Mick
This interview hurts my pride,but dammit, I’m going to get through this if it kills me. Charlie staring at me after I tell her I’m an ex-convict makes me want to crawl under a rock, but I won’t let myself. Instead, I puff out my chest and show that I’m willing to own my past and all the mistakes that come with it. Her evergreen eyes dance back and forth between mine, and it’s clear that something between us has shifted. It’s almost as if she’s a little bit scared of me, and I can’t say that I blame her, but I’ve paid for my sins, and I’m ready to start fresh—well, as fresh as I can with a permanent record.
“I see,” she says, rubbing her red lacquered fingertip against her eyebrow. Suddenly she doesn’t know where to look.
I just figured this would be a good place for me to stay out of trouble. A lot of the old crew is still working construction and renovation. I need to stay out of the line of fire and walk a clean path, even if no one believes that I’m capable of it.
“If it’s a problem, I understand.” I start to rise, realizing that this drop-dead, curvy stunner probably isn’t going to take a chance hiring a former thug like me. “Thank you for your time.”
“Mick, wait.” She reaches across the table and grabs my wrist; when she pulls her hand away, the spot where our skin touched still tingles. “I’m not writing you off; I’m just surprised.”
“That I’ve been in prison?”
“That you were so forthright about it.” She leans forward, giving me a clear shot of her full cleavage. What I wouldn’t do to a woman like her, so soft and sexy with the face of an angel. “You could’ve easily lied to me.” She brushes a stray strand of bright red hair away from her cheek. “I’m not counting you out.”
My chest swells. It’s been a long time since someone took a chance on me. Even my parents stopped visiting me in prison.
“I have to know what you were in for.” She shakes her head. “I don’t need all of the details, but what was the charge?”
“Assault,” I tell her, but I don’t tell her it was with a deadly weapon. I never meant to use it. I just wanted to scare the guy so that he’d stop what he was doing. But it’s too long of a story to get into at a job interview.
“Have you ever stolen anything from an employer?”
“No. I worked for my dad and his friends, mostly. He would’ve kicked my ass if I stole from him.” The thought of my estranged father breaks my heart, but what’s done is done, and I’ve tried my hardest to connect with him, but he won’t hear of it.
“Do you have any references I could reach out to?” An eyelash sits on Charlie’s freckled cheek.
“Hold still.” Before I can stop myself, I reach out and grip the tiny lash between my thumb and forefinger, then hold it up in front of her. “Make a wish,” I say. Charlie stares at me like I suddenly grew a second head. “It’s an eyelash; make a wish.”
“I know what it is, I just…” she trails off, shuffling in her seat. She leans forward and eyes the stray lash on the tip of my finger. “This has never happened to me while I was interviewing someone.” Her brow furrows. “Not that I’ve ever really interviewed someone.” She inhales and closes her eyes, then, with intention, blows the lash off of my finger.
We both lean in closer to see if she was successful. Her smile tells me that she was. “What did you wish for?” I ask.
“I believe that’s private.” She twists her lips and casts me a knowing glance. “If I tell you, it won’t come true.”
A strange desire to be a part of that wish washes over me. Yeah, I just met the woman, and God knows it’s been ages since I’ve been with one, but there’s something about Charlie that feels good. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t know me or hasn’t heard of me? I don’t care. This interview is going much better than I ever could’ve imagined—whether I get the job or not.
“Yes, to answer your question, I have references.” I stop her before she can ask. “No, they’re not in prison.”
“Good.” She looks relieved. “Once I get those cleared, I think I’d like you to come in for a trial run just to show you the ins and outs of the job. It’s really pretty easy, and I think I’m a decent person to work for, but again…I’ve never had an outside employee.”
“It’s always been just you?” Charlie’s shoulders visibly stiffen. Shit, things were going so well.
“Not always. I opened this shop with my husband.” My heart sinks. Charlie must notice because she immediately backpedals. “My ex-husband, and now it’s just me.”
“Sorry to hear that.” That’s a goddamn blatant lie. Just looking at this woman across from me, I have to wonder why the hell any man wouldn’t want to be with her, wouldn’t want to try and work out whatever shit may come up between them. I want to know what the hell happened, but I also don’t want to press my luck today.
“It’s okay,” she says, waving her hand through the air. “I’m strong. I’m resilient.” She leans forward and lowers her voice. “At least that’s my mantra right now.”
“It’s a good mantra.” A smile tickles the corners of my mouth.
“You can use it if you want.” Her smile sets the room on fire.
“Maybe I will.”
“It’s all yours,” she says and lets out the cutest little giggle. After another strange beat of silence hangs between us, Charlie clears her throat. “So, I’ll just get those references from you, and we’ll be in touch.” She rises and extends her hand, reminding me that this is still a job interview. I follow suit and take her soft hand in mine.
“Thank you, Miss Lowe.”
“Ew. Call me Charlie.” She scrunches that cute little nose of hers.
“Thanks, Charlie.”
Her cheeks flush a soft shade of pink. After I write down my references, I glance over my shoulder one more time before heading out the door, locking eyes with the curvy redhead one final time.
What is it about this woman that makes me want to throw her over my shoulder and claim her as mine? I’ve made it my mission to keep far away from any kind of trouble. Prison was the worst thing that could’ve happened to me, making me change nearly every single one of my ways. But I can feel it deep within me; I’d kick anyone’s ass that even looked twice at her. Charlie Lowe is going to be mine, and I’ll go back to prison before I let anyone else try and stop me.