Something Real (Whiskey Men, #2)(10)

She sits down in the chair and fidgets with the pen in her hand. “It’s really not that bad.

I’d rather take the time to hire someone that is going to do a good job and mesh well with everyone than just hire someone because we need to fill the spot.”

I hold my hands up because she almost seems defensive about it. “Hey, I’m not complaining. I’m just asking if it gets to be too much for you, to let me know. I don’t want you to be unhappy here.”

She blinks her long lashes at me. “Okay, thank you. I appreciate it, but I promise, I’m fine.”

“Okay, so catch me up on meetings for this week.”

She pulls out her phone where my calendar is synced. She’s tried repeatedly to show me how to do it all on my own phone, but I like having her come in here every week so we can talk and go over things.

She starts to scroll on her phone and relays the various meetings I have. The whole time she talks, I’m taking her in, watching the way she pushes her hair behind her ear, the way she pauses and bites her lower lip. When she lifts her eyes to mine, they widen, and she looks back at me.

In a daze, I clear my throat. I have no idea what all she just said, but thankfully, I can look at my computer and hopefully figure it out. She’ll make sure I don’t miss anything anyway.

“Thank you again for coming to the game last night. It meant a lot to Ollie. He was excited to finally get to try his hand at goalie.”

She rolls her eyes “It’s about time he got to play that position. Is the coach blind? He has to realize that his son is not the best choice for that. I know he keeps putting him there, but he needs to put him in a position where… well, let’s just say. You can’t hide as goalie, is all I’m saying. Ollie rocked it last night.”

I chuckle. “You seem to feel really strongly about it.”

She throws a hand up. “I don’t like that Ollie is being messed with, that’s all. I just need five minutes with the coach, and I’m pretty sure we could be seeing eye to eye on things.”

I choke back the emotion that hits me. His own mother doesn’t even care to call and check on him, and here this woman is, ready to go to war for him.

“All right there, killer. We don’t need to be planning a rebellion or anything. I told Ollie he just needs to keep working, and if he works hard enough, there’s no way he can’t play him. It will work out.”

She rolls her eyes. “I like my way better.”

I get up and move toward her, leaning against my desk. “I feel like your way may end up with someone in jail.”

She lifts her shoulders and shrugs like facing jail time would be worth it or something.

I lift my chin at her. “All right, so how’s your schedule for this week? Anything going on?”

I try to be nonchalant about it, but I’m sure it’s obvious that I’m trying to find out if she’s going on any more dates.

She leans back in her chair. “I have a meeting with the new office supply store in Jasper. I think we can get paper and toner cheaper than what we’re paying right now. I also plan to post some more ads for help. I know we can find better applicants than Ms. Jones.”

I cross my arms over my chest and try to appear relaxed. I normally try to refrain from asking anything personal, but besides being worried about her with Carrie married now, I’m also wondering if she has any more dates planned. “So how’s it going with Carrie? You doing okay at the house by yourself?”

“Carrie is loving her honeymoon. She and Philip are having a blast, and well, I haven’t really had time to notice Carrie being gone. She’s made it so that I stay busy while she’s away.”

“Oh yeah?” I ask as my stomach drops. I have a feeling I know what she’s about to say.

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, uh, I have another date tonight.”

I pop off the edge of my desk and walk around to sit down in my chair. I’m trying to act like I’m not bothered, but my jaw tightens. “I thought you weren’t going out with that guy again.”

Her face turns red. “Uh, yeah, this is a different guy. I really think that Carrie was worried about me, and she set me up with some dates while she was gone. Either that, or she thought I couldn’t get one on my own. But yeah, we’re going dancing at the Whistler tonight.”

Gritting my teeth, I ask her, “Someone you know?”

She nods. “Well, I met him at the wedding. He works with Philip.”

I’m on the verge of asking her not to go—that she needs to date me and no one else when my office door opens and Lucas looks in. He’s rolling his eyes as he looks at me. “Did she tell you about the interviewee?”

Lilian looks guilty and turns in her seat to answer Lucas. “Uh, yeah, I told him she wasn’t a good fit.”

Lucas laughs. “That’s it? Good, because we don’t need for his head to get even bigger.”

I look between the two of them. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Lucas chuckles and then does air quotes. “Ms. Jones thinks you’re Daddy Hot.” He shrugs his shoulders and gestures to me. “I guess some people are into the premature gray. I don’t see it, but whatever. No worries, Lilian took care of it. She ended the interview before I could say a word and escorted the woman out of the building.”