Four Kicks

I respond to the ad on Sunday and am invited to come in for an interview early the next day, before our store even opens. Bianca says she can cover for me if I’m late.

The company is located in the back of a small office park I never had reason to notice before. The sign on the door reads Diamond Construction, and the small lobby area is vacant when I enter.

“Hello?”

A woman in her mid-30s appears from around the corner looking much too harried for the early time of day. “Are you here for the job?”

“Yes, I’m meeting with Derek.”

She consults her watch. “Derek should be in soon. Nathan’s here, though. I’m sure he’ll want to meet with you, too.”

Nathan. That name stirs up physical memories that have no business surfacing during a job interview. My body may never forget Nathan and Ash and our amazing outdoor encounter at the bar.

I ignore the muscles that clench between my legs as the woman leads me past one small open office, a conference room, and four closed doors on the way to an open doorway at the end of the hall. “Nathan, someone’s here –” She turns to me. “I’m sorry I didn’t get your name.”

“Lacy Wright.”

“Lacy Wright is here to interview for the admin position.”

There’s a long pause before I hear, “Thanks, Amy. Show her in.”

That voice. That deep, sexy rumble. Nathan’s voice.

Amy disappears before I can even thank her. I’m left alone to step into the open doorway and face someone I never expected to see again.

Inside the office, Nathan – yes, it’s that Nathan – is sitting behind a desk crowded with papers and file folders. He stands as soon as I enter. “Lacy. I was going to ask how you tracked me down, but I can see from your expression that you’re as surprised as I am.”

I’m indignant at his assumption. “I wasn’t tracking you down.”

His grin has his eyes sparkling in a way I beg my body to ignore. “I certainly wouldn’t have minded if you did. I’ve been hoping to run into you at Rusty’s again.”

Still standing awkwardly in his doorway, I shrug. “I probably won’t be going to Rusty’s much anymore.”

His smile falters. “I hope you had a good time that night. It seemed like you did.”

Pushing my shoulders back, I stand a little straighter. “I did, but this doesn’t seem like the time to talk about it since I’m here for a job interview.”

“Oh, right.” He comes around the desk and I try hard not to notice how his jeans wrap around his muscular thighs. “You’re here for the admin job?”

When I nod, he invites me to have a seat as he clears more folders from the chair opposite his desk.

“As you can see, we really need help around here. And I’m sorry, Derek was taking the lead on interviews, but he’s running late.”

I’m relieved that Nathan suddenly sounds more job-focused. Would it be too much to ask that he completely forget what happened between us? Can I forget about it enough to calm my hormones and work here without wanting to climb him like a tree every day?

That’s when I remember that Ash was introduced to me as Nathan’s coworker, so he works here, too. Fuck my life. It’s going to be doubly hard to be around them, but I need a job, not more meaningless hookups.

Nathan gives me a little background on the company – he’s co-owner along with Ash, the aforementioned Derek, and someone named Landon. All of them met in college and now they build custom homes together.

“We’re just getting started here on Four Points. We have two projects in the works, and we’re planning to build several more on the island before we move on to another location.”

“I see. Is the admin position new, or would I be replacing someone?”

“We had an intern for the summer but he’s gone back to college. Since he started, things have gotten much busier.”

“And what are the job duties?”

Nathan details the responsibilities, which are much as I assumed: answering calls, receiving visitors and deliveries, data entry, filing, and generally assisting the men and the bookkeeper as needed. While he’s filling me in, there’s a knock at his open door and two men enter.

“Lacy, this is Derek and Landon. Guys, this is Lacy. Ash and I met her last week at Rusty’s and, by coincidence, she’s here for the admin job.”

A quick look is exchanged between the three men and the briefest hint of a knowing smile on Landon’s face gives me the idea he’s heard about our night at Rusty’s. Was I the subject of some so-called locker room talk?

The men shake my hand, one at a time, and as I meet their eyes, I briefly wonder if I’m still in bed dreaming. At Rusty’s, Nathan and Ash made a huge impression on me with their impressive good looks. How is it possible that their two partners are also stunningly handsome? What are the actual odds?