CHAPTER 6
Skylar
“What are we doin’, Momma?” Luna asked as she walked beside me up to the entrance of Southern Comfort.
“We’re gonna try and get a job. And I need you to be on your best behavior.”
On our way to the Piggly Wiggly to get some grocery staples, I’d seen the Help Wanted sign and pulled in. I needed a job. Badly. And one that I could get cash in hand and not have to wait two weeks for a paycheck was going to be the difference between us eating Ramen noodles and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the next two weeks or not.
“After we get a job can we ride the trolley?” Luna folded her hands as she pleaded. “Please?”
When we’d stopped at a diner on our road trip, I’d looked up the town we’d be settling in. Firefly Island was a small, tourist town in Georgia. It had several tourist attractions, including a trolley that went around the island. When we’d gone to visit Ashley in college in California the previous summer, we’d ridden on a trolley in San Francisco. It had been the highlight of Luna’s trip. So that was one of the things I’d used to help her get on board with our adventure.
“Yes, Lu Lu, we can.”
As we approached the large wooden door, I stilled for a moment before going inside. It had been so long since I’d applied for a job. I’d worked at Bradford Designs for nearly a decade and I loved my job. But being a designer was something that took years to establish, it wasn’t something that I could do remotely or replace immediately here in Firefly.
Besides the people I’d miss in Seattle, my job was next on the list. But after the break-in and threats, I hadn’t had a choice. I’d had to leave it and everything else behind for a fresh start.
My hand rested on my belly as nerves bubbled up in me.
“Does your tummy hurt, Momma?” Luna placed her hand over mine and looked up at me with the sweetest expression of concern.
“No, baby, it’s just butterflies,” I assured her before pushing the door open.
My eyes were still adjusting to the darkened surroundings when I heard a man’s voice.
“Sorry, ladies. We’re not open yet.”
“Oh, um, actually, I was just coming…” I motioned behind me as the door shut. When it did I was able to make out a man standing behind the bar. “I was driving by and I saw the Help Wanted sign in the window.”
“Oh right.” He set down his paperwork and lifted the flip hatch and walked through the opening. “Come on in. I’m Billy Comfort.”
As he walked toward me, I noticed that he had nice eyes and a welcoming smile. I immediately felt relaxed and less on edge, which I was sure made him great at his job. I’d been a cocktail waitress and then bartender for years when I was going to school and raising Ashley. I’d always considered the job part mixing drinks, part therapy. It was crazy what people would tell a stranger about their lives when they served them drinks.
“Hi.” I held out my hand. “I’m Skylar and this is my daughter Luna.”
“Nice to meet you, Skylar, Luna.” He shook my hand and then offered his hand to Luna.
It was a mixed bag with her whether or not she’d get shy. Sometimes she was outgoing and then other times she’d hide behind my legs. This was one of her brave times. She lifted her hand and shook his. “Nice to meet you.”
A little bit of pride swelled in me as I watched her interact with poise and confidence.
I’d been painfully shy as a child, partly because that was innately my personality, but part of it had to do with my upbringing. Being an Army brat, we moved so much, I was always the “new” kid. I wasn’t sure where or if I fit in. That all changed when my mom had Ashley, though. Being her big sister had given me an identity, a purpose.
So seeing Luna navigate the same issues and conquer them made me think I might be doing something right.
“So are you still looking for someone?” I crossed my fingers and toes hoping that he hadn’t. I was desperate.
“Yes, ma’am.” Billy nodded with an easy smile that went along with his general easy-going vibe. “You are the first to apply.”
“Oh, great! Can I get an application? Or I could email you my resume.”
I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye but before I was able to turn my head Luna tugged her arm, pulling her hand out of mine as she yelled, “Mr. Hank!”
When my head turned I saw Hank was standing in the doorway that led to what I assumed were the back offices. I sucked in a startled breath at his sudden appearance. At least that’s what I told myself had made me suck in a breath. It didn’t have anything to do with the fact that he looked sexier than any man had a right to look.
It had been less than twenty-four hours since I’d seen him last, and in that time, his well-trimmed beard had grown into a sexy scruff that had my breath coming in shallow pants.