The Difference a Day Makes (Perfect, Indiana: Book Two) (20 page)

“That’s good. I want to hear the whole Ramsey & Weil story.” Noah nodded a greeting to Ryan. “We’re taking two cars today. I have errands this afternoon.”

“You coming with me or riding with Noah?”

Ryan aimed his baby blues her way, causing another internal flutter fest in her midsection. “I’m riding with my brother.” A momentary flash of disappointment crossed his face, and it tugged at her. “He wants me tell him what happened at Ramsey.”

He nodded. “See you there.”

She watched his very fine backside as he made his way to his truck.
Get a grip!
She blew out a frustrated breath and followed her brother. As soon as she was buckled in and they were on the road toward town, she began. “I started dating a coworker my first week on the job. That was my first mistake.” Retelling the story brought back all the mortification. She’d been so stupid to trust someone else to do what she should’ve done herself. Never again. Along with proving herself to her dad, she needed another chance to get it right for herself.

“A painful lesson.” Noah shook his head in sympathy. “Anthony Rutger is an ass, and I’m sure he’ll get what’s coming to him in the end.”

“Ryan offered to rearrange his face for me.” She smiled at the memory.

“Speaking of Ryan…” He glanced at her, then back at the road. “What’s going on between you two?”

“We’re getting to know each other.” She stiffened. “Why do you ask?”

“I’m concerned. He’s not in a place where he can handle any kind of hurt or disappointment.”

“Wait.” She frowned. “You’re concerned about him and not me? You think I’m less vulnerable?”

“You don’t have PTSD, and you haven’t recently considered committing suicide.” His jaw twitched. “That I know of, anyway.”

“The thought of harming myself has never entered my head.” She studied the dashboard, while the mix of guilt and anger dashed around inside her. “Ryan and I are friends. I enjoy his company, and I believe he enjoys mine.” Heat rose to her cheeks as she remembered the kisses she and Ryan had shared. Not something she wanted to tell her older brother.

“Friends?”

“That’s right.”

“For now.” Noah slid her another pointed look.

“It’s none of your business.” She crossed her arms in front of her and scowled. “Ryan and I are both adults.”

“I don’t want to see
either
of you get hurt, that’s all.”

“Thank you for your concern,” she snapped as they pulled into his parking space in the alley. Not wanting to wait for further comment, she hopped out and headed for the door the second he put his truck in park. Ted and Ryan were bent over the plans for the first piece of the new product line. She walked past them to the small kitchen area to pour herself a cup of coffee. None had been made. Frustrated, she opened the cabinets one after the other, looking for coffee. “We’re out of coffee,” she called.

“I know,” Noah replied behind her. “Here’s a couple of twenties. Would you mind going to IGA for a few cans?”

“No, I wouldn’t mind.” She took the money from his hand and breezed past him into the workspace. “Is there anything else you need besides coffee?”

“Yeah,” Ted answered. “Pick up a box of sugar and some creamer.”

“Will do.” Wow. In and back out the door in less than five minutes. A new avoidance record for her. Her brother’s words echoed inside her head with each step down the sidewalk. What right did he have to interfere, and why did he assume anyone would get hurt? Maybe, just maybe, something extraordinary would come of her friendship with Ryan, like…Like what? She had goals and dreams that would take her far from rural Indiana.

She stopped walking for a second. Would Ryan consider coming with her or pursuing a long-distance relationship?
Get. A. Grip.
She got her feet moving again. Just because Ryan wanted to see her naked didn’t mean he had any intention of starting something deeper. Did it?

The way he’d left it all up to her sent a surge of tenderness through her. He was so damn sweet it made her heart ache, and the thought of getting naked with him kicked her pulse rate into over-drive. Her brother’s words chased the naked Ryan images away. Didn’t Noah realize she was every bit as likely to be devastated?

By the time she reached IGA, perspiration dampened her face. The day promised to be still and humid with unseasonable heat. She glanced up at the hazy sky on her way inside the store. The coolness of the air-conditioned interior brought a welcome change. Only the middle of March, and it had to be in the high eighties already. She hadn’t brought clothing for this kind of weather. Another good reason to head home on Sunday.

Grabbing a small basket on the way, she went to the coffee aisle and grabbed an expensive bag of a brand-name dark roast
along with a can of the cheap stuff the guys usually kept on hand. She needed good coffee this morning, and since she’d been sent on this errand, she made the choice.

By the time she was on her way back, Paige had calmed down. Noah cared about Ryan. The two had been through so much together—how could he not be concerned? And her big brother had always been protective of her. She had to admit she’d been equally concerned about Noah’s relationship with Ceejay at first, and look how well that turned out. She had a smile on her face as she entered L&L’s workspace through the back door, only to find it empty.

“Where’d everybody go?” Maybe they were busy with something upstairs. She deposited the new supplies in the kitchen and started a pot of the dark roast. Her phone vibrated in her back pocket. She brought it out and read the text:
When you get back, come up to the conference room.
Puzzled, she walked to the freight elevator and headed up to the second floor. Paige entered the room, noting Ryan’s smile, Ted’s neutral expression, and her brother wearing his serious face.

“What’s up?”

“Have a seat. We want to discuss something with you.” Noah gestured to the chair next to him.

“Here’s your change.” She pulled the bills and coins from her pocket and placed it on the table in front of Noah before taking a seat.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell us you were unemployed.” Ted folded his arms in front of him.

His hurt and disappointed expression knotted her stomach. Her eyes narrowed. “Is this going to be a discussion about all of my shortcomings?” She started to rise. “Because I could really do without that right now.”

Ryan glared at Ted before turning to her. “Nope. Ted’s done with that. Right, kid?”

“Sorry.” Ted’s face turned sheepish. “I know you’ve been through a rough patch.”

“We have a proposal we’d like to make.” Noah’s gaze went around the table and settled on her. “We’ve discussed your ideas for expanding our brick-and-mortar presence in the market, and if you’re interested, we’d like to offer you a position.” He grinned. “We even came up with a title. You’d be the VP of marketing for Langford & Lovejoy.”

Shock sent a wave of adrenaline coursing through her, and all she could do was blink.

“It doesn’t pay much.” Noah shrugged. “Room and board and some spending money are about all we can manage until things take off on your end. We can also offer a twenty percent commission on any of the sample pieces you sell.”

“What do you think?” Ryan’s face lit up with pleased expectation.

Had he engineered the whole thing? Paige frowned. “I need to talk to my brother for a minute.” Ted and Ryan both remained seated with their eyes riveted on her. She raised her brow and stared back. “Alone.”

“Oh.” Ted nodded and rose. “Sure.”

Ryan’s eyes clouded, and his mouth tightened. He didn’t say a word as he followed Ted out the door. She waited until they’d left before turning to Noah.

“Listen, Paige. Before you say anything, just listen.” He covered one of her hands with his. “I know about your ambition to take over Langford Plumbing Supplies. I even understand what drives you toward that goal, but—”

“Whose idea was it to offer me this position?” If Ryan had come up with it, that worried her. No matter what was between them, she didn’t want to have more crumbs thrown her way, especially not by him. She needed his respect, and she needed to earn her way through her own abilities. Did no one understand?

“Mine. I think you’re brilliant. Ted and Ryan agree with me. Dad’s out of his mind not to snatch you up, and I’m happy to take advantage of his stupidity.”

She relaxed, and warmth flooded through her. She and Noah had always understood each other, and she knew he wouldn’t have made the offer if he didn’t really want to. “I have a counterproposal.”

He leaned back in his chair, eyeing her speculatively. “Let’s hear it.”

“I’ll take the job with the understanding that it’s temporary. I’ll put my heart and soul into growing the store. When and if I manage to find another job, I’ll help you hire someone well qualified to take my place. I’ll provide consulting on a continual basis free of charge.” She prayed he’d understand. “I have…goals I need to achieve for my own peace of mind.”

Noah covered her hands again. “I get it. I really do. Just so you know, I’m hoping you’ll love it here so much that you’ll want to stay. Keep an open mind.”

“I love you, Noah.” She grinned.

“Ditto, Paige.” He squeezed her hands and rose. “Let’s go tell the guys.”

“I’m going to have to head to Philly for my stuff. It gets hot here much earlier than it does in Pennsylvania. I need to see Mom. Which reminds me, I promised to call home today.”

“Let’s go tell the guys first, and then you can call Mom. If you need to take a few days off, that’s fine.” He opened the door for her. “Ted will have some paperwork for you to fill out.”

“I like my new title.” Happiness bubbled up. Even though the job was temporary, VP of anything sounded great on a résumé. Ideas about how to arrange the showroom streamed through her mind. Now she could contact the artists she’d talked to at the craft fair. “Do I have a budget?”

“Talk to Ted. I’m sure we can scrape something together.”

She couldn’t keep the smile off her face on the way back down to the first floor. “I bought expensive coffee.”

“Yeah?”

“As VP of marketing, I just gotta say the crap you guys get has got to go.”

Noah laughed as the elevator doors opened onto the workspace. He ushered her into the room and announced, “Meet our new vice president of marketing.”

Her eyes drew a bead straight to Ryan. Their gazes locked. Her heart stumbled, and a pang shot through her. He looked so damned pleased, and her brother’s warning hit home. If she weren’t careful, she could destroy him, and if she let him, he could break her heart as well. She couldn’t let that happen. The first opportunity she got, she had to explain her counteroffer.

This was only temporary.

Paige walked to the storefront and moved behind the counter. Perching on the stool, she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and hit her mom’s number. She was not looking forward to this conversation. Maybe her mom wouldn’t answer, and she could leave a message.
Coward.
Her mom picked up after the fourth ring.
Drat.

“Hi, Mom.” Guilt gnawed at the edges of her heart.

“Paige…”

“I know. I know. I should’ve called you back right away.” She bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry.”

“Called back? What I want to know is, why didn’t you come to us right away after you were let go from Ramsey & Weil? Your father and I have been worried sick.” She paused. “You told me you were out of town on business. Since when do you feel you have to lie to me?”

“I…I did do some business. Putting together print ads for L&L counts.”

“Paige…”

“All right. The truth is, I was too embarrassed.” Saying the words out loud, she realized how foolish she’d been.

“Don’t you think your father and I have had a few setbacks along the way? Everybody gets knocked around a little at the beginning of their careers. It’s to be expected. You pick yourself up, shake off the dust, and move on. Hiding things like this from us is beneath you.”

“I’ll bet Dad never got fired.”

Her mother sucked in a breath, but she didn’t comment. “We were worried. We didn’t know where you were or what had happened. Don’t do that again.”

“I won’t. I promise.” Her eyes misted. “I’m sorry I caused you to worry.”

“You’re forgiven. Are you coming home soon? You have no reason to hide anymore, and your father and I will help you through this rough spot.”

“No. I’m going to work for Noah and Ted until I find something else. I’ll have to make a trip home soon, though. How about next weekend? I’m running out of things to wear. Are you going to be free?”

“I’ll make sure I’m free. If you need anything—”

“I know. I’ll call you right away if I do. Thanks, Mom.” She eased the tight grip she had on the phone. “I love you.” She should’ve known better than to cause her parents needless worry. They didn’t deserve what she’d put them through.

“I love you too, sweetheart. Call me if anything changes. I’m here for you if you need to talk.”

“I will. I have to get back to work.” They said their goodbyes, and she heaved a sigh of relief and put her phone away. She should’ve made the call days ago.

The rest of the day flew by in a blur. Paige wrangled a small budget from Ted, and she called the vendors from the fair who could supply items to create a charming nursery setting for the showroom. The glass blower agreed to provide a few of his pieces on consignment to start, with the promise that once the Americana product line was up and running, they’d buy wholesale from him. While they talked, he made an appointment to visit the showroom with his family. If she made a sale, she’d get her first commission.

Ted and Ryan came in from hanging the new sign above the shop doors out front. Both were dripping sweat. “It’s nasty out there.” Ted grabbed a few paper towels from the staff kitchen and wiped his face before walking toward the shelves to put his tool belt away.

Ryan carried the ladder they’d used and propped it up against a wall. “You about ready to head home, Paige?”

“Sure. Let’s clean up and get going.” She shut down her computer, and they all took up their closing routine like a well-oiled machine. The day had grown darker and more ominous by the hour, and the atmosphere was thick with the promise of violent weather. Ryan placed his hand at the small of her back as they walked toward his truck.