At this point, Mia wasn’t wielding a dimple or any of her other charms as she guided a careful perusal of his features. “What’s your name?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“If it doesn’t matter, then why keep it a secret?” Her eyes processed the shop as if she was a detective looking for the one piece of evidence that would break The Case of the Missing Name wide open. When her search proved fruitless, she returned to his face.
Satisfied Mia was stuck, he offered a slight smile of benevolence. “I’ll tell you what, if you can remember my name by the time I close today, you can have the job.”
Her brow furrowed. “Are you serious?”
“Perfectly.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back. I’m going to talk with your neighbors.”
Ross shrugged. “Go ahead. I never talk to them. They probably refer to me as the jewelry guy with the dog.”
“What’s your website?”
“Don’t have one.”
“Can I have a business card?”
“No.”
Her mouth slipped into an angelic smile, her damn dimple flashing in unison as if she was auditioning for the role of innocent girl. All she was missing was the batting of eyelashes. “Come on, John.”
“That’s not my name.”
Mia pointed one of her fingers at him while moving in the direction of the door. “You’re going to lose. I’m getting this job. Nothing I like better than a challenge, Freddy.”
“So, if I hire you, I lose? That doesn’t make me want to hire you. This isn’t a scavenger hunt. You’re supposed toremembermy name, not dig through old newspaper clippings.”
She opened the door. “Okay, dig through old newspaper clippings. Got it. I actually do need a business card. How will I get a hold of you to accept my offer of employment for your place of business, Henry? Rick? Sebastian?”
“Google it.”
“Oh, good idea. I’ll do that now.” Mia pulled her phone from her purse, typing with the voracity of a teenager as she walked past the shop window until she was gone.
Ross returned to wiping his fingerprint smudges from the glass counter. With any luck, she was out of his life again. He was alone with his thoughts, which was what he preferred. He didn’t need interesting characters in his shop, even if they had tempting curves, amber eyes, and a single, provoking dimple. He didn’t need that in his life or to even think about it. And he wasn’t thinking about it.
One thing clearly hadn’t changed: Mia was smart. A nervous finger tapped against the counter as he checked the clock. Perhaps giving her until fivep.m.was a mistake. He didn’t want to deal with her on a social level, let alone hire her. She had three and a half hours. He should have played it safe and given her twenty minutes.
The bell jingled, grabbing his attention. Mia poked her head in and grinned.
Shit. Twenty minutes wasstilltoo much time.
“Is it Rumpelstiltskin?” she asked.
“No,” Ross answered, relieved.
“Dammit! I thought it was worth a shot. Okay, I’m still on this. You better not hire anyone else before five o’clock.”
Then Mia was gone, possibly already forgetting him for the second time. Maybe he should be used to it. Maybe he shouldn’t care. One thing for sure, he shouldn’t be secretly hoping she’d remember.
Chapter Three
Mia entered hertwo-story family home, a structure with an overabundance of large, picture windows, hardwood pine floors, and matching decor. She found her father in the office, stationed at the computer in a leather chair, and surrounded by framed accolades. His professional achievements and community connections made her father’s space an impressive career trophy room.
By middle age, the man had settled into a gruff, no-nonsense demeanor, someone who was used to being in a position of unquestioned authority. While most found his formidable presence intimidating, Mia had no problem treating him as she would a lovable bear.
