Page 134 of The Matchmaker

The door to his office is open, but I knock on it anyway, swinging inside to see Adam working on his laptop.

“Hey, boss.”

“Hi there.” He does a double glance, pausing when he sees the look on my face. “You seem chirpy.”

“I’m always chirpy.”

“You’re right. I guess the word I’m looking for is smug.”

“And I’m always smug. I just hide it well.” I close the door, ignoring the urge to put myself back on the other side. “Do you have a minute?”

“Sure.”

“Really? Because I can come back.”

He gives me a patient smile. “What do you need, Katie?”

I take a seat by his desk, immediately forgetting the entire speech I’d planned. And I mean all of it. Every word. Gone. And Adam lets me sit there and stare at him for approximately ten seconds before he realizes it. “What’s up?”

“I want a raise.” The words spill out of me, each one tripping over the other to the point where I’m not sure they’re actually decipherable, but Adam’s expression doesn’t change.

“A raise?”

“Yes,” I say. “I think I deserve a promotion.”

“A promotion or a raise?”

“…both.”

“Okay.” He settles back, lacing his hands across his stomach as he nods for me to continue.

“I know margins are tight,” I begin. “And I know with the new pub at the hotel, they’re going to be even tighter. But I think I’ve more than proven my loyalty to this place. I work hard. I never miss a shift except when I’m sick. My theme nights have gone down a treat, and I am always looking for ways to improve how we do business. I’ve also helped you with finances the last two years and, therefore, I know we have some wriggle room in the budget, and with everything I’ve done the last few months, I think I more than deserve to take the next step in my career and—”

“I agree.”

“—help you run this place on a more…” I trail off, blinking at him. “You do?”

“Yes.”

“With what?”

“All of it.”

“Oh. I mean, good,” I add hastily, trying not to sound too surprised. “Great.”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” he continues, while I just sit there, buzzing. “Before everything happened with Glenmill. But I was waiting to see if you wanted to spread your wings a bit first. The last thing I wanted to do was tie you down here.”

“Very considerate,” I agree. “So, what are you thinking? Because I’m thinking head bartender.”

“I was thinking business partner.”

“I know the title is a bit of leap, but I think it will…come again?”

“You got a hundred quid?”

“On me?”

He grins and I freak inwardly. Adam doesn’t grin. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him grin in my life, but he’s looking at me now like he’s got some big secret and is waiting for me to catch up.