Page 107 of Tempt Thy Neighbor

I’ve been working hard over the months to try to help them turn their business around, but with them not cooperating, nothing is working, and I’m at my wit’s end with it all. Even so, since there are these things called rent and bills, I’m stuck there until I can find something better.

“They’re really not,” I confirm.

“Right. So, I’ve recently been reconnecting with some friends from my college days, and they had this idea for a business. It’s just a startup and there’s always a chance it won’t take off, but I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty big.”

He looks between us like he’s waiting for an answer.

“Oh,” he says, shaking his head. “Right. I didn’t ask.”

“Ask what?”

“I’d like to bring you both on board to run the marketing team.”

My jaw drops, and Sutton stiffens beside me.

My dad wants to offer me a job? Both of us a job?

“You’re both very good at what you do, and I’m so impressed by what you’ve done at the agency, even if they don’t appreciate it or see it. Because you’d be leading the department, the benefits and pay are more than what you were making at Evans Inc., so it’d be a big step up financially. With how fast this town is booming and the market being so fresh and open, they’re wanting to open it here, so you wouldn’t have to move. And you—no. You know what? Let’s discuss all the logistics of it later. I just want you to think on it for now.”

If this was my father of six months ago, I’d tell him to take a hike.

But because of how much I’ve seen him change in that span of time…well, I’m strongly considering saying yes.

I open my mouth, but he holds his hand up.

“I don’t want you to say anything yet. Take some time to think about it. Both of you.” He gives us a smile and turns to leave. “Oh, and Dean wanted me to come remind you that pictures are in ten minutes. We’re meeting out front on the steps.”

I nod, because it’s all I can manage.

I’m stunned. Absolutely speechless.

I never thought my dad would come to me with this offer…and I never thought I’d be so seriously considering saying yes.

“Wow,” Sutton finally says beside me.

I glance up at him. “Yeah. Wow.”

“That was…unexpected.”

“Very much so,” I agree.

“What are you thinking?”

“Honestly? The part of me that hates my job and wants so badly to lead my own team and pay my bills without issues is screamingyes. But there’s a tiny part of my brain that’s worried about my history working with my father.”

Sutton nods, completely understanding my apprehensiveness.

“You?” I ask. “You don’t look so excited about it.”

“I’m just…I’m still so unsure, you know?”

After a long talk about our futures, Sutton confessed to me that he hasn’t been happy in his career in a long time and would like to take some time to figure out what he wants to do.

I quickly agreed to it, knowing that need to go find yourself firsthand.

“I get it,” I say. “I totally do. And if you don’t want to do it, it’s perfectly fine and I’ll support you no matter what you want.”

“Apparently financially too.”

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