I’m not eavesdropping, I swear. I learned my lesson when I met her, but how can I not hear? Eve is holding this interview in the main lobby. I’m sure she knows this, but she needs privacy. I move to the corner next to the concession stand. I’m not hiding, but I don’t want to distract her either.
“Thank you very much for your time. I’ll be in touch.” She stands and extends her hand.
It’s my first good look at the woman who left a large hole in my heart and my life. Boy, does she look good. Her hair is pulled back into a tight ponytail, and while she’s wearing more make-up than I’m used to, it doesn’t look heavy or inappropriate. It looks natural, and she looks . . . breathtaking.
She’s dressed professionally in a gray pant suit, blue blouse, and black high-heeled shoes. The light blue blouse makes her eyes pop. I can see the color from here. Eve always looked good, but I’m not used to seeing her like this. My twitchy cock approves, too.
“Down boy!” I whisper.
Eve, along with her interviewee, head toward the now-closed door that I came in through. I watch the woman I turned my back on. She’s not trying to mock anything. She’s serious in what she’s doing.
“How many more people are you interviewing?” The pudgy man asks.
“I believe you were the last.” She smiles.
“Oh good, and am I high on the list?”
What’s with this guy? I don’t think his desperation would be any more apparent if he had it stamped on his forehead.
“You’re in the running, along with all of the other applicants.” She disarms him with a smile. “Thank you for coming.”
She stands at the door with her arms crossed for a long moment before I speak. If she knows I’m here, she’s given no indication.
“Do you have time for one more interview?”
She turns to me, and my heart thumps hard against my chest. I hate myself for how I handled this situation. I let my ego get in the way. Up until this moment, I hadn’t realized how fragile it was.
“Is this a joke? Or are you going to take the opportunity to remind me that I’m not qualified—”
“I’m asking for a chance to be involved on the ground floor of something that has the potential to be great.”
Chapter 25
Eve
Be my guest.” I motion toward my makeshift desk. “Please excuse the appearance. My office is being painted as we speak.”
Tate looks around at the freshly painted lobby with a half smile. “This looks great. Was it all your idea?”
“Yes.” I sit down at the table and wait for him to follow my lead. “My office will have the same theme, along with a mosaic of a rugby field behind my desk.”
I knew the moment Tate entered the building. Not only did I see him out of the corner of my eye, but I felt him. A buzzing energy filled the space around me. I only wish he heard me ask good, intelligent questions. Hah! As if one qualified person contacted me who I could have asked good, intelligent questions. All the candidates have been a joke.
“I’m sorry.” He reaches across the table and rests his hand over mine. I hate that warmth spreadsthrough me. He takes another long look around. “I should never have walked out. I should’ve stayed and hashed this out with you.”
