“You’re upset.”
“Have you ever been stood up?” She burst out laughing. “Of course you haven’t. You’re like … this cool guy. There’s no way anyone would dare to stand you up. What was I even thinking in suggesting it?”
“You’re upset.”
“This isn’t the first time I’ve been stood up, and I doubt it will be the last time.” She groaned. That did make her sound pitiful. “I’m trying to find a job, okay? I lost mine at the library.”
“Why?”
“Funding cuts. People are more into ebooks than they are actual books. I don’t know. The town cut the funding.” She shrugged. “So I’m looking for a job. Beatrice knows and so she got Carl to make the pancakes for me. I’m not mourning that guy from last night. In fact, I no longer have an account with any dating app. I’m giving up on all of that.” She wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole.
She didn’t have many conversations with this man, but talking about her lack of success in life and in dating wasn’t a topic she wanted to share with him.
“You’re looking for a job?” He grabbed the newspaper right from under her hand and scanned through the list.
“Hey, that’s rude. I’m trying to do something here, Bull. Can’t you just leave me alone?” she asked.
“I’ve got a job for you.” He put the paper down.
“Really? It’s not in the paper.”
“I don’t advertise like that. It’s at the shop. Hours can be long. I’d want you in the shop from seven, and most nights I don’t leave ’til six.”
She frowned. “Are you offering me a job?”
“Yep. It’s yours if you want it.”
This was crazy. He took another bite of her pancake.
“Wait a second, what job? Where?”
“At my mechanic shop.”
“Chaos and Carnage Mechanics?”
He smiled. “Pretty cool, huh?”
She rolled her eyes, and she hated that his smile made him seem more … human.
“What? You putting your club name onto everything you own?”
“It’s a stamp you want, baby,” he said.
“Don’t call me baby.” She licked her dry lips. “I can’t take it.”
“Why not? You too good for a job?”
“What? Hell no. It has nothing to do with that.” She sighed and leaned forward. “I don’t even own a car. I have no experience with mechanics. I wouldn’t have a single clue what I was doing.”
This time, he threw his head back and laughed.
Were the pancakes designed to be eaten, or to launch in a guy’s face for laughing at you? It was a shame she’d already eaten the whipped cream that came with them. The sauces would make a mess all over his face, and his leather jacket.
She’d probably be killed before she had even finished.
“Sweetheart, I’m not offering you a position as a mechanic. You’ll man the desk, or lady it. I don’t care what the correct term is. You’ll take the calls, run the invoices, chase up deliveries, the usual kind of shit. I need someone at my front desk. Grant’s doing a shit job of it, and I’ve got no one else.”
“I won’t need to know anything about cars?”
“Just the stuff I tell you. The job is yours if you want it.”
She was so tempted. “I … I still think I’m not qualified enough for this position. Can I perhaps, do a temp thing?”
“Temporary?”
“Like maybe take a week’s experience with it. You can see if I’m what you’re looking for, and then I can know if I can handle this job. I don’t want to do anything that would ruin your reputation. I may not own a car, but your shop is highly regarded. I’d hate to ruin it.”
“Babe, with all due respect, my reputation is because I’m damn good with cars. You wouldn’t ruin it.” He slammed his hand on the counter. “Be there in thirty minutes. Your temp can start now.”
“Today?”
“Yes, today. Stop whimpering in your pancakes. I’ll see your ass down at the shop.”
“Wait, what do I wear?”
“Whatever you want. I don’t give out uniforms.” His gaze traveled over her chest. At the library they had requested a certain uniform, mainly a pencil skirt, white blouse, and a jacket. “You’ll do.” He walked away, going to his men.
She watched as he leaned down toward one guy and whispered something in his ear.
Beatrice came over to her table. “You okay, sweetheart?”
“I think I might have just been given a job,” she said with a smile.
“Now that is damn good news,” Beatrice said. “See, good luck comes to everyone who seeks it.”
She was so happy, it was strange.
Bull kind of terrified her, but he had now offered her a job. He couldn’t be a bad guy, could he?
She thought about Grant. That guy had been … horrible. She’d hated him in high school. Would she have to see him every single day? Just the thought of it made her shudder.