See what he has to say
912 Words
See what he has to say
It’s clear this guy needs something. I can play hero for this damsel.
“Do you need help?” I call.
“I’m looking for someone,” he says, crossing the parking lot with a smile. He says my name. “Do you know her?”
“You’re looking for me,” I tell him.
“I’m Ethan Benedict,” he says and extends his hand. “I wanted to welcome you to B & B and to express how glad I am that you are on the team.”
I’m suddenly so glad that I didn’t run to my car screaming. That would have made a wonderful impression. And I have no idea why, but I want to impress him. Maybe it’s the dark eyes or the smoldering good looks, but the urge is strong.
“Thank you for the warm welcome.”
“Has your first week gone well?” he asks, the smile still bright.
A darting thought of Spencer flashes across my mind. I hope it doesn’t show on my face before I manage, “Castle Cove is gorgeous. And I’m sure once I learn my way around town, I’ll feel right at home.”
“I am glad to hear you like our city,” he gives me a pleased smile that makes my knees quiver. “We work very hard to make it so.”
“You’re doing a great job,” I assure him. And it’s true. The city’s landscape is some of the most beautiful I’ve seen in the country. The thick lush forest leading to a sloping mountain in the distance, a rocky coast on three sides. Ocean and cliffs and woods galore. It reminds me of the time my mother and I drove down the Pacific Coast Highway, LA to San Diego.
And if it wasn’t the breath-taking natural features, it’s the city’s architecture. A quaint Old Town with cobblestone. Cliffside and downtown with its gothic stone. Each neighborhood is like a captured moment of time.
“Castle Cove has a fascinating history,” he says, as if reading my mind. “We strive to preserve our past, while leaving ourselves open to the future—and whatever it may bring.”
Up close I realize he’s so much more than cute. Is it the hint of an accent? Hungarian maybe?
“I’d love to tell you more about it. Come by Labyrinth and have a drink with me tomorrow night.”
It isn’t a request. And he is my boss. After all, business associates drink together all the time. Yet, that gleam in his eye…
“Sure. I’ll come by tomorrow.”
He opens my car door for me and holds it until I climb inside.
When he shuts the door, he gives my roof a little tap, bids me goodnight, and crosses the parking lot with his hands in his pockets. I think the tune he whistles is “Dream a Little Dream of Me.”
I sit there for a long time after watching his red Tesla Roadster pull out of the parking lot onto Pine Creek road.
“Well, this is a complication,” I say to no one in particular. “My boss is hot.”
I turn the key and drive home.
Why is that first moment when I get home so glorious? I kick off my shoes, feel my heels soften into the plush carpet and sigh. I toss the bag onto the sofa and say hello to the cat, Sushi. He meows, batting the edge of his food dish. It’s mostly full, with a small quarter-sized part of the bowl showing at the bottom. Yet he’s crying like he’s going to perish of hunger at any moment. It’s hard to resist him though. With his soft gray fur, white-socked feet and big amber eyes—he knows I’m easy prey.
“All right, all right,” I say and add another half scoop to the bowl. He lets me pet him for a minute before batting my hand away. I’m surprised that I get away with that much, honestly.
Sushi has been on edge since we’ve arrived in Castle Cove. I’m sure it’s the new town, new apartment, and he’ll warm up to the place soon.
I call the pizza place listed on my fridge magnet, The Castle Cove Slice, and order a medium pizza with sausage and peppers. Stuffed crust. I do this while fishing the bottle opener out of the drawer and uncorking the chilled Moscato.
Okay, so no, while I have changed my zip code to escape my ex, I have not yet made adjustments to my diet or my drinking.
Baby steps.
Less than five minutes later, I’m in my pajamas, cold wine glass in hand, and only thirty minutes until my pizza arrives. My bag buzzes again.
I set my wine glass on a stone coaster long enough to sort through my junk and find the buzzing cell phone.
It’s Katie, my only friend in town – if I can call her that. We met at the new employee orientation, Monday. I’m in marketing, she’s in sales. But we were the only two people there, both new to town and therefore friends by circumstance as much as anything else.
I don’t know if she would be my natural choice for a friend. But there is something about being new and friendless that bonds people. And we’re both from big East Coast cities—Baltimore and Boston—finding ourselves in the much smaller and quainter Castle Cove.
My phone buzzes again, impatiently.
I look at my pjs and the wine and the paperback on the corner of my coffee table. Do I ignore the call and proceed with my night as planned? Or do I take Katie’s call, knowing she probably wants to hang out?
Choice 5
Answer Katie’s phone call
Call her back later
- Writer
