Page 79 of Mine to Love

It’s two o’clock when someone calls from the front room. I checked my calendar and don’t see any meetings for me or Logan and don’t recognize the voice.

“Come in,” I hear Logan say to the guest and guides her into his office.

A spark of jealousy ignites inside of me. It shouldn’t. I don’t own him. And it isn’t like I busted him being out on a date with another woman. Most likely she’s a current or potential client.

“Reese?” Logan stands in my doorway, his tie knotted and back in place. “I forgot to mention this morning...um, do you have thirty minutes to spare for an interview?”

“Interview?”

“We need an administrative assistant. Doug posted an ad earlier this week. I wasn’t planning on going through the list of candidates until next week or the week after, but Autumn comes highly recommended.”

“Autumn?”

“She has excellent references.”

I’m sure she does. “Sure. I’ll be right in.”

I turn on the camera on my phone and check my hair and makeup. It wouldn’t be professional to look like I was ravished in the boss’s office this morning. Or maybe I should stake my claim immediately and diffuse any hopes of the candidate’s interest in Logan Pierce.

Oh my god. Who am I? I shut off my phone and pick up my laptop, shrugging off the unnecessary jealousy. There are plenty of beautiful women who work in the Austin office, and I hadn’t gone all territorial on them.

Not that I held any claim to Logan at the time or now, either. I step into his office and take a seat next to Logan at the conference table and across from the candidate. We do need the help, but does it have to be someone as pretty and perfect as Autumn?

She has a small face and frame that can pull off a short bob. Her blonde highlights are either salon fresh or natural. Gorgeous blue eyes and a perky smile make me want to hate her instantly.

“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Elliot. Mr. Pierce tells me you’ve been running the entire office yourself.”

I’m not used to formalities, however I appreciate Logan for introducing me this way to pretty and perky Autumn.

“If you mean I’m the only one here eighty percent of the time, then yes.”

“I just got into town this morning and haven’t had time to give Reese your resume. Would you mind telling us about your past jobs and your experience as an administrative assistant?”

Autumn’s eyes grow big and round. “Wait. Reese Elliot? You’re little Reese?”

“Um, I don’t know about little.” I have a solid twenty pounds on tiny Autumn.

“Oh my gosh.” Autumn gasps and covers her mouth.

I’m tempted to roll my eyes from the dramatics. “Is something wrong?”

The pixie blonde laughs. “It’s a small world. I used to babysit you and your sister, Leah. I’m so sorry. Losing your mother and sister is such a devastating loss. I think that’s the last time I saw you, at their funeral. Oh, wow. Not a great way to start an interview.”

Logan stills and turns his body toward me. He waits for me to steer the conversation, and for that I respect him even more.

I open the file he set in front of me and scan Autumn’s resume. And then the light bulb goes off. “You used to babysit us.”

“I was in high school, and you were in elementary school and Leah in kindergarten.”

“Third grade. I remember now. You look different.”

“As do you.” Autumn chuckles. “Wow. I feel old. My kids are older than you were when I babysat you.”

“You have children?”

“Two boys. They’re absolute terrors and I love them to pieces. Danny is ten and is his father’s shadow while Matthew is a mama’s boy. Sweetest seven-year-old when he’s not terrorizing the dog and drawing on the walls.”

“Leah was the worst at that age.”

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