She giggled. “Guess my best friend’s at it again.”
I furrowed my brow. “I’m not following.”
She waved her hand in the air. “Not important. Is everything okay?”
I slid my hands into my pockets. “I just wanted to make sure you were all right from this afternoon. You know, after that guy approached you and all.”
“And you called the police even though I told you explicitly not to?”
“Would you have done the same if you were in my shoes?”
She smirked. “I’m pretty sure you can hold your own against a guy like that. So, give me the benefit of the doubt next time.”
I chuckled. “Noted.”
She licked her lips, and the motion pulled my eyes to that pouty lower lip of hers. Some days, I wondered what it might taste like against my own. Was it soft? Lightly chapped? Did she wear lip gloss or flavored Chapstick?
“Bart?” she asked.
I blinked. “Yes?”
“Did you hear me?”
I sighed. “I’m so sorry; it’s been a whirlwind of a day.”
“You and me both.”
“Right, right.”
She cocked her head. “There something on your mind; you want to talk about it?”
Want to come work with me so I can stare into your eyes all day? “Just checking up on you. Making sure you’re okay and don’t need anything. I’m on my way out to run some errands—groceries and stuff like that. You guys need anything?”
“Actually, if you’re running out, we could use some more tea packets. I made up the last batch of sweet tea, and I haven’t gone out to get more tea packs yet.”
I nodded. “What brand do you use?”
“Usually, Lipton. But, if Nestea is all they’ve got on the shelves, I know how to doctor it up.”
I grinned. “A Lipton lady. I like it.”
“Is there any other kind to make?”
I kept coming back to her eyes. The smile behind them and the way they made me feel as if I were walking on air. Every time Luna looked at me, my knees trembled. Every time her body heat washed over me, it made my heart stop in my chest. She was a gorgeous woman, but more than that, she was kind and caring. She had a big heart and a lot of love to give, and she was devoted to her family.
I admired that greatly about her.
In any other world, she would’ve already been mine. But, her father was a petrifying man. I’d heard the stories from my friends around me growing up of all the intimidation tactics he used to keep boys away from Luna when we were all in school. And the horror stories were enough for any young man to keep his hands in check and his dick in his pants. And I wasn’t even on the receiving end of his shit.
“Bart!”
I jumped. “Sorry, sorry.”
Luna sighed. “Just spit it out. There’s obviously something you want to talk about, and honestly, I could use a bit of a distraction.”
I leaned against the porch railing. “Why’s that? Is something the matter?”
She giggled. “One issue at a time, yeah? What are you thinking about?”
Might as well at least ask. The worst she can say is no.
I drew in a deep breath. “Well, my job is pretty much getting to the point where I need some help.”
“Are your brothers not helping?”
“I mean, they’re pretty occupied with their families. And I’m happy for them, but it dumps a lot of work on me. I was on the internet before I came over here, scouring resumes for someone who might make a good assistant.”
“But you didn’t find anyone yet?”
I shrugged. “I need someone with managerial experience and flexible hours. Someone I can call at the drop of a hat to meet me somewhere, even if it’s at nine at night.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Wow. That’s a pretty hefty demand.”
I nodded. “It comes with a hefty paycheck for a reason.”
“Benefits of any kind?”
“The standard. Health insurance provided by the company. 401(k), if they were interested in something like that.”
“What about vacation days?”
I folded my arms across my chest. “Usually, we start with twenty workdays of paid vacation and seven workdays of half-pay medical leave for any reason, but I’d be willing to negotiate that for the right person. I just have to find them.”
Luna nodded her head slowly. “Is the position permanent? Or temporary?”
I raked my hand through my hair. “Honestly? I don’t know. Temporary, for now, I think. But, once the refinery gets up and working and I move back to help run it, I’d probably hire my assistant on full-time. I don’t want to take Bryce and Will away from their families, but I need someone I’d be able to rely on during the workdays.”
“I see, I see.”
I searched her face. “What are you thinking?”
Then, she smiled at me. “I think I might want to put in an application under the assumption that the job can’t be permanent for me. It’ll only be a temporary thing.”
My eyes locked with hers. “Why’s that?”
She shrugged. “I don’t think my dream is to be someone’s assistant for the rest of my life. But, it does sound like a fantastic opportunity, and Dad’s been bugging me to get out of his house and leave him alone for a while.”
“Have you moved back into your apartment yet?”
She sighed. “I’m about to. Dad’s doing well with his physical therapy and doesn’t need me for much, other than food and cleaning. I can come by once a week and knock out all of that stuff, do some freezer meals. Things of that nature.”
“If I offer you the position, will you tell me the other reason why it’s only temporary for you?”
She gasped playfully. “Why, Bart? You mean to tell me I don’t already have the job?”
I chuckled. “Cute. But, I know you’re not telling me everything there is.”
“And as someone in need of someone else, you’re not really in a position to make a demand like that.”
Touché. “All right. Here’s my offer: a full-time position, six hours a day. Four of them will be with me, two of them will simply be you on-call should anything arise. Monday through Saturday, Sundays off. No evening work unless it’s an emergency, and even then, any overtime you accrue is time and a half.”
She chewed on her lower lip. “I like it so far, go on.”
I smiled. “Twenty paid days of vacation you can cash in, seven half-pay days for a medical leave of any sort—and I can extend that to medical leave regarding your father at my behest—and the best medical coverage our company can offer.”
“Do I get a 401(k) option?”
“If you want it, yes. The company offers matching deposits into a 401(k) up to six percent of the employee’s paycheck, every paycheck.”
“Will I have an office?”
I paused. “I can scrounge one up if you want. But, right now? I don’t even have an office other than the balcony of the hotel room I’m staying in. However, I could probably set you up something at the ranch, if you don’t like working from home or on your porch or anything like that.”