“Will this job include a lot of travel?”
“My brother is a reserve driver, as we already have a full roster of drivers. He’ll support me or others at races, but he’s suggested he won’t necessarily need his assistant at races because he wants them to do something else for him when he’s travelling.”
I raise an eyebrow. Like cleaning his house or, god forbid, choosing women for him to sleep with? I wince internally. I’ve watched too many documentaries about millionaires.
“He wants a dog. You might need to doggy sit when he travels until he arranges daycare.”
“That would be amazing. I love dogs.” Tabi will be ecstatic.
“You’re perfect. Next question.” She points at me.
“What are the hours? I’m comfortable with the oddevening but prefer to finish by five. I can start at eight a.m., though, and I don’t need a lunch break.”
“That’s fine. There may be the odd call, but Jimmy,” she says as he walks in, “is the same with his hours. And lunch breaks aren’t optional.”
Jimmy nods. “I love my cat more than life, so I must get home. And Senna insists I take my break away from my desk. She calls the lift for me some days. We have a coffee shop, a gym, and space to walk outside.”
“It’s such a beautiful area,” Senna agrees. “My team makes me go outside. It wasn’t like that last year, as I worked too many hours, but my boyfriend drags me out now.”
This place is perfect.
“And this will be your salary.” Senna points at the figure on the contract. I gasp at a salary that’s three times what I earn at my parents’ carpet company. “Feel free to take this contract away?—”
I grab a pen and sign it. I can buy new shoes for Tabi and her school uniform, and I’ll be able to bring my skills somewhere. I’ll be known as Rosie here, not as Tabi’s mum.
“You don’t have to sign it now. Are you sure you don’t want to meet my brother first?”
Maybe I’ll be able to save for my master’s degree and treat myself to a brand-new work outfit. My dreams are a lot closer than an hour ago. “I’m excited to take on this role. I’ve already signed it. I’ll be so happy here.”
“She’s signed the contract already?” A familiar voice sounds behind me, although it’s grumpier than I remember. “Don’t I get to meet her first?”
I turn and lock eyes with my holiday kiss. His eyes are darker, but he still has that hint of a shy dimple when he smiles. It’s all I can do not to finger the chain hidden around my neck when I recall teasing this man by playingwith my bra strap like a 1950s pin up. I’d have gone much further if Sasha hadn’t called because Tabi was crying for me.
Liam, I mouth.
His eyes widen. “Bella.”
Senna looks between us, her brow furrowed. “Ummm, Rosie, this is my brother, Niki. Niki, meet your new assistant.”
His lips turn from smiling to pinched, and he combines it with a sour stare. “No, she isn’t.”
CHAPTER 11
Niki
The woman I spent months searching for sits in front of me. Except she’s not Bella, the woman who kissed me. She’s Rosie, proving she’s as big a liar as I thought.
I crack my knuckles, making everyone flinch.
I shove my hand in my pocket and grip the bracelet Bella—Rosie—whoever gave me. Visions of her swaying hips from the beach ripple through my memories as the beads imprint my hand. I fist them tighter.
My pulse races, and I don’t know whether to pace, stare at her mouth—which is just as sexy as I remember—or kick her out of the office.
I purse my lips and curl my toes to stop from stamping like a toddler.
“She’s signed the contract, Niki,” Senna states flatly. “And she’s perfect for you.”
I know that better than anyone. I can’t look away from her big eyes, which flutter as she stares at me. She runs her fingers over her lips as if she remembers our kiss. Heat fillsmy veins. I want her to remember it. I want her to have thought about me over the last six months as much as I’ve thought about her.
