"Hey buddy. She just left here. With traffic, she should be with you in ten minutes tops." Jon sounded exceptionally happy.
"Awesome. So? Did you like her?" I held my breath in anticipation of his response.
"Nope."
I let out a sigh. "Really? Why? She's perfect for this, Jon."
"I loved her. She's every bit the talent that you said she was, and damn... Can I just say you are one lucky bastard? She's a classic beauty. I tried hard not to stare at her too much. She's breathtaking, though." He cleared his throat. "She's quite into you from what I could tell. Tread lightly, my friend."
I chuckled as relief flooded me. "Tread lightly? Fuck that. I'm going all in with this girl. I'll conduct the interview in a professional manner, but then I'm telling her everything. She needs to know how crazy she makes me feel."
"Yeah, she does. She seemed like the kind of chick that could ha
ndle you calling ten times a day with your needy ass, by the way." He laughed again. "I'll let you go. She's in if the second part of the interview goes well. Give me a write-up and recommendation."
"Can we travel together, Jon? I promise to keep things completely professional.”
"Yeah, buddy. She's already asked. It's part of the stipulation to hire her. She's your travel partner and you're her trainer, but I expect nothing but the best from both of you."
"And that's what you'll get. Thanks, boss." My cheeks hurt from the smile on my face. I was glad that no one was around to see me cheesing it.
"No, thank you. Great job. You saved the company a huge headache with Kevin, and you've helped me possibly replace him with a great writer, who's quite capable of stealing the readers’ hearts like it seems she stolen yours."
"She has. I'll check in tomorrow. Night, Jon."
"Night, buddy."
I hung up the phone and pulled a mint out of my pocket as a million emotions rolled through me. I wanted to call my mom and scream into the phone that everything was most likely going to work out, but I didn't want Vivian to walk in to me losing my shit with my parents. She would know soon enough just how important they both were to me. The only person that would take a place above them would most likely be her.
"Right this way ma'am." The door behind me opened, and I turned to greet my guest.
"Thank you." She stopped short by the door, her eyes widening a little. "Easton."
"Hi, baby. I'm sorry for not calling. Jon made me promise not to until he worked out everything with you. He's all about appearing objective. Forgive me?" I took a few steps toward her as she moved toward me and slid into my arms, pressing her lips tightly to mine.
I moved my hand into her long silky hair and brushed my tongue over the crease of her lips, pushing a little as she opened up to me. Tightening my hands in her hair, I rubbed softly as my tongue rolled by hers, licking at her flavor and drinking her in deeply.
"Damn, I've missed you so much." I pressed my forehead to hers and smiled. "But, right now is about your interview. Let's get on with it and then we'll enjoy the rest of the night, just the two of us. That sound okay?"
"Sounds like bliss." She kissed me once more and moved to the table, sitting down and pulling her phone from her purse. "Mind if I record this and then I can type it up?"
"Not at all." I sat down across from her and took her in. "You're so fucking beautiful."
"That's not professional in the slightest, Mr. Parks." She lifted her eyebrow playfully.
"Yeah, neither is my raging desire to crawl beneath this table and lick every inch of you." I licked at my lips as her face grew flush.
"Get on with the interview. I have plans to make this handsome guy I know scream my name." She shrugged as if we were talking about the weather.
"Oh yeah? I'm almost jealous of him. I usually like my women pressed to something, crying out for more. A man screaming seems a little much, no?" I motioned for the server to come and save us from ourselves.
"Tease," she whispered and picked up the menu. "Do I get to choose what dishes I'm critiquing?"
"Yes, but the house favorites and new additions to the menu will always be at the top of the list. Choose those and two additional dishes. If you like the restaurant or are keen on helping support them, then you choose items that they wish they were selling more of but aren't currently." I picked up the bottle of red wine between us and poured us each a glass. "Order for us."
"How do you know what the house favorites are or the items that they're trying to sell?" She glanced up at me, her playful sex-kitten expression all but gone.
"You ask your friendly, neighborhood server." I sat back as she had a quick but pleasant conversation with the server.