The door opened, and a tall man strode in. He stopped, looking at me with surprise in his bright-green eyes.
He had the look of an established and handsome man. He was probably in his early fifties, with a salt-and-pepper beard that was trimmed neatly and an old, faint scar running from his left eyebrow down to his cheek and stopping at his strong jaw. He was lanky but had a muscular build. His hair was swept back, and it was shockingly silver. He reminded me of a very attractive silver-haired fox.
“Why, hello there.”
“Good morning. Kara Hawthorne,” I said just as I heard Deb yell “It’s Kara!” from downstairs.
His eyes lit with pleasure. He offered his hand. “I’m Rick. Pleasure to finally meet you, Kara. Have a seat, girl. You want something to drink?”
He had a very calm demeanor. Automatically, my body relaxed. I sat.
“I’m good. Thanks.”
“So,” he started, sitting on the chair in front of me instead of the one behind the massive desk. “You came very highly recommended.”
I did? I better ask Dylan who his friend was who had recommended me. Maybe I could give him a free oil change at the shop.
“Just got a couple of questions.”
Here we go.
“You know how to answer the phone?”
I stiffened. Was he being sarcastic? I narrowed my eyes at him. I hoped to God this wasn’t a prank or I’d go gorilla crazy on someone for wasting my time this morning.
“I was born answering phones,” I said seriously.
He leaned back in his chair, smiling widely.
“Do you know how to use computers?”
“Even in my sleep.”
“Don’t tell Deb this, but this job isn’t really that hard.”
“I heard that!” Deb screamed.
“Sometimes you have to have a loud voice to be heard here, especially when you’re talking to the guys. Can you scream real loud?”
Now I smiled. “Like a banshee.”
“Perfect,” he said. He offered me an hourly rate and my eyes bugged out. It was a little more than I was expecting. “As you probably noticed,” he continued, grinning at my reaction, “we not only operate in construction, but also in the soil business. Makes it easier and saves us a lot of costs for landscaping.” His voice was raspy, as if he’d been smoking for a long time. “Technically, my construction company’s located in the city. We have another office there—a little spiffier than what we have here. But it’s more for clients than anything, really. I’m mostly here, and so I’d need you here too. Deb will tell you what you need to know. I’m not sure exactly how long she’ll be gone for, but she’ll let you know. Do you have any questions for me?”
How long she’d be gone for. The job was temporary. For a few months at least—hopefully a year if Deb took all of her maternity leave. Canada gave more than a year for maternity leave for mothers if qualified, which I thought was amazing. She could also split the leave with her husband if they wished. Or she could go back to work too if she liked.
I bit my lip, debating.
“What say you, girl? Would you like to join us?” Rick asked.
Suddenly, I heard someone coming up the steps. I turned around, and everything around me ceased to exist but for that one man approaching the landing.
It felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to my heart, breaking it into pieces before it started beating again. I curled my hands into fists as everything blurred for one moment and then stood in painful clarity.
Cameron entered the office, stopping dead in his tracks. His eyes zeroed in on me.
“Kara?” Rick asked. “You want the job?” he repeated.
I peeled my eyes away from Cameron. I stood up and offered Rick my hand. “I’ll take it.”