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Her dick of an ex had promised to give her a good recommendation despite how they’d parted ways.
“Let’s see it.”
He handed her phone back, and she handed him her resume. He read it quickly, and then, to her complete and utter astonishment, nodded toward the chair opposite him.
“Have you had lunch yet? Let’s chat.”
Her knees almost gave way, and she gratefully sank down into the chair, feeling a bit light-headed.
Was this really happening?
Had this stupid, crazy idea actually worked? Or was Gabe Hudson merely humoring her?
She was about to find out if her one and only shot hit the mark.
“I have some news,” Alli told Sam when she returned to the office about an hour later. He had some news, too. “It’s big news. Good news.”
“That’s great. The best thing to do with good news is celebrate,” he said, glancing at his schedule for the day. “How about I take you out for dinner to celebrate your good news?”
“You don’t even know what it is yet.”
“I don’t need to know what it is to be able to see that you’re excited about it. Your eyes are sparkling, and your cheeks are pink. I want to hear all about this. Every tiny detail.”
He didn’t mention that she looked gorgeous, but then he thought she always looked amazing. Today she wore a burgundy pencil skirt with a silky white blouse edged in lace at the neckline, and her long hair was pulled back into some sort of updo. All he could think about was tugging at that hair clip and letting it tumble over her shoulders and back.
Must not think those thoughts in the office.
“But?” she prompted. “There’s a ‘but’ in that sentence.”
“There is,” he sighed, wishing the day was already over, so that they could be alone. “But not a bad one. I’ve found the secretary that took over for Leigh while she was having the baby in Boston. She says she’ll meet with us. Right now. In fact, we’re already running late.”
“Then we better get going,” Alli declared. “I’ll get my purse. My news can wait.”
“I really do want to hear it.”
“And I want to tell you, but I hate being late. Let’s get going. I can tell you in the car on the way.”
Ten minutes later, they were on the road, heading to Terri Young’s home. She lived in another small town not far from Winslow Heights, and from what Sam had learned about the woman, she had recently retired from teaching math at the local middle school.
“What’s your news? I’m all ears, and I can’t wait to hear it.”
Alli’s smile widened, and she took a deep breath before answering his question.
“I got a job. A journalism job.”
Of all the things he’d been prepared for, that wasn’t it.
“I’m…shocked. When did you apply? And where is the new job? When do you start? I guess I have a lot of questions. I thought I was supposed to be finding you a new job.”
Except he hadn’t really been working on that today. But he’d definitely planned on doing it. He had been thinking about how to make her transition to another department not seem like a demotion.
“I know you were, and I’m grateful that you took on that task. But the fact is, it wasn’t just your job to do. This is my future, and I need to take some ownership and responsibility for it. As for when did I apply? Today at lunch. I talked to Gabe Hudson at the television station. I showed him my audition videos and my resume. After we talked for a while, he hired me.”
“Gabe Hudson?” he echoed, still not absorbing all of the information she’d provided. “You went to Tate’s today?”
“Does everyone in this town know that he eats the chicken sandwich special there weekly?” she marveled. “I may never get used to gossip in a place this small.”
“He’s been doing it for years, although he may have changed his order at some point in the past. I’m not sure. Tate would know. But…he gave you a job? That’s amazing. I’m surprised you hadn’t applied there to begin with.”
