First Love (Soulmates #4) Page 6

  I had to give him that. At least he hadn’t shown up and mocked us in an open Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts on day one.

  “So,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “Thanks for being on time. I admit I hate meetings as much as you probably do so I’ll make it brief so you can get back to work.”

  “I don’t believe for a second the guy hates meetings,” Gia said. “He obviously loves the sound of his own voice.”

  To be honest, so did I. I mean, I didn’t give a shit what he was about to say or anything, but his low tone and slight Northeastern accent was pretty seductive. Unfortunately, something told me he wasn’t about to read out the winning lotto numbers.

  “In the last week, I’ve had a chance to get to know you all a bit on paper, but I know that most resumes aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.”

  A few too many people laughed.

  “So here’s the deal. I’d like to schedule a time to meet with each of you for a few minutes so I can formally introduce myself and figure out if you prefer to go by Kathleen or Kathy- that kind of thing. Because I know this place is a family and right now I feel a bit like the estranged Uncle that nobody knows, which is a situation I’m eager to correct.”

  I groaned on the inside.

  “Though I do want to thank those of you who’ve gone out of your way to welcome me, especially Jolie Monroe.” He fixed his eyes on me. “Who’s been very accommodating and is even more eager than I am to get this place updated, advertised, and booked solid for the next five summers.”

  “Oh shit,” Gia whispered. “No he didn’t.”

  “I’m going to kill him,” I said, smiling through gritted teeth.

  “That was pretty smooth,” she said. “Everyone bought it like Black Friday.”

  “He’s an idiot,” I said, locking my eyes on him.

  “Anyway.” He moved his large hands through the air as he continued. “I’ve put a spreadsheet up in the staff kitchen so you can all choose a suitable time slot.”

  My stomach flipped when I realized how easy it would be for a guy like him to charm the staff one by one.

  “But before you come see me-”

  Everyone’s eyebrows rose with mine.

  “I want each of you to go online- somewhere like Monster.com- and I want you to find three jobs that you’d love to have.” He squared his shoulders towards the front row. “They don’t even have to be jobs you’re qualified for. Just pick three that, if they were offered to you tomorrow, you’d walk straight out of here and never look back.”

  A soft murmur bubbled up from the group.

  “What the heck?” Gia asked. “That’s the craziest bull I ever heard.”

  My heart sank. Was he getting ready to lay people off or just trying to alienate them? I swear I felt like I could feel the seeds of discontent he’d just thrown over the group sprouting between the legs of the chairs they sat in.

  “This is a disaster,” I mumbled to myself.

  I wanted to shout, to get everyone’s attention and say that under no circumstance should they start looking for work they would prefer. I had visions in my head of half the staff leaving and never coming back a few weeks before our busiest time of year.

  But there was nothing I could do. My mouth was too dry, my hands too clammy, and my feet too heavy.

  “I can’t wait to see what jobs you choose,” he said. “And I look forward to meeting each of you properly.”

  “On your way out,” Gia muttered.

  I swallowed.

  She nudged me. “You have to say something.”

  I looked over my shoulder at her. “Do you think we could just take down the stupid spreadsheet and quietly dispose of his body?”

  “We’ll never be able to lift him on our own.”

  I pursed my lips.

  “But Carlos won’t ask any questions if I ask for his help.”

  I smiled. “Thank you for humoring my murderous plan.”

  “You’re welcome,” she said. “Would you like me to wear comfortable, disposable shoes tomorrow?”

  I shook my head. “That won’t be necessary. But only because a missing body would be terrible for business.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  I folded my arms and watched the staff shuffle out the open double doors into the lobby. “I’m going to ask him what the hell he thinks he’s doing.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “And then I’m going to set him straight about how we do business around here.”

  She squinted. “You mean like how we don’t encourage our staff to look for other jobs?”

  “Yeah. I’ll probably start there.”

  “Are you going to find three jobs on Monster before you meet with him or-”

  “Careful Gia,” I said. “There’s room for two in a body bag.”

  She laughed. “You’d never murder me when it’s my turn to buy Nino’s.”

  I twisted my mouth. “I suppose I will need a cheesy calzone for strength before I do the job.”

  “Perfect,” she said. “Because I’d love for that to be my last meal.”

  I checked my watch. “Seven thirty sound alright?”

  She nodded. “My place or-”

  “Definitely your place,” I said, knowing I’d feel even guiltier about avoiding my mom with a bag full of Nino’s takeout in hand.

  “Sounds good,” she said, her brown eyes floating past me. “And good luck with the boss.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “I’m going to need it.”

  Chapter 12: Adam

  I was checking in with the CFO of Backpack & Craic when Jolie stormed into the office.

  “I’m going to have to call you back, Cody,” I said, closing my laptop.

  “Sure thing,” he said. “I’ll be here for the rest of the day.”

  I hung up the phone and looked over the desk to where Jolie was standing with her arms folded. “Not much of a knocker, I take it?”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Are you asking whether I feel obligated to knock when I come in my own office?”

  “Are you implying you actually spend any time in here?” I asked. “Because I think we both know that’s a load of crap.”

  “I’m better suited to work front of house.”

  “I don’t disagree, Boss, but you probably should’ve brought someone in to manage the books- oh, I don’t know- two and a half years ago.”

  She glanced at the floor to ceiling stack of filing boxes. “My dad used to manage the books.”

  “We’ll, unfortunately, they still need managing.”

  She cocked a hip. “You won’t get any points around here for telling people what they already know.”

  “Great,” I said. “So you won’t mind that I’ve hired someone to be your internal numbers guy.”

  She furrowed her brow. “You hired someone?”

  “I did.”

  “That’s a surprise,” she said, stepping between the chairs in front of my desk.

  “Why?”

  “Because I think you made it pretty clear at the staff meeting earlier that what you’re really interested in is laying people off.”

  I tilted an ear towards her. “What would give you that impression?”

  She squinted at me. “The fact that you told everyone to look for work?”

  I groaned and leaned back in my chair. “First of all, I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

  “I think you do,” she said, walking up to the edge of the desk. “It was one thing for you to bust in here and say you want to change the décor and the menu, but it was a step too far making everyone fear for their jobs.”

  “I’m happy to explain myself,” I said, swiveling to one side as I kept my eyes on her. “As a courtesy to you.”

  “Good becau-”

  “But I have to be honest, I’m getting really fucking sick of you not giving me the benefit of the doubt.”

  “I’m listening,” she said, leaning forward and splaying her hands on t
he desk.

  “A black bra, huh?”

  She straightened up immediately and checked her shirt.

  “You going out after work or is that just for me?”

  Her face turned bright pink. “You’re disgusting, you know that?”

  “Hey,” I said, lifting my palms. “You’re the one that flashed your boss.”

  “I did no such thi-”

  “You want answers about the job search assignment?” I asked.

  “Yeah, I do.”

  I stood up. “First of all, I’m assuming you didn’t take issue with the fact that I said I wanted to get to know everyone?”

  “Obviously not,” she said. “If anything, I thought that was most sensible thing you’ve said since you arrived.”

  I nodded.

  “But then you went and ruined it by acting like some people’s meet and greet might also be their last goodbye.”

  I licked my teeth. “Well, that was never my intention.”

  “Exactly what was your intention?”

  “To be frank, it’s an exercise I actually hope will boost morale.”

  “I’m not following.”

  “Did you know Debbie worked as an events coordinator for fifteen years?” I asked, walking around the desk.

  “Debbie at the bar?”

  “Yeah.”

  “No, I didn’t know that,” she said, turning around as I took a seat in one of the smaller chairs on her side of the desk.

  “Did you know Maria-”

  “Housekeeping Maria or lifeguard Maria?”

  “Housekeeping.”

  “What about her?” she asked.

  “Did you know she trained as a professional pastry chef in Mexico before she came to this country?”

  “No.”

  I could tell by the look on her face that the last thing she was expecting was for me to know something about her staff that she didn’t.

  “What’s your point?” she asked.

  “My point is that I’ve no intention of firing anyone,” I said. “I just want to make sure that no one’s underlying passions are being ignored if they could be an asset.”

  She pressed her lips together.

  “And if there are skills that people want an opportunity to learn- regardless of whether they might help them elsewhere or at this job- I want to empower them to build those skills as best I can.”

  Her shoulders relaxed with her next breath.

  “Because I’m well aware that not everyone has been as lucky as you and me.”

  “I’m listening,” she said, leaning back against the desk.

  “We grew up with ambitious, supportive fathers who mentored us, encouraged us, and helped us develop into capable business people. And if I can offer even a fraction of similar support to someone else, I would consider it both a pleasure and a privilege.”

  “I see.”

  It was odd to see her so speechless. “Do you feel better now?”

  “I do,” she said.

  “You’re satisfied that I’m not out to fire your family?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good,” I said. “Because I can’t fly this thing without you.”

  Her mouth twitched, and I felt satisfied that she got my meaning.

  “That being said, now that I have your attention-” I folded my hands in my lap. “You know what I could do without going forward?”

  She wrapped one hand around the back of her neck. “What?”

  I stood and stepped up to her. “The fact that you’ve decided I’m some kind of monster when you were actually quite smitten with me that last summer we spent time together.”

  “You mean the summer after which I never heard from you again?”

  I edged into her personal space and took a deep breath. She smelled like crisp sunshine and fresh linen. “That’s irrelevant,” I said, searching her eyes. “What matters is that I never forgot this place, and I sure as hell never forgot you.”

  “I’m flattered, Adam, but-”

  “I didn’t just come back here for the hotel, you know.”

  She blinked at me.

  My eyes dropped to her glossy lips.

  “Well, you’re my boss now,” she said, her voice soft. “So none of that stuff we did before is ever going to happen again.”

  “Yes it is.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “It’s inevitable,” I said, raising my eyes back to hers. “Trust me. The only thing more intense than how bad you still want me is how bad I still want you.”

  She shook her head so slightly it was almost undetectable.

  “And I think we both know I’m the kind of guy who gets what he wants,” I said, leaning against her so she could feel her own heat bouncing off me. “Besides, you’re-”

  “What am I?” she asked, her body still as a startled bunny.

  “Desperately in need of a good fuck.”

  Nervous laughter spilled from her lips. “This is sexual harassment, Adam.”

  I reached around and grabbed her ass, pulling her against my hard on as I moved to whisper in her ear. “Not if you like it, it’s not.”

  When I heard her breath leave her body, I dragged my lips lightly from just under her ear to her throat.

  Then I let her go… so she could think about it.

  Flashback: Adam

  I’d watched her all night from across the room as she cleared and set tables while my family and I focused on getting our money’s worth from the Harmony Bay Buffet.

  “How was the Skype session with your math tutor?” My dad asked between bites of rump roast.

  “Fine,” I said. “I’m ahead of schedule apparently.”

  “That’s my boy,” my mom said, tousling my hair even though she knew I hated that. After all, I was going to be in high school come fall. God forbid she did that at the school gates. I recoiled, hoping she’d get the message.

  Her eyes drooped. “Do you want me to cut your steak?”

  “Only if you’re going to chew it up for me, too,” I said.

  “Adam’s right, Annette,” my dad said. “Besides, you’ve barely eaten a thing yourself.”

  “It’s because I’ve been talking too much.”

  “Not at all, Mom,” I said, sawing at my steak. “I thought that stuff about dolphin migration was really interesting.”

  She smiled at me.

  My dad raised another bite. “Beats you filling us in on the latest General Hospital gossip, anyway.”

  “You guys are too hard on me,” she said. “If you aren’t more patient, I’m going to bring my sister down next time.”

  “That will be fun for the two of you,” my dad said. “Because, rest assured, I won’t be subjecting myself or my son to that much estrogen.”

  “It’s very common to take those pills,” my mom said. “But obviously I never should’ve confided in you.”

  I furrowed my brow. “What pills?”

  “Your Aunt Cathy takes special pills to keep her body hair in check,” my dad said.

  “That is not what they’re for, Ted.” My mom turned to me. “She takes pills to balance out her hormones so she doesn’t have mood swings.”

  “Like last Christmas?” I asked.

  “Exactly,” my dad said.

  My mom raised her eyebrows. “You must never tell her you know that.”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s not going to come up.”

  “Good,” my mom said.

  “Isn’t that your little friend over by the dessert table?” my dad asked, nodding behind me.

  I looked over my shoulder and then down at my plate where some tepid mashed potatoes had turned the color of steak juice.

  “Go on,” my dad said. “She might want to go halves on a slice of pie.”

  I smiled. Unlike my mother, Jolie wasn’t the kind of girl that needed help with a piece of pie. “Are you guys going to the tiki bar after this?” I asked.

  “For a quiet one,” my dad said, pulling his keycard out of his pocket a
nd tossing it across the table. “We’ll meet you back at the room later.”

  I shoved the key in my pocket and headed towards the dessert table. “Hey,” I said, picking up a small plate. “What’s good?”

  “I like the carrot cake,” Jolie said, her eyes bouncing around the desserts.

  I scrunched my face.

  “But you’d probably prefer the brownies.”

  I put a few on my plate. “You want to have dessert with me?”

  “I can’t stay in here,” she said. “Staff aren’t supposed to eat in front of the guests.”

  “Outside’s cool with me.”

  She smiled and led the way, turning down a long hallway and leaving through a set of emergency exit doors.

  “Where are we?” I asked as my eyes adjusted to the darkness outside.

  “Behind the pool house.”

  I looked around and tried to get my bearings.

  “Hold this,” she said, handing me her plate.

  I watched as she hoisted open the lid of a gigantic plastic crate. Then she threw a leg over the side and jumped in.

  I looked over the edge when I heard the squidgy squeaks of whatever she landed on, discovering the resting place of the colorful pool noodles that littered the deck during the day.

  I furrowed my brow. “What are you doing?”

  “I like to look for shooting stars while I eat dessert.”

  “From the noodle tub?”

  She shrugged. “No one ever bothers me here. Besides, it’s comfortable. You’ll see.”

  I handed our plates to her and set my hands on the edge of the tub. “Are they all wet?”

  “A little,” she said. “But it’s only water.”

  I twisted my mouth and swung my legs over the edge, landing on my side in the noodle pit. The impact of my landing made Jolie fall back on her butt, but somehow she managed to keep our dessert plates level.

  I couldn’t help but think it was the silliest thing I’d ever done, and I envied the fact that she seemed to think nothing of it. It was one of the first times in my life that I realized there were different kinds of ways to be rich.

  We laughed at the funny noises we made as we got settled on the noodles, and by the time we each laid back with our plates in hand, I was struggling to catch my breath.