Page 13 of Fight
Her emotions transformed her features as her brows furrowed deeply over her blue eyes and her lips came down in an almost pouty look. He bit back a smile as he slid onto the bench next to her, not wanting to sit across from her and block her view.
“Sorry,” he said ruefully, as he put down his coffee and held up his hands. “That’s a great drawing, though.” He motioned to the pad of paper in front of her.
She quickly swung the front of the pad of paper on top of the drawing, and pushed it under her crossed arms. “Thanks,” she replied suspiciously as she looked at him with narrow eyes, and reached out to take a sip of her coffee.
Okay, maybe he’d misread their interaction last night. She was definitely going on the defense, and that inclination to tease and bother her nipped at his heels. He resisted the urge, though, and forged on with his newly-decided sincere approach.
“How was your interview?” he tried. He continued to sip his coffee and stare at the view, but he caught the wide-eyed look she gave him out of the corner of his eye. “I saw you go into Cindy’s office with Ellie,” he explained. “My office is right across from hers,” he added to explain away any stalker vibes she may have been picking up on.
She didn’t answer right away and she took a couple of breaths as if weighing her response.
“I think it was fine?” she finally said in a questioning tone, as if she was not quite sure if she believed it. “Ellie is great, but I’m not sure what to make of Cynthia. She’s…intense. As much as I want a job—thisjob,” she corrected herself. “I’m not sure I can be as invested in the art of customer service as she may want me to be.”
Jake chuckled appreciatively. As much as Cindy was a hard-ass, she wanted her employees to be happy-go-lucky and bubbly, which she believed was evidence of a happy workplace, and a positive environment for the guests.
He knew Annie was a teacher, but he’d always thought she would be the perfect employee for Cindy—easy, fun, and open to talk to anyone about anything. This was also the reason that Jake got along so well with his boss. She loved his nonchalant, goofy attitude. People like Lena and Ian, who could be quiet and sullen, were sure to struggle with Cindy, unfortunately.
“You’ve just got to know how to play old Cindy Lou,” he advised, choosing his words carefully, he added, “she’s kind of a misogynist. For her female employees, especially, she likes peppy. Bubbly.”
Lena groaned. “Well, that’s not great news. I’mverymoody andverysulky.”
Jake let out a surprised laugh. She did have a sense of humor. And it was a self-effacing one—who knew?
“Look, it’s easy. Yeah, your job will be to work the front desk, but it’s also to suck up to Cindy a bit. Dazzle her with your wit and charm.”
“Hm,” Lena let out doubtfully.“I feel like this kind of thing is easier for someone like you. Seriously, you can’t exactly say I’ve dazzledyousince we’ve met.”
He watched as she looked down and twisted her cup around the table, her long lashes making shadows on her cheeks from the bright sun shining down on her. He might have been a little dazzled at that moment.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do if I don’t get this job,” she admitted quietly, almost reluctantly. “I mean, I have some money saved, but not enough to last me past summer.”
“Helena,” Jake said firmly. “You’ve got the job. I bet you my good skis you get a call before the day is over.Ianrecommended you. Cindy may pretend like his name doesn’t matter, but she’s smart. She knows where her bread is buttered. Good ol’ fashioned nepotism. Also, I recommended you,” he couldn’t help but add with a smirk. “And that woman loves me.”
Lena shook her head and looked at him out of the side of her eye. “Such a cocky asshole,” she muttered, but it didn’t have the conviction of past accusations.
She turned her head to look at him more fully. “You’re awfully dressed up,” she said as if just noticing. “And you shaved.” She looked him up and down and he resisted the urge to preen. “But you still need a haircut,” she added dismissively.
“I am so glad you noticed myoutfit.” Jake splayed his hands wide to display his gray slacks and white button down shirt. His insides warmed when she giggled as he silently congratulated himself; she seemed to be relaxing more and more as the minutes passed by.
“I’m on the clock, you know,” he continued. “And I don’t think our friend, Cindy, would be very happy if I wore my holey t-shirts to work.”
She rested her head on her hand, fully facing him now as she gave him an appreciative look, and her blue eyes sparkled. “Of course I noticed your outfit,” she admitted as her cheeks turned a light pink color, but she didn’t turn away and her lips tilted up into a slight smile. “I told you, it doesn’t hurt to put in a bit of effort. The payoff is worth it.”
“I know when to put in effort,” he assured her. Her cheeks bloomed with bright pink patches.
Ah, there it is. He knew he could bring the blush out of her again. He dropped his smirk and let a gentle smile rest on his lips as they stared at each other in silence for a couple of beats. Warmth encompassed his body, his blood rushing to his center.
He really wanted to sit closer to her on the bench, and press the soft looking curves that tight skirt displayed against himself. With any other girl, he might have reached out and touched her hand to see how receptive she was to the idea. He didn’t want to spook this one, though.
“Can I look at your drawings?” he finally asked roughly.
She considered him for a few seconds, and he thought she would say no, but she pushed the sketch book across the table to him with a nod.
He flipped through the pages and saw several drawings of small European type towns, the Washington DC monuments, Annie laughing, Morgan in the middle of telling her something hilarious, and another girl with sharp cheekbones and sad, hollow eyes. Her face was in her hand in the drawing and she was staring forward with the shape of a smile on her lips. The girl looked a bit like Lena, and the way she carried so much sadness in her face reminded him of Lena’s inability to hide her emotions.
“Who's this?” he asked as he pointed to the picture of the sad girl.
“That’s my sister,” she explained. “Corrine. I call her Cori.” She gazed down at the drawing with a concerned look fixed on her features.
