Page 15

extremely nervous. She is not aware that I know she’s looking

at me, since I have my head turned, but my peripheral vision is

pretty good. I know I should get started. I’ve already waited

way too long and she’s going to think that I don’t have a clue

about what I’m doing and stop being so nice soon.

I’ve had that happen before. Let’s just say that first

days on the job can be really, really rough.

I click my pen again, but for some reason, I just sit

there. I know my whole list of questions that I want to go over

by heart. They just won’t come. Instead, I study Stephanie.

She’s tall and athletic. I know that she’s thirty-three, but I’d

guess twenty-seven just from appearances. She’s wearing dark

skinny jeans and a plain black t-shirt, but has tossed a black

blazer overtop, almost as an afterthought, and it looks good on

her. She’s got flat canvas shoes on, which makes the outfit

sporty, not formal. She’s one of those women who will

probably be beautiful forever. She has dark brown hair that

borders on black, but isn’t quite there. The sunlight illuminates

the coppery red shot through the dark strands. She’s let it hang

loose about her shoulders. Her dark eyes snap with

intelligence. She has high cheekbones in a heart-shaped face, a

dainty jawline, and bow lips.

I can’t help myself, I guess. I’m a little bit in awe of

her.

And more than a little attracted.

I keep that to myself, of course. The only way I could

make this day worse is if Steph realized that I was hitting on

her. Which I would never do. It’s not professional. On any

level.

“I…sorry.” I shake my head and glance at Tildy, who is