Page 126 of Happily Never After

Mindy glanced at her watch. “Two o’clock. We’re meeting at a café in the valley.”

“Working lunch?”

“Let’s do it.”

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

To Do:

- Don’t panic

- Do what you were born to do

“So how dowe tell her that ‘all other duties as assigned’ might sometimes involve busting a serial killer ring?” Mindy flipped down the mirror in the car and adjusted her lipstick.

“I think that’s more of an after-she-passes-the-probationary-period kind of revelation,” Claire said, rifling through her purse. She pulled out her interview binder. “I really hope this is the one. She’s our last option since Megan took another job and Jenna dropped everything to be in a Pledge commercial.”

Mindy shook her head. “If it’s meant to be, it will be.”

“You’re very zen for someone who has a life-altering deadline this week,” Claire said.

“Well, I did just come back from a mini sexcation,” Mindy said, flipping the mirror shut and opening her car door.

“Right. Please remember our rafters can only take so much.” Claire shook her head and climbed out. She opened the door to the coffee shop and was about to approach the counter when someone in the corner caught her eye.

Heather Clearwater, the Pennsylvania-girl-turned-LA-hospitality-manager, waved at them from the corner table. Three coffees and an assortment of pastries sat in front of her.

“Holy shit, she beat us here,” Claire muttered to Mindy as she waved back. They walked over together.

Heather stood and offered her hand. “You must be Claire and Mindy. It’s so nice to meet you in person.” She was dressed in a silk blouse and ascot with a pencil skirt, and her red hair was slicked back into a bun. Her teeth were a dazzling white, and Claire would have stolen the shoes off her feet if she thought they would fit. There was something familiar about her, but Claire couldn’t quite place it.

“Love your shoes,” Claire said, settling into a chair.

“Thank you! I took a guess and went with iced coffees.” Heather gestured to the cups on the table. “I’m happy to get you something else though.”

“Iced coffee is great.” Mindy pulled her tablet out and set it up. “Thanks.”

Claire smiled. Punctual, professional, and went out of her way to get refreshments. Could this be their person? The vise grip around her throat loosened by an inch.

“So, if you’re ready, we’ll start by telling you a little bit about what we do,” she said.

Heather took a sip of her coffee and folded her hands together on the table. She leaned forward and nodded. She gave Claire her undivided attention, occasionally interjecting a “wow” or “amazing” as Claire explained the business. She maintained eye contact, but not in a creepy way.

“Mindy can show you a couple examples of what we’ve done in the past.”

Mindy swiveled her tablet around, ready to hit play on one of the videos Luke had filmed for them.

“Oh, you don’t have to if you’d rather save the time. I’ve watched every single one of your proposal videos. And your interviews. Marnie’s actually my aunt.”

“Marnie’s your aunt?” No wonder Heather looked familiar. Claire sat back in her chair. Marnie, from the local Pennsylvania talk showMarnie in the Morning, had featured Claire as a guest twice. “It’s a small world.”

Heather laughed. How had she applied her lipstick so perfectly? There wasn’t a single smudge. “It really is,” she said. “But like I said, I’m very familiar with your work. The patriotic proposal you did with Tyler and Ericka was my favorite.” She clutched one hand to her heart. “Well, that one and the one for your best friend, of course.”

Claire beamed. Heather had actually done her research.

“Well, thank you.” Claire shredded a napkin in her lap. This was going too well. There must be a catch. “We do it because we love it, and because we believe in true love. It’s kind of nonnegotiable if you want to work with us,” she added with a smile.

“So I guess we can move on to the questions, then,” Mindy said. Claire passed her a piece of paper. “What made you apply for the job?”

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