Worth the fall, p.6
Worth the Fall, page 6
I shook my head as I watched her walk away, tossing demands at me. I wanted to throw her over my desk, spank her ass for being so mouthy, and then fuck some sense into her. Who did she think she was, talking to me that way? And why the hell wasn’t I angry about it?
Because you like it, idiot.
When she got to my office door, she grabbed the edge and threw me a look. “Nine minutes.”
The things I want to do to that mouth.
I gave my assistant a cursory glance before shutting my door and making my way back over to my desk, gripping it with both hands. “So, tell me,” I said as I sat in my chair and leaned toward her as she sat down.
“Tell you what exactly?” She sounded annoyed with me.
“What it was that you were celebrating that day. You said you were celebrating.” This was not a question that would be asked in any typical interview, but I had this fierce desire to know what had caused her to get so inebriated.
She sucked in an audible breath, and I wondered for a split second if she might tell me a lie instead of the truth.
“My divorce. We signed the papers that morning.”
“And that made you ... happy?” I emphasized the word because I wasn’t sure how most people felt when they ended their marriages, but the ones I’d been around were mostly bitter and angry. Happiness always seemed to come later.
“Yes. Because I’d been unhappy for so long.”
Her tone was defensive, and I wondered how many people had made her feel bad for putting her feelings above her husband’s.
“I think a lot of people stay married for the wrong reasons,” I said like I was suddenly an expert on the subject.
“I agree.”
“So, it was your idea to end things then?”
It was an entirely inappropriate question, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself from wanting to get inside this woman’s head and read every single thought in there.
She nodded. “It was.”
“Any regrets?”
What the hell was wrong with me? I half expected Brooklyn to stand up and call this whole thing off because of my line of questioning. She would have been well within her rights to tell me to shut up, so imagine my surprise when she didn’t.
“No. None.” Her voice was strong. Determined even. “If I were still married, I’d be miserable. I felt like I was dying inside. And I know it’s a horrible thing to say, but it’s the truth. Leaving was the right thing to do. For me. And I know you probably think that sounds selfish, but I don’t care. Because I feel better today than I have in the last year and a half combined.”
I hadn’t expected her to confess all of that. And while I couldn’t necessarily relate to it on a personal level, I still felt like I understood what she was saying. “I don’t think it’s selfish at all.”
“You don’t?” Her tone finally softened as she focused those emotional green eyes on me.
“No. I think your husband”—I paused—“ex-husband sounds like the selfish one. Did he even notice you weren’t happy? Did he even care?”
Another. Inappropriate. Question.
“If he did, we wouldn’t be divorced.”
I couldn’t imagine Brooklyn being married to someone so blatantly unaware. It didn’t suit my impression of her at all. She came off as strong and independent. I imagined any man who won her over would hold those same qualities, if not more.
“It’s his loss,” I said, and I meant it. The guy sounded like a fucking idiot who hadn’t deserved her in the first place.
“I agree.” She smiled.
“So, you don’t have an issue with alcohol then?” I asked, changing the subject.
She laughed. It sounded so free and joyful. And I was instantly happy that I hadn’t known her when she wasn’t either of those two things. I had a feeling it would have made me very angry to see her shine dulled.
“No. I don’t have an issue with alcohol. It was all Bella’s fault anyway. She was practicing her new drink recipes on me and my best friend, Lana.”
I’d known Bella since she was a kid. Her older brother was one of Matthew’s closest friends. It was crazy to think about Bella not only being old enough to drink alcohol legally, but to serve it as well.
“She’s a good kid,” I said.
“Not really a kid anymore.” Brooklyn grinned.
“Well, listen, I am very sorry for accusing you, judging you, and being unreasonable earlier. If you can give me more than ten minutes, I’d like to conduct a proper interview now.”
“Better get started then.”
That damn mouth.
POSITION ACCEPTED
BROOKLYN
I was insane. Certifiably not thinking clearly. It was the only reason why I would have accepted the job on the spot the way I just had. Thomas and I shook hands, and then I was in my car, heading to my job at Kleinfeld’s, where I was about to give my two weeks’ notice.
Thomas O’Grady was as infuriating as he was hot. Which was saying a lot because that man could set fire to an igloo. And as much as I wanted to despise him for all the verbal jousting we’d done, it kind of thrilled me. It was the most excitement I’d had in my life in months. And that fact was embarrassing all on its own.
I refused to read into the personal questions he’d asked me and the way that he’d taken my side when I answered. It was all too overwhelming to even think about, so I shoved it somewhere deep down inside of me, where I could obsess over it later.
Putting my car in park, I shut the engine off and sucked in a steadying breath before heading through the glass doors of Kleinfeld’s office. I didn’t have specific office hours, but I still felt late and knew that I’d be judged for it. I rarely came in after ten, unless I had an appointment off-site somewhere. My boss, Felicia, would know that nothing was on my calendar for this morning since she had access to it.
“Brooklyn,” she said as I entered, glancing at the watch on her wrist.
“I know. I’m sorry. Do you have a second to talk?” I said, hoping my voice wasn’t coming out as shaky as my knees currently were.
Why is quitting a job so damn terrifying?
She gave me a questioning look before waving a hand toward her office. I entered first, sitting across from her pristine white desk. It was a stark contrast to the one I’d just been sitting in front of only a few minutes earlier. When Felicia sat down facing me, neither one of us said anything.
“Well, out with it,” she insisted.
I sucked in another quick breath and crossed one leg over the other. “I got a job offer that I couldn’t turn down, and I’d like to give you my two weeks. I know I have a few events on the books, but I promise that I’ll get all the details squared away and handed off without a hitch. I won’t leave you high and dry.” I started to overexplain and offer more of myself than I knew I was required to give, but it felt like the right thing to do.
Felicia had never mistreated me, and before this morning, I really had enjoyed working here even if I wasn’t one hundred percent fulfilled.
Now, all I could think about was starting in my new position. And seeing Thomas every day. Even with his crotchety attitude, just looking at him would be a perk.
“Where’s the job?”
“Sugar Mountain Resort,” I practically whispered. It wasn’t as if I could keep where I moved on to a secret. Especially since I knew our paths would eventually cross.
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “I didn’t realize they were hiring. Are you working with Sierra?”
“She’s leaving actually. I’ll be taking her position.”
“Wow,” she said, and I wasn’t sure if she was upset or not. “Can’t say I’m not sorry to see you go, Brooklyn. You’re an asset here, but I completely understand.”
“You do?” Relief coursed through my body, finally settling my nerves as I leaned back into the cushioning of the chair.
“If I were in your position, there’s no way I’d turn down that job either. And I’m a little excited to know that you’ll be the contact for events there. Especially when that barn opens.”
“Does everyone know about the barn?” I said out loud even though I’d meant to just think it in my head.
“It’s a big deal,” she said. “And listen, your upcoming fall events here are pretty easy to take over. Don’t worry about the two weeks.”
I shifted again in the seat, a little uncomfortable. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll cut you your last check, and you can pack up your desk. Start at the resort tomorrow if they’ll have you,” she said with a smile that looked genuinely sincere.
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I knew I couldn’t keep you here forever. I could see that you were getting bored even if you wouldn’t admit it. The summer season is officially over. Everything else seems like a breeze in comparison.”
To say that I was surprised by the way Felicia had taken the news would be an understatement. It wasn’t that I’d expected her to be angry with me, but I hadn’t anticipated her being so agreeable and understanding. I definitely hadn’t seen her letting me leave right away. I’d figured I’d have to plug along for the next two weeks, doing things I suddenly had no interest in doing anymore while I dreamed about what was to come.
“Thank you, Felicia. For everything. You’ve been a great mentor and boss. I really respect everything you’ve built and accomplished here.” I stood up and reached across to shake her hand, which she took with fervor.
“Well, you’ve been a brilliant event planner. I wish you nothing but the best in your next endeavor. And, hey, you get to hang out with those O’Grady men all day long. That’s not a bad bonus to any job.” She pursed her lips, and I couldn’t fight the grin from appearing.
“Not you too,” I teased, shaking my head.
Everyone in this town seemed to have a crush on at least one of those men.
“Honey, I have eyes.”
“Sometimes, I wish I didn’t,” I said, but it was weak, and we both knew I was lying.
“Try not to get pregnant,” she warned, and I started coughing.
“Pretty sure that’s not in the job description.”
We both laughed. It was all we could do as we walked out of her office together before I headed toward my cubicle to pack up my belongings. In under an hour, I’d have all of my things in a single box and my last paycheck in my hand.
I had a feeling that this called for another celebration, but Thomas might fire me on the spot if I let the sweet bartender, Bella, be in charge of it again.
I drove straight to Sugared, the day spa and salon on Main Street, where my best friend worked, crossing my fingers that I’d be able to find a parking spot at this time of day. When I found one in front of the defunct restaurant next door, I figured it really was my lucky day. Slamming my car door closed, I peered through the window of the out-of-business space, expecting to see nothing but emptiness and a For Rent sign with a contact number somewhere.
But there was no sign, and all the kitchen equipment and tables were still set up inside. It was almost like they were waiting for someone to open the doors and let people back in. It was weird. I’d obviously seen businesses close before, but no one typically left all their things when it did. They usually sold off every single item piece by piece, attempting to recoup at least some of their losses before shuttering completely.
Maybe the owner hadn’t needed the extra cash? He was apparently some rich out-of-towner who had swept into Sugar Mountain and opened up a quite literal five-star restaurant, assuming that it was something our town could sustain outside of the tourist season.
News flash, buddy: it wasn’t.
We weren’t the kind of place that needed that level of extravagance. And the man would have known that if he’d done even a lick of research. No nonlocal was going to make it in Sugar Mountain if they didn’t understand how we lived.
Shrugging to myself, I walked over to Sugared and pulled open the door and stepped inside. The place always smelled amazing, and I took a deep inhale to take it all in as I searched for my best friend.
Lana did a double take as she washed someone’s hair all the way in the back of the first room. “Is that my single best friend standing in the doorway?” she shouted, and everyone turned to look in my direction.
“Why are you always so embarrassing?” I asked as I made my way toward her, narrowly avoiding colliding with the girl sweeping.
“It’s part of my charm.” She grinned as her fingers worked up a lather of suds as big as the hair she was washing. “You going to tell me what’s up, or do I have to guess?”
I looked around at the bustling day spa and salon. Everyone was busy, running around and not really paying us any attention. The only two people who were even sitting still were at the reception desk, but they were answering phones that never seemed to stop ringing.
“I quit my job,” I whispered, but it was pointless because Lana repeated my statement in a shout, and I covered my head with my hand.
“What? Why? Why would you quit? Oh my gosh, you’re moving out of Sugar Mountain and leaving me, aren’t you? I always knew this day would come. You’ve probably already packed your things, and you’re moving to your parents’ house in Florida. Florida’s really far, Brooky. Have you thought this through? It’s all the way on the other side of the country. I’ll never see you. Even though I guess it seems like an okay place. Really hot though. And lots of old people.”
She patted the woman’s head she was scrubbing. “No offense, Rose.”
“None taken,” Rose said in a cheery voice. “Florida does have a lot of old people. At least, that’s what the news always says. And they’re always giving each other cooter diseases. Did you hear that too?”
“I have heard that, Rose.” I started laughing. “And I’m not moving to Florida, weirdo. Just because my parents retired there doesn’t mean I want to,” I said to my best friend before she could continue her completely unwarranted rant.
Lana was nothing if not an absolute lunatic. “Then, why in the world would you quit your job? Are you having a breakdown? Do I need to call someone? Rose, who do you call when your best friend starts losing her mind?”
Before Rose could respond, I said, “I’m not having a breakdown.” I glanced around the room once more, not wanting to be overheard, even though I had no idea why. Everyone would know soon enough. “I got another job.”
Lana’s face scrunched up in confusion. “First, you ditch your husband. Then, you ditch your job. What’s next? Me? I’m irreplaceable, just so you know. Don’t you think, Rose?”
“Oh, absolutely, dear. There’s no one quite like you,” the elderly woman said with a smile.
“Did you hear that, Brooky? There’s no one like me,” Lana reiterated.
“Trust me, I know.” I shook my head and tried to fight the grin that spread across my face as I looked between the two of them, wondering how the conversation had turned to if my best friend was replaceable or not when I just wanted to tell her this unbelievable news.
“So, where is this new job that I didn’t even know you were looking for, but took anyway without even running it by me?”
“Sugar. Mountain. Resort.” I stomped my foot with each word to emphasize my excitement, and she dropped her hands out of Rose’s head at the same time her mouth popped open.
“What? The resort where dreams are made and hope lives? The place where the world’s hottest brothers work? You got a freaking job there? Holy shit, Brooky. How?”
“Oh, that’s a nice place. And that Grant O’Grady has always been such a looker,” Rose added as her eyes took on a sort of nostalgic gleam.
“Daddy O’Grady is definitely a hottie,” Lana agreed.
“Please don’t ever say that again.” I tried to sound weirded out, but it was weak. As much as I wanted to disagree with them both, the elder O’Grady was definitely a stunner.
“It’s not my fault he’s handsome and helped create three of the best-looking men I’ve ever seen. Too bad they’ve all got issues,” Lana added in her nonchalant way, and my hackles instantly rose.
For some reason, I didn’t like hearing her say that about them. Even if there was a nugget of truth to her statement, it hit me the wrong way.
“Don’t say that. You don’t even know them.”
She propped out her hip and pinned me with a glare. “And you do?”
“Well, no.”
“Not yet anyway.” She made a kissing face and pretended to be making out with someone. “Oh, Thomas, you’re such a good dad. Let’s give your daughter a baby brother.”
I swatted her shoulder. “Would you be quiet? What is wrong with you?” I chastised, wondering why she’d picked Thomas when she could have said any of the other two brothers’ names.
She just shrugged and laughed. “You’re the one who molested the guy when you were drunk the other day, not me.”
Ah. That was why she said Thomas and not Patrick or Matthew.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Lana pointed a finger at me. “I would have done the exact same thing. Probably worse.”
“Definitely worse,” I agreed with a grin.
“I would have molested him, too, and then played dumb. Oops, was that your goody bag? Did I grab it again? My bad. It just keeps getting in the way,” Rose said, and we all started laughing.
“This is why Rose is my favorite,” Lana said before rinsing out all of the bubbles she’d created. “Rose, I want to be you when I grow up.”
“I think you already are,” I added, and Lana threw up a hand to high five me.
“What if you two start dating and fall in love? Can you imagine? My best friend would be Sugar Mountain royalty.” Lana continued spouting off whatever fairy tale was growing roots in her head.
“I’m not dating Thomas,” I practically hissed.
“I know; I know. You’re not ready to date anyone. You just got divorced. Blah, blah.” Lana waved me off like I was being ridiculous.
Dating honestly hadn’t even crossed my mind. I’d been so focused on my career, determined to love the one thing that I could pretend loved me back. The more I worked, the more my job gave me in return. Unlike my marriage, which had seemed to do the exact opposite.
