Page 21 of Roman
“That’s, uh…I’m not sure what to say,” I said as I looked at Konrad for help.
The dragon shifter chuckled at me. “You ask what hours he’s interested in, what days, and when can he start.”
I nodded absently and looked back at Sean. He couldn’t have been more than twenty. Not that I was much older.
“Yes. All of that. I’m not the best at this. I’m obviously in over my head, and I really don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to hiring others.”
“I can work any hours this summer. Come August, it would have to be afternoons and evenings.”
I nodded. That sounded good. The door chimed again, and I felt the breath leave my lungs.
“Hi, Professor Nelson.”
I looked between Sean and Roman and realized that Sean knew my mate.
“Sean. Where is your sidekick?”
Sean sighed. “Longwei went to Russia, I think. Maybe? I don’t know. He’s going to be gone for at least a month, and my dads wouldn’t let me go with, so I’m stuck here trying to find something to keep me busy this summer.”
I stared at Roman while he stared back. Sean hadn’t yet realized that Roman’s attention had left him the moment the question had been asked.
“Do you know Sean?” I asked. “He’s one of my new helpers, and he’s going to start tomorrow,” I said.
“He is?” Roman asked and then looked back at Sean. “That’s good. Sean is a good kid. He could have put a little more effort into his final paper in history, but he still did well enough.”
Sean’s cheeks turned red. Konrad snorted.
“Sean, come on back, and I’ll show you around. Roman is here to see Beau.”
There was some movement and then hushed words before Konrad and Sean disappeared into the back. Roman gave me a sinful smile, which caused weird things to happen to my body.
“Did you want something?” I asked.
Roman stared at me, his eyes suddenly darkening. “Absolutely,” he whispered before he leaned closer. “But I don’t think the others in here really want to know what exactly it isthat I want.” Roman’s eyes traveled downward before moving back up. “But I’m sure you can figure out what I’m here for.”
It was suddenly very hot in here. I felt my cheeks burning, and I had to take a step back. Roman stood up and smiled at me.
“Have dinner with me? I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”
I nodded slowly. I wanted dinner. I wanted breakfast too, but if Roman was going to be a gentleman, I figured I wouldn’t be having breakfast with him just yet.
“Umm…yeah. Dinner will work. Did you…where…”
Roman chuckled. “I’ll pick you up here once you’re finished. Does that work for you? Or I could pick you up at your brother’s place? Or are you still staying with Lukan?”
I blinked at him. “How did you know I was staying with Lukan?”
“I talked to him last night. He was outside while I was out for a bit of exercise.”
I nodded slowly. I didn’t know what that meant exactly, but it didn’t matter. “Here’s good,” I told him. I didn’t want to go home just yet. If I did, Evan would want to talk, and although I’d calmed quite a bit, I wasn’t ready to have that conversation with him yet. And if I went back to Lukan’s, well, he would have a bunch of questions. Or maybe some advice that I really didn’t want to hear yet.
“Six?” Roman asked. “That’s when you close?”
I nodded but then shook my head. “Yes. I think so.” The hours were still being worked out since there was nobody to help beyond Konrad.
“Five will work, Roman,” Konrad said. I turned to look at the dragon shifter, who was standing in the doorway with Sean. “Four would be better since he’s had a rough night, but that’s something he can share with you later.”
Roman nodded. “Yes, I heard about it last evening and a bit more this morning.”
