Page 38 of The Seashell of ’Ohana

“Well, Liam.” I clasped my hands together on my lap. “I like what I see. Kate and I will be discussing the candidates at the end of this week after we finish up the interviews. Then we’ll let you know.”

“Sounds great.” He extended his hand, warm and firm, across the table. His dimples deepened when he grinned. “Thank you for your time. And if I’m hired, without trying to sound arrogant, you won’t regret it.”

I rose and walked with him toward the door.

Stella rolled her swivel chair around to face him. She pretended to be busy, but I knew she had been eavesdropping. She offered him her best sunshine smile.

As I reached to open the door for Liam, Kate entered. Wind chimes tinkled. Liam called Kate’s name to catch her attention, introduced himself, and left. Another point to him for recognizing her.

“Liam has cute dimples.” Kate strolled toward the sofa.

“Right?” Stella’s fingers danced away on the keyboard.

Kate wore no makeup and had her hair tied back into a ponytail. Her attire of jeans and an old T-shirt meant all business.

“He’s organized.” I walked toward my sister. “He was prepared for the interview. He even knew your name and recognized you. Impressive.”

“Isn’t he?” Stella’s gray eyes turned dreamy. “I think you should hire him.”

I leaned on the back of the sofa and anchored my hands on the cool leather. “You’re clearly biased. You don’t get to say anything in this. You want me to hire him based on looks.”

“So not fair.” She rolled her eyes and let out a playful scoff. “I do everything around here.”

It was partly true. While Stella took care of the business end, Kate and I painted all day.

Stella added, “At least allow me to have some eye candy for all the work I put in. I might even stay overtime for free if he’s around.”

Kate glanced between Stella and me and walked to the refreshment table. “Setting aside his cute face, how was the interview?” She picked up a bottle of water and twisted open the cap.

“He doesn’t have much experience, but I think he would fit right in,” I said. “He’s pretty comfortable in a variety of styles and media, and he does photography.”

“Photography? Perfect.” Kate took a drink and strolled toward the back room. “The others I interviewed wanted to be paid by the hour.”

I followed behind her and said, “We can’t hire him just yet. We have other interviews.”

Kate held open the door and entered behind me. While she went to her workstation, I checked my phone. Ian had left a message.

Ian: Wanted to let you know I’m stopping by in the afternoon.

I placed my phone down and turned. Kate stood in front of me, her eyebrows arching.

“Yes?” I narrowed my eyes at her and tied the apron. “Did you get paint on me somehow? You know you’re good at that.”

Kate scowled, looking offended, then turned her lips downward like a pouting child. She slapped my shoulder lightly. “Anyway, who were you texting?”

“Wasn’t texting, and it’s none of your business.”

She glared as she walked backward to her stool. “If you don’t want to tell me who your secret admirer is, fine with me.” She sat and picked up a brush from the rolling tray. “But I know who he is,” she sang.

Although my sister and I were edging closer to thirty, we would probably never stop acting like the two kids we’d always been together. That included the good and the bad, and sometimes we bickered like teenagers. Though I loved working with her and seeing her every day, sometimes we needed space, especially when she got into my business.

I sat on the stool next to her and squeezed the yellow oil tube on the palette. “He? How do you know? Could easily be a she.”

Kate shrugged sheepishly and flicked her fan brush over the white clouds to blend the paint into the blue sky. “Because of the way you smiled.”

“It was just Ian.” I cleared my throat as heat rose up my neck. Ian would be here later, and Kate would find out he had messaged me.

Kate leaned sideways and bumped her shoulder to mine. “See, that wasn’t so hard. Love you, sis.” She gave me a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ll go pick up the kids after school. You stay here.”