I peeked at at the number, holding my breath until my eyelids stopped blinking out an S-O-S. The salary wouldn’t make me wealthy, but it would allow me to quit working at the bar and the inn.
I’d been dreaming Kate, my editing boss, would extend an offer like this, but since she’d been content to let me drown, it took me about negative ten seconds to grasp at an honest-to-god lifeline even though I’d likely fail spectacularly. Money was money.
“When do you need me to start?”
“We can begin your training Monday afternoon. We’ll start with a two-week trial period, but after that you should settle into the job within the month.” She stood and reached out her hand to shake once again.
“Thank you.” I knew I should ask for more time to think it through, but why risk the opportunity? I could always quit later. “I hope I can meet your expectations.”
Her smile tightened. “I expect you to exceed them.”
No pressure then. I hugged the envelope to my chest, like it might disintegrate into dust. I didn’t know if I’d made a wish on a monkey’s paw, but what was the worst that could happen? Shelby was right that I’d handled chaos in my other jobs. I could deal with stress. I could learn.
I could quit my job at the bar.
As I crossed the pedestrian mall, I texted Chelsea with my news. I looked up from my phone to find Basil passing by with another guy—noticeably not Evan, of course. He glanced my way, eyes widening briefly, and a Wheel-of-Fortune of possible responses spun in my mind. I nearly crossed over to pepper him with questions about his awol friend, but my loyalty lay with Chelsea. He raised his hand to wave, and with great effort against my upbringing, I turned my attention back to my phone, debating whether to shoot off another text to warn Chelsea her erstwhile boyfriend was on the loose.
When I glanced up again, Kyan King was striding toward me, oozing smug confidence.
Perfect timing.
Kyan was ridiculously attractive with dreads spiked almost like a mohawk, drawing attention to the diamond studs he wore. Dark sunglasses hid the caramel eyes he used like a smoldering weapon. He’d deployed them on me plenty, but I’d grown immune to his charms. Though, I’d nearly fallen prey once—thanks to a shitload of tequila. I blushed to think of it.
Guys with an edge were Chelsea’s thing. Evan was more my type—clean cut as the boy next door. But maybe the packaging had fooled me. Hadn’t he used me and left me hanging?
I heaved in a breath and stepped closer. “Hey, Kyan.”
His head jerked up, and he lowered his sunglasses a half inch. “Elizabeth.” He pitched his voice low, comically seductive.
“I need a favor.”
His eyebrows rose. “Oh, you’ll talk to me outside of work when you need something.”
I had that coming. He’d invited me to countless parties at his place, but I knew how he operated. He could charm a snake, and one of these days, I’d be lonely enough to take what he was offering. Kyan’s flirtation was usually harmless, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a serious player, and I was already nursing a bruised heart. I didn’t need rebound sex to compound it.
“Look, I’m sorry I’ve been distant.”
His honey eyes pegged me, making me feel about two inches tall. “Distant? Girl, you haven’t been in the same universe lately.”
“I know. But we’re good right?”
“Are we? I was starting to worry you were mad at me.” He sucked in his lower lip, trying to look upset, but he couldn’t help smile. “So, what’s the favor?”
I steeled my nerves for this ask. I could make a fool out of myself in front of total strangers, and I could don a persona to fake my way through all kinds of situations, but I balked whenever it came to voicing my true needs, when I had to ask for help or special treatment. I blamed it on the middle child syndrome—always lost in the shuffle.
Kyan squinted, and I spit it out. “I’ve found another job, and I need someone to take my shifts next week.”
He winced. “How many?”
“Two. Tuesday and Wednesday.” I bit my lip, willing him to agree.
“You want me to work every day next week?”
“Not Monday,” I added helpfully. The restaurant was closed Mondays, anyway. “I could take your Friday night shift.”
“The hell you will.”
I breathed out a sigh of relief. Friday nights were insane. “Could you please do me this one little favor?”
