owen
“There’s notmuch to it, but you’ll find everything you need in here.” The keys jingled in my hand as I flipped through them to find the one that unlocked the trailer. She was standing so close behind me, it felt like my entire body was a live wire, crackling and sparking.
Sliding the key into the lock, my gaze found her reflection in the glass pane and traced the plains of her face, the curve of her lips, and the length of her neck. She was beautiful, in a breathtaking way, but there was a weariness I couldn’t help but notice in her eyes.
“Here we go.” I pushed the door open and stepped in first. I would’ve held it for her, but there wasn’t enough room on the small stairwell leading to the trailer to allow her to pass without feeling every inch of her body rub against mine.
And I wasn’t sure I would be able to contain my physical reaction if that happened.
Walking further into the small trailer, I turned to watch as she took it all in. “If you think of anything you need to make your job easier, let me know. I’ll be happy to get you anything you need.”
She set her purse and lunch bag on the small desk that would be her head of operations.
“There’s a fridge here if you have anything you need to keep cold. The guys write their name on anything in there that’s theirs, but there’s some communal stuff too.” I walked over, patting the old icebox before opening it to check what drinks needed to be refreshed. “I try to keep it stocked with drinks and some snacks. If that’s something you could take on, that would be helpful.”
“Sure.” Her voice was quiet and uncertain. Even though she came highly recommended by Beau Butler, the county sheriff, I was beginning to wonder if maybe I should’ve gotten someone with the right experience. No matter how beautiful she was.
“So, what did you do before this? Beau never mentioned your job.”
“I ran a daycare.” She pulled out the chair behind the desk and slipped into it, looking over at me before smiling slightly. “Won’t be much of a transition going from looking after a bunch of toddlers to a bunch of men.”
I let out a guffaw and nodded. “Yeah, you’re not wrong.” Grabbing a water bottle, I shut the fridge and walked over to her, dropping into the seat across the desk. “I just need help getting this place a bit more organized. My uncle ran a great business, so my clientele is booming, but he wasn’t one to move into the twenty-first century unless he had to. So, we’re a bit outdated, still using paper systems for a lot of things, but even that isn’t well-organized.”
“Sounds right up my alley. I won’t let you down, Owen. Thank you for giving me this chance.”
I nodded. “Beau mentioned you’re starting over after a divorce. My mom was a single mom, so I’m happy to help.”
“Oh, I don’t have any kids.”
There was that drained expression on her face again. Had to go and put your foot in it, didn’t you, Williams?
“Sorry, I just assumed because of the daycare …”
“I know.” She smiled, looking away from me to play with her purse. “I always wanted kids, and my husband and I tried for a long time. The better part of eight years, actually. But it just wasn’t in the cards for us.” She looked up at me, forcing a smile that broke my heart. I never wanted to see her try and be happy for my comfort, not if she was hurting. “I hope that doesn’t change how you feel about hiring someone with no experience.”
“Not at all. I have no doubt I have the best candidate right here in front of me.”
“Without ever meeting any other candidates?” She laughed, shaking her head.
“Definitely.” I hoped my confidence didn’t come around to bite me in the ass. But Beau used to babysit me, and I respected the hell out of him, so if he said Carolina Moore was amazing, I trusted that.
“Alright.” I slapped my knee and stood up. “I am going to let you settle in and get comfortable. I’ve got to head out to a job for a bit. If you need me, you’ve got my cell number—right?”
“Yup.” She pulled out her phone and set it on the desk. “Anything in particular you want me to start with?”
“Nah,” I headed toward the door, “just get accustomed to what’s here, how it runs, and as you see systems that could use updating, go ahead and update them. I’ve left details for accounts and card details on the desktop if you need to buy anything. Purchases over a thousand dollars just need to be run by me. Your card should be in soon, though, so that will make it a bit easier for you too.”
“Great. Thanks again, Owen. This means a lot.” She smiled at me, and finally, I got a hint of fleeting happiness. She might be starting over, thinking that her dreams had gone up in smoke, but if there was any way I could make her transition into her new life easier, I wanted to do it.
“My pleasure, I mean it.” I pushed the door open, leaving her to settle in and breathe.