Page 76 of The Playboy

Stared at them.

Felt them in every part of me.

“Applying for jobs.” My voice was softer than I wanted it to be.

“Where?”

“Anywhere I can find one.”

“Would you move?”

I finally looked at him. “You mean, off the island?”

“Yes.”

“I’d go anywhere if it was the right opportunity.”

His thumb flicked across my knuckles. “You’d be okay with leaving your family?”

I really thought about his question.

“It wouldn’t be easy, but, yes, I would.”

He let go of my hand and reached into his pocket, taking out his phone. He pressed the screen several times and handed it to me. “I want you to put in your contact information, and in one week, I’m going to ask you the same question—if you’d be okay with leaving your family. When I know you’re one hundred percent sure and on board, I’m going to give your résumé to my HR department. Spade Hotels could desperately use someone like you, especially someone with their Six Sigma certification.”

“Macon—”

“I know what you’re going to say. I’m doing this because I care about you, because I want you to change your mind about us. That’s not why, Brooklyn.” He stalled, staring at me, each word sounding so convincing. “I have plenty of friends who are entrepreneurs. The Daltons, who own the largest law firm in LA. The Westons, who own a massive restaurant and now bar conglomerate. All I would have to do is send your information to one of them, and they’d hire you in a second. I don’t want to do that, not when the Spade brand needs someone like you.” He set his phone down in front of me. “We’re about to take on a massive overhaul with several of our properties, looking for ways to save money, cut labor, while not losing the prestige that makes us unique. You would be perfect for that team.”

My entire body was numb.

Except for my heart.

That was pounding so hard that I was positive he could hear it. “You’re offering me a job?”

“I’m offering you an interview. You have to earn the job.” His expression turned serious. “You have to impress the executive-level staff the same way you just impressed the hell out of me.”

His phone was now in my hand, my fingers on the screen, keeping it from turning dark.

Did I want to open this door?

Did I want to let Macon in this closely?

But this was an opportunity that I’d wanted for as long as I could remember. How could I possibly give it up just because the most gorgeous man in the world—a man who had licked every inch of my body a few days ago—was offering it to me?

“What would I even wear to an interview like that?” I was mostly talking to myself. I sucked in the deepest breath. “I’m pretty certain there’s nothing good enough in my closet. But still …” My gaze lowered from his face to the phone, where I typed the ten digits, hit Save, and handed it back to him.

“Excellent decision.” He shoved his phone into his pocket. “Remember, my text will come in exactly one week. That gives you plenty of time to think about everything.”

ELEVEN

Macon

“Ihonestly never thought I’d see the day when I’d be dipping my fries into my coffee milkshake”—Brooklyn laughed—“or my mozzarella cheese sticks into ranch.”

I held the small of her back as we walked out the door of the diner. With our cars parked next to each other, we headed in the same direction, halting in front of our hoods.

I turned her toward me, gazing into her eyes. This gorgeous but stubborn woman had insisted on driving here. I could have driven her back to the club—something I’d mentioned before we left—or even better, she could have left her car there and spent the night at the hotel with me. But once we’d reached the parking lot, she’d told me she wanted to drive, and I hadn’t pushed the topic.

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