Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
And she was. She’d been shaking so hard last night, sitting next to Jinx, she’d nearly vibrated off the barstool and onto the floor. The surprisingly gentle giant acted as though he didn’t notice as he’d regaled her with ridiculous tales of his wild and misspent youth while she’d finished an entire beer beside him. Afterward, she’d fled to the kitchen, where she’d needed ten minutes to calm her racing heart, but she’d done it without a full-blown panic attack.
Progress.
The only kink in her otherwise smooth healing process was Ty. She hadn’t seen so much as a glimpse of the man in the four days since he’d stormed out of the clubhouse after the most awkward encounter known to man.
She’d hoped to run into him to let him off the hook. Staying away from his clubhouse because of her wasn’t necessary. So he saw her as a damaged child? What did it matter? She was damaged—hopefully, not beyond repair—and even though she’d argue until her vocal cords shriveled up that she wasn't a child, he did have twenty years on her. He saw her how he saw her, and even though it sucked, he had the right to his own opinion. She didn’t have the energy or desire to hold it against him.
“Good,” Brooke continued. “Anyway, on to my proposition. One of the ideas Harper brought to the table regarding this shelter was to have someone be the overall house coordinator. When we discuss the role, we jokingly call it the Shelter Mother. This person would be onsite to greet all clients as they arrive, manage clients’ daily schedules, meal plans, divvy up chores, and basically handle the day-to-day goings on.”
“Okay…” Where was Brooke going with this?
“Initially, this was going to be my role, but as our plans have come to life, I realize I won’t be able to fulfill it. Not with all my other duties, and not if I want to continue my work as a canine trainer, which I plan to do.”
“Are you looking for me to help you find someone?” She had no experience hiring or interviewing anyone.
Brooke chuckled. “No, definitely not. We’ve already found who we want.”
“Oh.” She scrunched her brow. “So, what do you need from me?”
Full-on laughing now, Brooke shook her head. “Girl, we need to work on your self-confidence. It’s you we want! You’re perfect for the job.”
“M-me?” She glanced over one shoulder and the other in case someone stood behind her. Someone else Brooke wanted to offer the job to.
“Yes, you, Kelsie.” Brooke reached across the counter and placed her hand over Kelsie’s. “You’re smart, compassionate, organized, and motivated. Better yet, you can empathize with the women we want to serve. Who better to be here running the place than someone who has been where our clients have been and who came out on the other side stronger?”
“I, um… wow.” She blinked, then laughed. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be a bumbling idiot. I’m literally shocked right now. I thought you would ask me to review resumes or something, not offer me an incredible job.”
Brooke beamed. “You’ll think about it? I don’t expect you to say yes this second or even this week. I’ll email you the salary and benefits package, but I promise they are generous. I know the value of working with good people and plan to compensate you accordingly. Obviously, there are a lot of details to iron out, but we have plenty of time to really flesh out the position.”
Her head spun, her hands began to sweat, and her heart danced an erratic jig in her chest, but for the first time in ages, they weren’t from fear but excited anticipation. “Brooke, I don’t even know what to say. I owe you guys so much. I’d do the job for nothing.”
“Nuh-uh.” Brooke stood and came around the island, gripping Kelsie’s shoulders. “Remember how I started this conversation? There is no obligation or pressure at all. You owe us nothing. We are all so glad we got you out of that hellhole when the guys rescued Brenna. This job offer is just good business sense on my part.”
Her eyes grew misty. “Well, then I absolutely acc—”
“No!” Brooke cut in, shaking her head rapidly. “Don’t answer yet. Read the contract and think it over, then you can tell me what I want to hear.”
“Okay, I’ll do that.” She could barely contain her excitement but managed not to jump up and down and scream like a loon.
“One more thing.” Brooke reached into her back pocket and pulled out a phone. “This is for you.”
What? “Brooke, no, I can’t—”
“It’s not new.”
Kelsie shook her head.
“I upgraded my phone last week, and you need one. Why wouldn’t I give it to you?”
“Uh, because I’m perfectly capable of getting my own phone like any other adult.” She’d had one but threw it across the room and destroyed it after Lorenzo called. The only reason she’d yet to get another was her anxiety over going into a store and possibly having a panic attack.