Page 32 of Kiss and Tell
My mouth widened into an O.Pretty popularwas an understatement. I wasn’t even a fan of rock music, but I knew of the band, and of how huge they were.
“I’ve seen their music videos,” I said. “I only know that their lead singer has awesome red hair, but can’t really remember what the rest of the band looks like.”
“The lead singer is Gael’s sister,” Jessie explained. “The band comes here a lot. Same with the rest of Gael’s rock star friends. Because it’s a secret, they never have to worry about cameras in their faces or fans freaking out.”
“How’s it going to work when the bar out front is going to be so public?” I asked.
“That’s for you to figure out.”
My face fell. She tossed me a reassuring grin.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m sure Connor has some ideas. He’s been talking about this renovation non-stop for months. I think he’s really happy he managed to find someone he clicks with.”
I cast my eyes down to the counter, trying not to flush. I didn’t know if this thing between Connor and me counted as “clicking.” At least I’d convinced him not to fire me after shooting him down.
Jessie set a glass of dark liquid in front of me.
“Plain soda,” she said. “On the house.”
“Thanks.” I took a sip of the syrupy-sweet beverage. “Do you know what kind of details Connor and Walt are discussing? Should I be in that meeting, too?”
“He’s probably chewing Connor out for taking so long,” she said. “I don’t think Walt expected for Connor to be so finicky. Truthfully, I didn’t either. I thought he’d maybe throw a fresh coat of paint on the walls and get some new furniture. I didn’t expect him to want a completely new design.”
“It does seem like a lot of extra work,” I said. “From what I’ve seen, Connor didn’t expect it to be so difficult. I wonder if he’s regretting it.”
“Connor isn’t a stranger to hard work,” Jessie said.
“I thought he was all about partying,” I replied. “Isn’t that what he’s used to doing with his band?”
“I’m sure that was some of it,” she replied. “But Connor was dedicated to his music. He was always on the road, always in rehearsals, or composing, or recording. I’m sure he partied hard, but he took his music seriously.”
“I didn’t think Connor took much of anything seriously.”
“He’s really keen on making this bar thing work,” she told me. “That’s why he’s been so picky with his consultants. He won’t settle for second best. I think he wants to prove he can do something outside of music. He wants to succeed.”
A feeling I understood all too well. I was driven, determined to find success in my industry. I wanted to prove to everyone that although I was young, I was smart, capable, and competent. If I wanted to make my own way in the world, I couldn’t settle for being second best.
I hadn’t thought to apply that same drive to Connor. He had that sort of irreverent air about him, as if everything was one big game to him. I knew he wanted to get the right atmosphere for his bar, but I hadn’t thought that might be something he deeply cared about.
The thought firmed my resolve to get this redesign right. I was going to make sure Connor was one hundred percent satisfied with the outcome. More than satisfied. I wanted him to be ecstatic. I wanted him to walk into the bar on the evening of the grand opening and be blown away by what he saw.
And it wasn’t just because of the good recommendation he might give me, or that it would look good to my bosses.
I wanted to see his face light up. I wanted to see a genuine smile on his face. There was something about the wistfulness in his expression when he talked about wanting a place that felt likehis.It made me want to make his every wish come true.
Well. Maybe not every wish.
Connor wanted something more from me than just a working relationship. That spark of interest in his eyes whenever he looked at me, those small, intimate touches, the wounded expression when I’d pulled away at the club…
No.
I refused to go there. My desire to see him happy was going to be purely professional in nature. It had to be. I was going to please a client with my work. That was all.
“Has Connor been giving you a hard time?” Jessie asked.
“Not so much,” I said. “It’s just that he has something specific in mind, but can’t articulate what that is.”
“The two of you seem to have a good chemistry.” There was a glint in her eye. “If anyone can tease it out of him, I’m sure it’ll be you.”
