Page 102 of Make-Believe Match

“You’ll get the job?”

“I think so.”

I lifted my mug to my lips with both hands. “And when would you start?”

“I’m not sure yet. But I won’t accept their offer without talking to you.”

“Okay.” I didn’t want to think about it.

“So what’s the plan for Thanksgiving? What does your family do?”

“In the past, we’ve always had dinner at the restaurant. This year, I’m not sure what we’ll do. I can’t believe it’s less than two weeks away—it kind of snuck up on me.”

“My dad called me yesterday and invited us and Gran and whatever members of your family who’d like to join us to his house. Austin and Xander are going to cook.”

“That’s so kind. I’ll talk to Gran.” Then I wrinkled my nose. “And Tabitha.”

“She won’t go visit her dad for Thanksgiving?”

“I doubt it. And even though she’s not my favorite person right now, I’d feel bad leaving her alone on Thanksgiving. Maybe including her will get her to stop acting so weird.”

“You still think she’s up to something?”

“Yes. She’s been too nice to me now for a month.”

Devlin laughed. “Maybe she realized you’re the boss. You can fire her.”

I giggled. “I wish. She’s supposed to be consulting with the spa manager on the aesthetics for the space, but I’m pretty sure we’re mostly paying her to scroll Instagram.”

“Maybe she’d rather have a job doing social media. Or PR. We need someone to handle those things eventually. Maybe that’s a better match for her skill set.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll talk to her.” I sighed. “There are days I wish Icouldfire her, but I can’t. She’s annoying, but she’s family. That will always mean something to me.”

He chuckled and kissed my temple. “I know.”

TWENTY

devlin

Exactly one weekafter my interview with Rian Richman, he called me and said the position was mine if I wanted it. Corner office with a view. Fat salary. Company car. Excellent benefits. Everything I could dream of. Everything I’d been working toward.

The only hitch was that I had to start on the first of the year.

“That’s gonna be tough, Rian. I’ll just be honest.” I got up from the desk in the administrative office I’d been using in the main lodge and shut the door, muffling the sound of the drills and saws in the lobby.

“I’ll tack on two more weeks’ paid vacation,” he said. “With the use of company vacation homes. We’ve got properties everywhere—Aspen, Maui, Venice, the French Riviera.”

“Sounds nice,” I said, immediately picturing Lexi and I lounging poolside on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. Strolling hand in hand along cobblestone streets. Relaxing in a gondola as it cruised down a narrow canal.

“Your wife will love it out here after all those Michigan winters,” said Rian.

“You’d be surprised,” I said. “She actually loves winter.”

But of course, it didn’t matter, because Lexi wouldn’t be moving to California with me. Nor would she be accompanying me on any luxury vacations.

“I need to speak with my wife, Rian. Can I have some time to talk this over with her?”

“Sure. A couple days?”