Page 87 of Sea Glass and Second Chances (Carolina Cove 3)

Devon blinked to awareness and realized she’d totally zoned out at the end of her interview. Not exactly a good way to make an impression. “It sounds… great.”

“So is that a yes?”

She opened her mouth to confirm, but the word just wouldn’t come. So she tried again. And the same thing happened.

“Devon? Is something wrong?”

She inhaled and raked her fingers through her hair, glanced out the windows of his beautiful office facing Rockefeller Center. “I-I know what a wonderful opportunity this is but… can I have a few days to think about it?”

Stewart’s shock was evident, as was his displeasure that she didn’t immediately agree to his job proposal.

“I suppose we could give you twenty-four hours. If you pass, we’ll move on to other candidates who were recommended. I have to ask though. Why the need to think it over?”

Devon inhaled and stood, pacing over to the window to look down at the activity below. A typical day in New York. Busy, bustling. So why didn’t it appeal as much now? Just because of what had happened with Ted? “There have been quite a few changes in my life in the last several weeks. I’d just like some time so that I don’t feel like I’m making a rushed decision, that’s all.”

Stewart joined her at the windows, leaning a shoulder against the vertical metal beam lining the glass.

“Devon, it’s none of my business, but are you all right? You seem… distracted. Definitely not your usual focused self.”

A laugh rumbled out of her chest, and she crossed her arms over her front. “I am distracted,” she admitted. “I apologize that it’s so obvious.”

“Anything I can do to help sort things out?”

Stewart was a handsome man, with dark navy eyes and silvery blond hair. She imagined he got his way quite often with a smile and pretty words. “No. Thank you though.”

“Well, if that changes, let me know.”

She nodded and turned to hold out her hand, shaking his before following him back to his desk to retrieve her purse.

Devon ignored the receptionist since she was busy on a call anyway and moved across the lounge. A familiar voice drew her attention, and she paused to stare in shock at her former assistant, Tia, onscreen? How did that happen?

“Isn’t it great?” the receptionist said as she set the phone on the base. “She’s one of my roommates,” the girl continued. “I can’t believe she scored such a big break. Right place, right time,” the young woman said.

Devon agreed with a silent nod and left the office, and once she was in the lobby of the building, she made her way to the ladies’ room. She put her hands under the faucet and let cold water run over them.

Had she really walked out of the meeting without taking the job offer? Wasn’t Tia’s big move in front of the camera proof that Devon had no time to waste thinking?

A woman emerged from a stall and moved to wash her hands.

“Nice tan. You must’ve been somewhere fun. Oh, hey, aren’t you Devon from What’s Hot?”

Devon pasted her camera-ready smile on her face and nodded. “I am.”

“Oh. Wow. I am so sorry about everything. Your dad and your show… But, hey, you’ve got to go with the flow, right?”

“Right,” she repeated, having to bite out the word.

The woman washed her hands and left, and Devon stood there, facing the mirror.

She had to go with the flow.

Like sand with the tide?

Back at her apartment Devon set about cleaning to make use of the surge of energy zipping through her. The rose petals on the floor were the worst to clean up, but she hadn’t had the presence of mind or the will to to do the chore yesterday after Ted’s departure.

Once those were taken care of, Devon grabbed her cell phone and carried it with her to the window. She opened it and climbed out on the fire escape to sit.

The alley was fairly quiet, but when she looked around, she hated that all she could see were buildings.

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