Page 15 of The Rebel

He looked back at me and smiled again. “Waste of money, I know. But we decided that unless we come up with a very clever idea, we’ll just continue using it as a parking lot.”

“Sure. Whatever works for you.”

He led me to a black Lexus. Once we were in the car, I put my bag in the back. With my hands free, I started to fidget. I smoothed out nonexistent wrinkles from my dress again.

God, why am I so nervous?This was very unlike me. Then again, the whole thing was very unlike me.

Here in the confined space of his car, I could smell his cologne. It was manly and very sexy. I’d never been good at identifying any sort of perfume, so I had no idea what it was, but I truly liked it. It fit him.

“So, the job you’re looking for in marketing is at a senior level?” he asked during the drive.

“Yes. But it can take time to find one. I didn’t want to sit around and wait, and the recruiter said it can take longer this time of year.” And I was really hoping the beverage company I was originally planning to work for lifted their freeze and I’d be rehired.

“True. We usually don’t really hire in the last quarter.”

“Except assistants,” I said because I couldn’t help myself.

He glanced at me. “We go on an as-needed basis.”

Okay, Mr. LeBlanc was back. In my mind, Anthony was the guy who’d flirted with me and offered to bring me a better coffee. And my boss was Mr. LeBlanc.

“I’m not used to not doing anything,” I found myself saying. “I like being busy. I grew up on a farm.”

“Really. Where?” He actually appeared curious.

“North Dakota.”

“You’re very far from home, Daisy.”

I laughed. “Oh, you could say that. Growing up, it was my one ambition to leave town, but I never envisioned that I’d end up in the South either.”

“Why did you want to leave?”

“Ever been on a farm?” I answered him with a question.

“No.”

“Ever lived or been to a small town?”

“Also no.” He sounded amused.

“It’s all a bit claustrophobic and very repetitive. The work on a farm is relentless. Don’t get me wrong, I loved working side by side with my parents. It taught me a lot of valuable skills, but I knew early on that I didn’t want to join the family business. Mydad was a bit heartbroken when I told him farm life wasn’t for me.”

“Are you close to your parents?”

I shifted in my seat. This was an odd conversation to have with my boss, but then again, we’d passed odd before we even officially met.

“Yes, very. I talk to them a few times a week and go home whenever I have some spare time—which, I will admit, is not very often. They’re busy bees with no plans to retire. Then again, they had me very early, so they’re still quite young.”

“Where did you go to college?”

“You didn’t even glance at my résumé, did you?”

Oh, Daisy, you’re playing with fire.

He shook his head. “I never do. I trust Dorothy to pick the best candidate for me.”

Which would explain why he had so many assistants. Maybe no one would ever be right for Anthony. What did I get myself into?