“Wonderful. I’ll have a contract drawn this afternoon. When can you start?”
“Not for another two weeks. I’ve got an exhibit at the Narcissus Gallery I need to prep for.”
His smile widened. “An artist and an entrepreneur. If I’m in town, I’ll be there.”
“Consider yourself invited. Now, I won’t keep you any longer.” I got to my feet and, without thinking, extended a hand to help him up.
He glanced at my hand, then clasped it gently, but without using it as leverage. He continued to hold it in his dry, smooth palm, making me aware of my callused skin.
“I’m delighted you accepted my offer, Jesse.”
“Me too. If you don’t make it to the art show, I’ll see you the day after.”
“I look forward to it.” He walked me to the door and opened it for me. “We’ll be in touch.”
“Sure. Goodbye.”
I managed to keep my poker face as I walked to the ferry terminal. During the ride back, I felt like Jack in the iconic Titanic scene, when he shouts ‘I’m the king of the world’ from aboard the greatest ship of its time. Never mind that the ship had sunk—I wasn’t going to. Benjamin McFarlane the Third’s money was going to pay off a considerable chunk of my studentloans. If he recommended me to some of his friends, I might be debt-free within a couple of years.
My only concern was the hardware store. I needed to hire someone ASAP.
I stopped at The Silver Spoon Diner for lunch. I loved the interior, with its vintage chrome and Formica countertops. The menu consisted of classic American fare like juicy burgers, crispy French fries, and thick milkshakes. I sat at the counter, gazing longingly at the freshly baked pies. Could Sebastian bake pies like that? He’d said he could make anything.
Trying to shake him from my mind, I ordered a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake. I devoured the perfectly seasoned, juicy patty and the salty, crispy fries. I desperately needed the sugar fix from the milkshake, its creamy texture and rich flavor sending me into a state of bliss.
I was going to have to hit the gym after work to keep the carbs and sugar from clogging my arteries. Eventually, I paid my bill and stepped outside once more.
I hailed a cab to the hardware store. I still couldn’t believe my luck. I was confident I would do a good job for Ben, but until then I had to focus on my art exhibit. The more paintings I had, the more money I would make—hopefully. And in order to get that work done, I needed someone to take care of the store.
At the store, I leaned back in my chair, browsing the list of contacts on my phone. Most of the people I knew in the business had their own staff to manage. Did Mr. Yamaguchi know anything about hardware supplies? Would he be interested in a part-time job? Not likely.
Blowing out a breath, I put up an ad on a popular job market website. I worded it in the most appealing way that I could think of, and said a quick prayer that I’d find an acceptable candidate within a week.
The day was packed with customers. By six o’clock, I was exhausted and drenched in sweat. My skinny jeans felt too tight. I couldn’t wait to get home, get naked, and kick off my shoes.
I wasn’t in the mood to be squashed on the subway, so I called my regular Uber. My stomach growled as I thought about dinner. I still had a couple slices of pizza from last night, but they didn’t appeal.
I dragged myself up the outside steps of my building. As I dug my keys out of my bag, I heard footsteps behind me. I looked over my shoulder, ready to greet one of the neighbors, but my smile froze.
It was Sebastian. He wore jeans and a dark-blue shirt, and carried a large grocery bag. Salad greens protruded from it.
I stopped breathing. I’d never been in a situation like this before, so I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to act. Casually, as though nothing had happened between us? Maybe I was making too much out of one kiss, and he’d already forgotten it.
No. The way he gazed at me as he climbed the last step suggested he hadn’t. His eyes were penetrating, lingering over my lips.
He flashed his dimples in a smile. “Hey. Back from work?”
“Yeah.” I fished more frantically for my keys in the bottomless abyss of my bag. “You?”
“Same. I stopped for groceries. I’m in the mood for some grilled chicken with a salad on the side.”
I muttered noncommittally, still searching for my damn keys.
Sebastian cleared his throat. “Want to join me for dinner?”
Chapter Thirteen
Jesse
