She smiled shyly. “I’m sorry about that. It wasn’t an appropriate thing to say.”
I shrugged. “It’s fine. Believe it or not, I’ve been accused of being inappropriate a time or two myself.”
She laughed as she stood. “Gee, I never would have guessed that from the man who sniffed me during my interview.” Evie held out her hand. “Thank you for your time. And your honesty.”
I nodded and shook.
“One more thing. I hope you don’t mind if I push my luck by making a suggestion.”
I arched a brow. “I can’t wait to hear it…”
She smiled. “If you have to hire someone, why not hire the best person you can? Your employees deserve it, and you never know, the outcome might surprise you.”
• • •
That night, my head of HR, Joan Davis, waved as she passed my office. It looked like she was on her way out for the night. I opened my door and called after her. “Hey, Joan?”
She stopped and turned back. “Yes?”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Why did we pick Dr. Vaughn to interview?”
Her forehead creased. “You emailed and asked me to have her come in.”
“No, I don’t mean for round two. I mean the first time. The other candidates all had more experience, so I was curious as to what made you pick her for the initial interview.”
The line between her brows deepened. “I was referring to the initial interview. You instructed me to include her when we started the hiring process.”
“I instructed you? I’d never met her before the other day when she came in.”
“But you told me your grandmother might refer someone for the position, and when her resumé came in, to include her in the first interview round.”
“I didn’t think that resumé ever came in. The woman my grandmother knows is...” I closed my eyes. “Shit. Evie is short for Everly, isn’t it?”
Joan nodded. “I assumed you knew all this. She wrote that she was referred by Kitty Harrington in her cover letter, which was included with the resumé I gave you.”
I hadn’t bothered to read the cover letters. They were usually bullshit, just a place to drop annoying buzzwords. “I must’ve missed that.”
“Oh. Well, I apologize. I should have pointed it out before you started the interviews.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine. My fault. Have a good night, Joan.”
• • •
Later that evening, I decided to give my grandmother a call. It was almost nine by the time I got home, but she was a night owl. Besides, I was overdue, which I was certain she’d remind me of. So I poured two fingers of whiskey and picked up my cell.
“Well, well, well…” she said when she answered. “I was beginning to think I was going to have to get on a plane and open a can of whoop ass on you.”
I smiled. That didn’t take long. “Sorry, Grams. It’s been too long. Work’s been really busy.”
“Ah, that’s horseshit and you know it.”
I chuckled. “How are you?”
“Probably about the same as you, only better.”