For a second I’m lost in his perfectly groomed mustache and sharp jawline.
He winces, possibly mistaking my silence for disapproval. “Sorry for the language. That wasn’t very professional of me.”
When he grins sheepishly, a pulse develops between my thighs. It’s so quick I nearly miss it.
Dammit. He’s handsome.
“No worries,” I assure him. “I’m not easily offended. I grew up with a big brother. Two, sorta, if you count Ezra.”
He smiles wide, revealing faint dimples above that chiseled jaw.
I nearly have to step back. Okay, scratch handsome. How did I not know Millie’s brother is a pretty boy?
Shaking myself from…whatever the fuck this is, I follow Asher through a door labeled “Employees Only.” Rather than leading me into his office like I assume, he stops in what appears to be a break room. There’s a half kitchen and a picnic table that spans the length of the room, offering seating for at least twenty-five.
He plucks a bottle of water out of the fridge and offers it to me, but I politely decline. He twists the cap and drinks from it himself.
With a tilt of his head, he gestures for me to follow him to the couch. On either side of it sits an oversized chair, and a couple of yellow bean bag chairs dot the wooden floor nearby. He sits in the corner of the couch, and I take the other end. From here, a kid-size wooden table pushed up against the opposite wall comes into view, along with the watercolors and paper strewn on top.
He clears his throat, and at the sound, my eyes snap to his Adam’s apple.
“So, Claire,” he starts. “I must say, I was surprised to hear you’re interested in the position. When we texted over the summer you said you were happy at your job. What changed?”
“Joey didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?” he asks, his expression one of genuine curiosity.
Head lowered, I fidget with the buttons on my white blouse. It’s linen and airy, and I paired it with wide-leg cotton jeans and white sneakers, which seemed both professional and “camp core.” Whatever that means.
Looking at Asher, in dark chino shorts, a light blue short-sleeve button-down, and sneakers, too, I’d say I’m dressed appropriately.
“Nothing. I, uh—yes. I realized I could use a change of scenery. Maybe work outside the city and take a break from my family’s hotel.” The moment the last part is out, I regret it; I loathe when people automatically assume I’m uppity because I live in a penthouse apartment. Whileit isuppity, I don’t act like a snob. It’s one of my life’s biggest missions. In fact, when I get to know people pretty well, they tend to comment that they’re surprised I’m so down to earth, usually mentioning their first impression. It’s a weird backhanded compliment, but I’ll take it.
“What has my cousin told you about Daisy Lake?” He shifts in his seat.
With the way we’re both leaning against the cushions facing one another, this feels more like two friends hanging out than an interview.
“Not much. But she mentioned it’s more than just a summer camp.”
“That’s correct.” He runs his fingers through his hair. It’s cut short on the sides, but the top is a little longer. “From MemorialDay to the weekend before Labor Day, we host families. The minimum stay is a week, but they can reserve the entire summer if they want. During the remainder of the year, we hold all sorts of retreats and programs.”
He plucks a brochure from the side table and passes it over. I flip through the pages while he talks.
“We have dance, art, yoga, agriculture, writing, weddings, and corporate events. What else am I missing…”
“Pets?” I finish for him, reading from the pamphlet.
He chuckles, and damn if the timbre of his voice doesn’t make my ovaries shimmy. The fuck? I cannot be attracted to my friend’s brother. My new boss.Potentialnew boss.
“Yes, even retreats for pets and their owners.”
I look up from the brochure. “But I’m not a veterinarian.”
“We outsource a local vet,” he clarifies.
“Does your current doctor live on the premises? Is this like a small-town doc gig? If so, that sounds very charming.”
That last part was supposed to be just for me, but Asher hears me and breaks into a smile.
