Page 69 of Baxter's Right-Hand Man

I rolled my eyes. “Just when I start to like you…”

“You like me. You lust me, too.” Pierce planted a sloppy kiss on my mouth, snickering when I pushed him away.

“You’re okay,” I conceded. “I have to finish up here. I won’t be too much longer.”

“Let me help. Inventory is just counting stuff, right? I can count.”

I shot a dubious once-over his way. “Okay. You can check off candles by fragrances. Not brand, but fragrance. Someone ordered too many gardenia-scented candles and if another one somehow makes the shelf, I’m gonna lose it, so be careful.”

“In a twist, I know how to read too.” He kicked the chair next to his. “Park your cute ass, Lo. Tell me about this place.”

I parked my cute ass and told him about Bran and Jake and their baby, Andrew. And my favorite coworkers, Lizzy, Allison, and Connor.

“Lizzy’s worked here with me the longest. She got married a couple of years ago. I’m sure they’re planning a family soon. Allison and Connor are younger than us…still in their twenties. Everything with them is labeled by generation. Apparently, I’m very much a millennial and they’re very Gen Z. They’re also wannabe actors. They’ve done commercials and have had minor guest spots on popular shows. They would absolutely freak if they knew you were here.”

“Doing their job for them, no less,” he quipped.

I snickered. “The irony.”

“So…you like working here.”

“I do. This wasn’t my original career choice, but I love it now. These people are like family to me. I don’t talk to my own family much, so…I’m grateful to have this place.”

“Whatdidyou want to do?” he asked, reading the label on the candle box.

“I wanted to be on Broadway,” I admitted bashfully. “I took dance for years and I was in every school program through high school. I even got parts in a couple of regional shows. I was one of the dancers inFiddler on the RoofandAnnie Get Your Gun. I love the theater. Broadway was the ultimate goal, but it never panned out.”

“Why not?”

“My grandmother was frail, and I didn’t want to leave her.”

“Oh, that sucks.”

I frowned. “Okay, that’s not the whole truth. I was scared. New York is far away and expensive and I didn’t know anyone and…I lost my nerve. I kept putting it in my ‘someday’ box, but it never happened.”

“Do you regret not giving it a shot?” he asked thoughtfully.

Did I?

“Maybe at first, but…not anymore. I don’t like cold weather, and my jazz and ballet days are over. And how could I ever give up retail life?” I threw my arms open wide. “It’s so glamorous.”

Pierce smiled indulgently. “You seem to like it.”

“The hours suck and I’m on my feet all damn day, but I do like it. I’m happy playing with fabrics and talking to customers. I’ve been doing this in some form or other since I was sixteen, so I’ve had years of practice. I worked at Express, Gap, Banana Republic. They were meant to be temporary jobs, but I took on oodles of hours to save for New York. I ended up using it all to buy a house with my ex. And yes, Tony is the other reason I stayed. What an idiot, right?”

He shrugged. “I dunno. Real estate is usually a good investment.”

“I suppose. The relationship fizzled, but the house appreciated a bit. It’ll be nice to have some money in my savings account once-slash-if-it-ever-sells.”

“Be patient. It’ll happen. Why don’t you use it to start your own store? Or do you want that?”

“I do. I want to make my own mark, but it’s daunting and I’m happy here. I don’t have a sense of urgency right now. I can’t tell if I should be worried by my lack of ambition…or maybe it’s enough to be content?” I chuckled, slightly embarrassed that I’d overshared with a man who could never relate. “Don’t mind me. I’ll be dangerous when I finally figure out the meaning of life.”

Pierce went perfectly still. He pushed away from the candles, his brow knit, and his shoulders bowed with the weight of the world. “Let me know when you do.”

“Hey.” I leaned forward and set my hand on his. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m just—thinking about…”