“Feel free to look around. Let me know if you have any questions. I wish I could chat, but I’ve got a custom design to finish up and one of my girls just quit.” She rolls her eyes and blows out a rush ofbreath.
“Oh, no.” Corasighs.
“Yeah, you’d be surprised at how difficult it is to find reliable help! When I was starting out, I would have killed for a job like this. I mean, I know it’s not all glamorous, but the experience alone would have beeninvaluable.”
Cora meets my stare and arches an eyebrow. My keenness for her grows leaps and bounds. She doesn’t even know me, but it’s clear what she’ssuggesting.
“I’m actually looking for work.” I can’t believe the words make it from my mouth without wavering. My stomach lurches at the immediate desire to snatch them back or apologize for being soforward.
“Oh, yes! That’s perfect!” Cora claps, glancing betweenus.
Paula rests her manicured hand on the counter and gives me a long look, starting at my shoes and settling on my face. It’s so tempting to fidget under her gaze, but I’m proud that I don’t. Heck, I even hold asmile.
“What do you say, Jessica Moore? Shall we give it ago?”
It seems too easy. At the very least, unexpected, but who am I to pass up such an amazing opportunity. “It would be anhonor.”
She grins, turns her back, walks around the counter. “I’ll have you fill out an application.” Her heels tap against the wooden floor with eachstep.
Cora waggles her brows and reaches out, squeezing my hand with a smile as if we’re already the best of friends. Her familiarity is unearned and I envy her ability to be so open with a totalstranger.
I walk over to fill out paperwork and Cora follows, browsing a display of jewelry and chatting with Paula. I jot down the answers to the questions with a calm I don’t really feel.A job! A real freaking job!Not sweeping floors and washing hair for a few bucks under the table. It’s as if the universe is making up for all the hardships I’ve endured and sending opportunity after opportunity myway.
I’m almost done with the paperwork as Sweet Lies, the newest Three Ugly Guys single pipes through the stereo and Cora begins to humalong.
“I can’t believe you like them.” Paula scoffs but her smile shows she’steasing.
“They’re great and I love this song!” Cora laughs. “Don’t hate. Not every song has to start a revolution. Some are meant to sing and dance alongto.”
“Too commercial for me.” Paula scrunches hernose.
“Jessica? Please tell me you have good taste in music,” Cora says, but I can tell she’s only giving her friend a hardtime.
“Don’t worry, I’m a pretty big fan myself.” I can’t hide the esteem from my tone. Even my skin heats just thinking about them. No, notthem, just one. “I’m actually good friends with SeanWillis.”
Cora’s jaw drops and her eyes widen. “What? No way!” She blinks and shakes her head. “How are we not already best friends? I’ve known Trent, Sean, and Austin foryears!”
“That’s crazy,” I say and hand my application over toPaula.
“You made this hella easy.” She skims through my answers. “I didn’t even have to post the position or sift through idiots who can’t even hold a conversation.” She frowns and taps against the paper. My hope suspends with that one look and I just know she’s come to the section noting previous employment. It’s empty because I haven’t legally worked a day in my life. Crap. I knew this was too good to betrue.
Her brow creases with her frown. “Jessica, you didn’t list a desired salary.” Her gaze lifts to mine and I’m stunned silent.That’s what she’s concernedabout?
“Oh, I’m good with whatever. The experience alone is more than I could gainelsewhere.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Cora interjects and meets her friend’s gaze with a smile. “Paula makes good money with her brilliant designs. She can afford to pay you a justwage.”
Paula rolls her eyes and for a second I fear Cora’s insulted her. “Please, Cora. Tell that to the producers of your last movie.” She turns her gaze back to me. “I can do twenty an hour until you’ve proven yourself. After a month, we’ll re-evaluate. I really need someone here in the afternoons. Two to close? Will that be aproblem?”
It couldn’t be better. “Yes. I’m mean, thank you. Thank you somuch.”
“Start tomorrow? Bring two forms of ID and we’ll make copiesthen.”
I nod and smile because for the first time in my life, that won’t be a problem. “I’ll be here tomorrow attwo.”
“Good. Now, I hate to be a bore, but I have to kick you both out. I have a design tofinish.”
I walk to the door with Cora, waiting as she stops to hug Paula and wish her good-bye. “Thank you again.” I shake Paula’s hand before we step outside and she locks up behindus.
