“Of course,” she said immediately. “Mabel complains about it all the time.”
That pulled a smile from him. “Ever wonder why?”
“I assume it has something to do with your terrible dad.” She raised a brow and met his eyes levelly. Last month she’d have flushed and apologized, but the part of her that worried about what other people thought of her seemed to have withered and blown away when Aiden left.
To his credit, Brandon simply raised a brow of his own and saluted her with his glass. “My terrible dad is why I drink and why I’m divorced and why I haven’t seen my dog in three months.” His eyes went unfocused for a second, then returned to hers. “But that raging narcissistic asshole actually isn’t the reason I’m a frequent flyer into the Beaucoeur Regional Airport. I hit this station about twice a month, which is roughly twice the number of visits I pay to most of our other properties in a given year.”
Thea nodded as she listened, unsure where he was headed but happy to hear him out since he seemed to want to talk and she was definitely in the market for a distraction.
“The Brick was my first solo station acquisition. I feel responsible for its success in a way that I don’t with the others. It’s something I’m helping build, and I like being part of that.” He sipped his drink, then added, “Plus Mabel’s hate keeps me strong.”
She almost sprayed a mouthful of mojito across the bar. “Don’t let her hear you say that.”
He just waved an airy hand. “Please. She thrives on having a nemesis. Anyway, you’re a woman with good ideas. Your PDF forms for one, even though Lowell Senior doesn’t want to make any dramatic changes this year.” He rolled his eyes, sipped his drink, and continued. “And don’t think I don’t know how you’ve been slowly reorganizing the supply closets to be more efficient despite Lowell HR frowning on unauthorized actions like that. You get shut down left and right because of bureaucracy, and every time I can sense you vibrating in irritation from eight hours away. You’re somebody who needs autonomy and variety on the job, I think, and the Brick doesn’t give you that.”
“How did you…?”
“I’m a people person.” He glanced over at Tammy and winked, and although his bored rich-kid affect and icy frat-boy beauty were out in full force, the seen-it-all bartender merely rolled her eyes.
“Best not let my wife catch you flirting,” Tammy said coolly. “Joanne’s a jealous woman.”
“Flirting rescinded,” he said with an easy grin before turning back to Thea. “Anyway yes, chase your professional dreams, wherever they lead you. With my blessing, not that you need it.”
“Thanks,” she said drily. As if it were that easy.
“So where are you headed next?”
She poked at the mint in her glass, the sharp scent tickling her nose but providing zero clarity. “I don’t know.”
“You’re quitting without another job lined up? Inthiseconomy?”
She shot him a faint smile and then just… blurted out everything. “I had a job offer two weeks ago from the guy I was pretending to date so he could smooth out some problems at work and I could buy my dream house, but he went and fell in love with me and I basically pelted him with rocks until he ran off, and I’ve regretted it every day since because I love him too but was in no way prepared to say it back to him at the time. So I don’tthinkI have a job waiting for me, but I do know that I can’t keep doing what I’m doing at the Brick because my soul is slowly dying. No offense.”
Brandon’s eyes had gotten wider as she spoke, and when she fell silent, he gave a low whistle. “Gotta be honest, you’re much more interesting than I gave you credit for.” He cocked his head and studied her face. “You said you’re in love with the guy?”
She nodded miserably, and he shrugged.
“Too bad. Then again, you technicallyarestill my employee.”
“Wait, are you…?” But he was already moving on before she could suss out if he was hitting on her or not.
“Do you want the job your guy offered?”
“I do. I think I’d really love it actually.” Public interaction. Problem solving. Projects. Advice. Organization. And best of all, the freedom to make it all her own.
“Okay, then go get it.”
She snorted. “And how am I going to do that exactly? I haven’t talked to Aiden in two weeks. I’m not sure he’d take my call even if I tried.”
“Two words.” Brandon leaned close. “Assumptive close.”
He spoke as if that answered everything, but Thea just stared blankly at him over the rim of her glass. “How does that help me?”
“Go in like it’s a done deal. Assume the job’s still yours. Assume the guy still loves you. Show up like he’s going to thank you for being there.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
