Page 4 of Colton On Guard
Once Lakin had also left her house, Genna locked the door behind her and then sank down onto her couch. This shouldn’t be so difficult. She’d loved working at RTA back in the day and imagined she would still. She’d worked with Lakin and knew how things ran, so there wouldn’t be a long learning curve. Not to mention the salary. Considering that she’d been out of the work force for a number of years and had a huge gap in her résumé as a result, she felt positive she couldn’t make that amount elsewhere. And she definitely needed to find a job.
Those were the pros. And there was only one con. Parker.
It has been a year, she told herself. The man probably didn’t even remember much about that night and, if he did, he obviously wasn’t embarrassed about the way he’d ghosted her.Maybe she was making too big a deal out of nothing, getting worked up too much inside her own head.
Still, while she understood they were probably used to getting their own way, the fact that the Colton family had descended upon her en masse spoke to their own desperation. While she’d found them all showing up on her doorstep unbelievably pushy, she got where they were coming from. When you truly cared about something, you went all out.
The fact that she couldn’t make a simple decision really bothered her. She needed to go ahead and accept the job offer. After all, since she’d be living in Shelby, she couldn’t avoid Parker forever.
Instead of waiting until morning, she decided to drive over to RTA and let Parker know in person. His reaction to her would go a long way in helping her decide if they could manage to work together.
She grabbed her car keys and headed off before she could talk herself out of it.
As she approached the RTA building, a sprawling log cabin just outside the center of town, her heart rate accelerated.
Pulling into the drive, she parked. She took a moment while sitting in her car to eye the place. The large cabin with the metal roof looked welcoming, especially the numerous porch areas with railings. Someone had placed potted flowers around the spaces and this gave off a cheery, summery vibe.
As the number-one tour company in town, RTA was extremely popular. Their customers came from all walks of life. Tours included rafting and camping along mountain rivers, hiking the glaciers, helicopter skiing, seaplane trips to out-of-the way fishing spots, and other sorts of outdoor adventures. Right now, in peak tourist season, they were open seven days a week.
Like all the other tour companies, RTA tended to close down during the heaviest snow, December through February, thoughthey had added a few snowmobile adventures to their already large catalog.
Each of RTA’s ten or so employees was extensively trained in their own area and knowledgeable about whatever activity they were assigned. Prices were high, but reasonable, and they were usually booked out six to nine months in advance.
If she took the job, Genna would be in charge of coordinating all this. It sounded incredibly complicated and fast-paced, but since the guides—including Parker—spent most of their time out of the office on adventures with clients, she’d have a lot of alone time.
This knowledge reinforced her decision to accept the job. She remembered the reservation software, the way they used GPS to keep tabs on their guides and their guests. She had the organizational skills to manage all of it.
Now to face Parker and let him know she’d be coming to work on Monday.
Pushing the door open, a little bell on top announcing her arrival, she looked around at the apparently empty office. A man popped up from behind the counter. “Sorry, I was trying to fix the…” His words trailed off as he took in her presence.
To her dismay, Parker Colton looked even better than she remembered. If anything, his dark brown hair seemed shaggier, his blue eyes sexier, and his unshaven face gave him a rugged, bad-boy appearance. At six-two, he towered over her and his muscular body made the room seem smaller somehow. If she’d never seen him before, she suspected her knees would have gone weak. Even being prepared, the first sight of him felt like a punch in the stomach and she struggled to catch her breath.
“Genna,” he said, his gaze searching her face. “It’s good to see you.”
“Is it?” Remembering she’d be working with him, she had to rein in her snark. “Uh, anyway. I just stopped by to tell you that I’ve decided to accept your job offer.”
“You do?” Confusion flitted across his handsome features. “What changed your mind?”
“Spence, Lakin, Abby and Sasha. They all came to visit.”
“And convinced you to work here?” He crossed his arms. “How?”
“The salary. It’s too good to pass up. Even if I have to—”
“Work with me?” he finished for her. “It’s okay, I get it.”
Deciding it would be safer and more professional not to go down that road, she nodded. “I can start this coming Monday.”
To her surprise, he groaned. “Monday? That’s an entire week away. Is there any chance you could start right now?”
“Today?” Not sure how to react, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She hadn’t dressed for work, though from what she remembered, RTA issued all employees several green work shirts emblazoned with the company logo.
“Yes. Today. You’re already here, so why not?” He swallowed hard. “Please.”
Was that a trace of panic she detected in his tone? She glanced at her watch, as if she actually had some place else she was supposed to be. “Fine,” she finally said. “You might as well tell me up front. How bad is it?”
He smiled, his amazing blue eyes crinkling in the corners. Everything inside her went still for a few heartbeats before she remembered to breathe. Did this man have any idea of his effect on her? Somehow, she doubted it, because if he did, no doubt he’d use that to his advantage.