Never Far Away (The Never #2)(43)

“And I want you to be the manager of Poppy in Portland, full time.” Ella felt Megan freeze in her embrace. Slowly, Megan pulled back.

“You want ME to manage Poppy?”

“Yes, I think you’re the best person for the job. You did great while I was recovering and you’re looking for a job, right?”

“Well, I mean, yes, I’m looking for a job, but I don’t know about this Ella. What if I mess up everything you’ve worked so hard for? What if I run Poppy into the ground and you have to close the doors and we all end up homeless?”

Ella laughed at her sister’s over dramatics.

“Megan, calm down. You aren’t going to ruin anything. You are going to be great, if you accept. You already do a great job at Poppy.”

“What about Brittany? She’s worked there longer.”

“Brittany will get a promotion to assistant manager. I really think you’d be great at this. You’ve got a degree in business; Brittany’s degree is in art history. You’re qualified. Please, you’d really be doing me a big favor by taking the job.”

“You really trust me to take care of your ‘store baby’?”

“Implicitly,” Ella laughed.

“Well, I’d like to talk it over with Patrick, but I think I can unofficially accept,” Megan smiled at Ella.

“I’m so glad, Megan. It will make being in Salem so much easier if I know you’re taking care of Poppy here. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“You guys are too much. You make me want a sister,” Kalli laughed.

“Ok,” Megan said, wiping away the rogue tear that had escaped. “Enough with the sappy.”

“Yeah,” Ella agreed.

“We should go celebrate tonight!” Megan nearly shouted, making Ella laugh again. Sometimes, more than others, the eight year gap between them was glaringly obvious.

“I can’t tonight. I am headed to Lincoln City to stay with Porter.”

“So, go out there tomorrow,” Megan said with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Can’t. Porter and I made a promise not to spend any more nights apart.”

“That might be the sweetest and sickest thing I’ve ever heard,” Kalli said and then gave Ella an apologetic look. “Sorry.”

Ella laughed.

“It’s ok. I know it seems sudden, perhaps especially to you, but we just don’t want to spend any more time apart. Plus, since I’ve gotten my memory back, it’s difficult being at my apartment alone.” Megan nodded in understanding.

“Well, maybe we should all go out on Friday. It will be so fun! Patrick and I haven’t been out in ages! Kalli, you could bring a date. Please?” Megan practically begged, waggling her eyebrows at Kalli.

“Ok, I’ll talk to Porter about it. And this would be a good opportunity to hang out with Scott,” Ella sing-songed at Kalli. Kalli blushed and nodded.

“Well, Kalli, do YOU want to get a drink tonight to celebrate my new job?” Megan asked, feigning insult and annoyance.

“You know I’m always down for a drink. But let’s find a dive this time, something more my speed.” Megan laughed.

“You don’t like my dance clubs?”

“I did, when I was twenty-two.”

“Hey! I am twenty-two!”

“I know, but I will get you up to speed with us adults,” Kalli joked.

The three women stood up and Megan thanked the consultant, promising to bring her mom back to see the dress. They all hugged at the door before Ella left and headed for her car. Before starting the engine she took out her phone and sent Porter a text.



**Leaving now. Should be about two hours. Do you need me to pick anything up for dinner?**



**No, I just need you. Here. Drive safely. No hitchhikers.**



**So, should I kick out the one guy I already picked up then?**



**Very funny. Be careful.**



**Always. Love you.**



**Love you too.**



When Ella pulled up to Porter’s house she was once again floored by the fact that he had built it with his own sexy, capable hands. She couldn’t wait to begin the process of building their own house. Honestly, she couldn’t wait to watch him build their house; it would be glorious, she was sure.

She got out of her car and was immediately hit by the unusual warmth that she felt. Granted, it was late June, but for it to be hot outside on the Oregon Coast was surprising. She was grateful that she had worn a breezy skirt with a sleeveless top.

She was also accosted by the screeching sound of what she thought was a power saw coming from behind the house. She hadn’t been in the shop out back yet. She blushed a little at the thought of most of their time together being spent inside the house in one particular room. She ventured around the side of the house to see the big shop, big enough to house the sailboat he was building, and just as spectacularly built as the house. Of course, the buildings matched. He seemed to be somewhat of a perfectionist when it came to his work and it showed.

As she came to the entrance of the shop, two large doors like you’d find in a barn, she could see a surprisingly large boat that was obviously in the midst of creation. Porter had told her it was a twenty-five foot sailboat, but the numbers had really just flitted through her mind, not really taking hold. To see in person a boat that size and realize that the hands of this man were responsible for it made parts of her liquefy. She swallowed her arousal down, trying to maintain some semblance of a cool and unaffected demeanor. She continued in the building and all efforts to stay cool, calm, and collected were thrust back out the door when her eyes found Porter.