falling for, or even thinking about, a client romantically did seem too close for my total comfort.

Jared was only two years older than I was, so my flirty feelings about Nick and his age already made him completely different. Jared also wasn’t getting out of a relationship.

I flinched at that thought. Nick did say his divorce was finalized yesterday. I chewed on my lip. I was overthinking everything.

Maybe overthinking pointed to the fact that I’d learned lessons from Jared and the big move. But if I wasn’t going to come to a decision about Nick tonight—I did just meet the man—then there wasn’t any use in dwelling on it tonight.

I wasn't dreaming of a happily ever after with anyone.

Mia was right, and I did want to build my company back into a successful business.

I was good at what I did.

I was grateful to have her as a friend and even more so about the reminder.

It’d be a step up when I could prove to myself, Nick and his restaurant, and to the town of Heart’s Creek that I could do an amazing job.

I definitely needed that kind of win.

I definitely wanted to focus on my career.

And as my lids grew heavy and quiet settled in my brain, the last thought I had definitely wasn’t of Nick and wondering how soft his lips were.

7

NICK

The crowd was a good size tonight. I looked out the window of the connecting door and nodded. Yes. Having the customers be able to see inside the kitchen was going to be an amazing opportunity.

Most of them were already used to me and the other staff.

I grew up with most of them too.

I wasn't sure why I didn’t think about it before, but the more I thought about it, the more excited I got.

And the more excited I got...

The more I thought about Julia.

No matter how much I pushed the thought of her away, the idea of her, how beautiful she was and what she was wearing underneath those damn skirts only came back with a vengeance a few minutes later. So instead, I pushed my way through the door and smiled at my guests.

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