Harper had been right about the temp agency hiring quickly. I called Sharon first thing last Monday, and it only took her a few days to find me a job and do the paperwork.
I still hadn’t heard from Jack, and with another week passed since I kissed Cal, hadn’t heard from him either. But seeing as how we didn’t exchange any info, that was no surprise. I did go to the fire station a few days ago to touch base with Cal. I found out he’d been sent to go help with a big wildfire in Montana.
The team he was on was an intense one, and it meant I wouldn’t be seeing him any time soon. At least the majority of the summer, his co-worker said.
No note.
No goodbye.
Once again, I was kissed and left to figure out what it meant. Which, apparently, was nothing.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and cursed my brain for the spiral. I was trying to be stronger. Trying to be more confident. Yeah, trying and failing.
At least I had a job I could focus on.
I typed a few more numbers on my ten key and balanced my spreadsheet. Coming to a stopping point, I grabbed a dollar from my purse, then locked it away and wound around the endless lanes of cubicles to the break room.
I needed caffeine, and the vending machine was calling my name. People were already bustling toward the large conference room. Of course, it took two tries for the machine to accept my dollar.
“You coming?” Devin said, as he stood in the doorway of the break room, blocking my only way out.
“Yeah.”
He snickered and openly stared at my chest.
I swallowed back disgust. The man was gross at best. It took only a few minutes in his presence this morning to realize he was a walking sexual harassment suit waiting to happen. But he was also my floor manager. The guy I reported to. Gripping my soda can, I took a few small steps in his direction, hoping he’d take the hint and move.
When he didn’t. An icky taste rose in my throat and I glanced at my feet.
“We better get in there,” I said.
I felt his gaze linger on me for a minute, then he sighed. “Yeah, we better.”
He opened his stance to let me pass, and I hustled through quickly, hating that I had to brush against him as I went by.
I walked into the boardroom and people were already crowded in. The chairs that were set out were filled, and only a little standing room in the back was left. I stayed as close to the door and as far away from Devin and his overwhelming aftershave smell as I could get.
I was just about to ask Edith, the woman who sat on the other side of my cubicle, and the only other person I’d gotten a chance to know aside from Devin, what this meeting was about when my question was answered.
“Good afternoon, everyone.”
I’d recognize that deep raspy voice anywhere. My gaze snapped to the front of the room where Jack stood in a three piece black suit, looking every bit the sexy man I remembered from two weeks ago. So much so that it made my heart throb to a point I was certain everyone around me could hear it.
“What is he doing here?” I whispered to Edith. She was smoothing her hair and smiling like crazy. She was close to my age, and I realized what had made her so happy: Jack. His charm or hotness seemed to know no bounds.
“Edith?” I tried again. She reluctantly pulled her stare from Jack and frowned at me like I’d robbed her of a toy.
“What?”
“What is he doing here?” I asked again in a whisper.
Now, she looked shocked, then patted my shoulder. “Sweetie, that’s Jack Powell. He owns the resorts.” She glanced at him and sighed. “Hottest boss I’ve ever had. He almost never stops by.”
My mouth dropped. Owns the resorts? “As in…Reign Resorts? The company we work for? Jack owns it?” She nodded and looked at me like I’d lost my mind. Which I must have, because this was, “Unbelievable.”
“I wanted to stop by today to tell you all you’ve been doing a great job with the payroll for the Rocky Mountain Resort. As you may have noticed, extra staff has been hired to oversee the Pacific Resort as well.” His dark eyes glanced around the room until they landed on me. “Please help the new hires feel welcome, and keep up the good work.”