“You sure now? You looked a bit unsettled.”
“Not at all. In fact, I’m free after work tonight. I’d love to see the area.”
“Really?” he asks, seeming surprised by the response to his offer. “I mean, I’m free tonight too, actually. Would it be too forward to suggest a bite to eat first?”
Yes, possibly, but we’re living by your rules, Noah James.I can’t think of a better way to get in good with the boss than a nice business dinner. I’m sure that’s what this will be.
“I would love to grab dinner first.” Is this a trap? What if he’s trying to see if I fall for this plan so that he can tell me I’m breaking a rule. Oh, God, this was all some kind of test, and I just failed.
“Well, terrific. You just gave me something to look forward to tonight,” Noah says.
“Well, okay then,” I tell him. My cheeks are hot as we walk into his office. He takes a seat behind his desk and crosses one leg over the other.
Maybe I should have said no. I’m so weak. I’m not going to survive adulthood. I’m a train wreck.
“I—I don’t really have anything work-related to discuss with you,” he says, trying to hide the grin across his cheeks. “Oh, how about I give you your schedule for the rest of the week?” He pulls out a pen and a piece of paper, then jots down a few things without looking at a schedule. Noah hands me the paper and smiles shyly. “I’m glad you came in looking for a job, Ashley. I love when things just work out. I like to think we’re just playing pieces in life’s game, you know?”
“No, I get it. Life doesn’t hand us millions of chances. Sometimes we just have to test our luck. I’m glad I asked for an application,” I say, trying to return the kind sentiment.
I glance down at the note he handed me, which says:
This is real. I promise you. 555-243-3490 - Noah
I don’t understand the meaning behind the words on his note, but they seem sweet, regardless. I slip the note into my back pocket and smile before seeing myself out of his office. “Tonight,” I tell him.
It takes everything I have not to fall down the stairs again, but it’s nice to have a good day with good feelings after the last few here.
The shift sped up and flew by, leaving me at the four o'clock crawl before the dinner crowd supposedly arrives.
I sent a message to Noah’s phone, telling him I’d meet him out on the beach when he’s ready. I don’t want to make it known to anyone else that I’m meeting up with him after work.
I plop down in the sand and lean back into my hands, welcoming the late afternoon hot rays to warm my skin. I’ve been living on a beach, but avoiding the beach. I saw this going very differently.
It takes Noah about fifteen minutes to show up, which I expected. I can’t imagine how hard it is to walk away from a restaurant he single-handedly runs.
As I spot him, I stand and brush the sand off my backside. A smile tugs at his cheeks. “Are you ready for a tour? Or would you like to eat first?”
“Let’s eat first,” I tell him.
“You got it. I know a place,” Noah says.
We set off walking down the shore, farther away from the villas, thankfully. Noah becomes quieter as the moments pass, and I wonder what’s going through his head. “So, how long have you been living here in Tybee?”
“Not long. About a year now. I moved here for a few reasons; the new restaurant location is one of them.”
“What brings you here?” he asks.
I snicker at the thought. “Well, my brother offered me free rent if I wanted to stay in his villa down the street.”
“Oh yeah, how’s the property?”
I cup my hand over my eyes, shielding my view from the blinding glare. “The property is beautiful, but there are some oddities surrounding my villa—like the fact that my villa is the only one to house females in the entire development.”
Noah releases a long sigh. “Yeah, about that ... I—“
“Please don’t tell me you live in one of the villas,” I plead.
“So, what do you think is up with the community you’re living within? Do you think it was all a coincidence? The men, I mean.”
