“Only once, when I had to pay a speeding ticket.”
“You’ve probably never been upstairs, then.”
We reach the top of the stairs, and she leads me down a hallway. We walk past Alyssa Dean, the secretary. Alyssa and I went to school together. My cheeks redden.
Jade gestures to an empty office. “Mary’s already moved out. This will be Donny’s office. He was going to start today, but then he decided to wait until Monday.”
I’m both disappointed and relieved. A weird combination that makes me want to smile and vomit at the same time.
Jade opens the door to another office. “Come on in and have a seat.” She walks behind her desk and sits.
I take one of the three chairs opposite hers.
She smiles. “So…you need a job.”
I nod. “Yeah. And I can get something else easily, but my interests are here.”
“I understand. With Donny starting next week, my funds are limited, but we do need someone to do basic stuff, like filing, running errands, and such.”
“Oh.” I try not to sound too disappointed. After all, she could have easily said she has nothing.
“I’m sure you’re way overqualified, though,” Jade says.
“My undergrad degree is in criminal justice. I’d love to do some investigating, if possible.”
“We have a full-time investigator,” she says.
“Oh! I wasn’t suggesting—”
Jade smiles. “I know you weren’t. Frankly, you’re probably more qualified than Troy, but he’s been with me for ten years now, and he does a good job.”
“I understand. About the other position…”
“Forget I suggested it,” Jade says. “You won’t be happy being anyone’s errand girl.”
I clear my throat. “Actually, I’d love it. I’d at least be in a law office, and I hope you’ll feel free to give me any assignments you think I could handle given my education and background.”
“I’m sure sorry about law school, Callie.”
Please, please, please don’t pity me.
“It is what it is. My family needs me now, and I’ll be there for them. I’ll be a lot more help if I can support myself, so if you’re offering…I’d love to accept the position.”
“Don’t you want to know what I’ll pay?”
I force out a chuckle. “Whatever it is, it’s more than I’m making now.”
“Good enough.” Jade rises. “Alyssa can get the paperwork for you. When can you start?”
“Today?”
Jade laughs. “Monday will be fine. Besides, I’m leaving after lunch today anyway. I have a lot to do before the party tonight.”
Right. The party. Donny’s welcome home party.
I stand. “I can’t thank you enough, Jade. Or should I call you Ms. Steel here?”
“Don’t be silly. Everyone calls me Jade. We’re pretty casual.”
“So the suit’s a bit much?” I let out a nervous laugh.
“Are you kidding? You look amazing. But feel free to dress more casually. I only wear a skirt when I have court.”
I nod, not sure what to say.
She glances down at her desk. “You know what? I think I’ll just take off now. My calendar’s clear for the rest of the day. What do you say to an early lunch?”
“I’d love it, but I’m meeting Rory at Lorenzo’s at noon.” I bite my lip. “Would you like to join us?”
“No, that’s okay, but it’s sweet of you to offer. I’ll head over to Ava’s for a sandwich and then get home. Marjorie will be thrilled I’m home earlier to help. We’ll see you and Rory tonight, I hope. Along with the rest of the family.”
“As far as I know, yeah. Except Raine’s out of town. She’s visiting her parents in Denver.”
“We’ll miss her,” Jade says. “Glad the rest of you can make it. Your brother’s band is playing.”
“Yeah, he told me. So…what time should I be here on Monday?”
“We start around eight. I’m usually here a little earlier. Talon has me on ranch time.”
I smile. “Sounds good. Thanks so much.”
“You’re very welcome. I’m thrilled you’re coming on board. See you tonight?”
I nod, smiling, and leave Jade’s office.
“Earth to Cal,” Rory says over Diet Coke while we wait for our lunch at Lorenzo’s. “When your new boss offers you lunch, you go.”
“But you and I had plans.”
“We’ve only had lunch together…what? About a thousand times? And we’ll do it a thousand more times in the near future.”
I twist my lips. “Did I really just make a huge faux pas?”
“Yeah, a little.”
“Crap.”
“Of course, the main thing is that you got a job. You did what you set out to do. Nice going!”
“The job is grunt work.”
“It’s still a job, and it’s in your chosen field. There are no small jobs, Cal. Just small people.”
“Nice, Ror. Throwing my own words back at me.”
“Well, they’re good words. They worked when you said them to me, and I came to find out that, yeah, I’m a good opera singer, but I’m a great voice and piano teacher and pretty darned awesome rock singer too. That’s my true calling. If you hadn’t goaded me into hanging out my shingle, I’d never know.”