Page 6 of Sweet Dreams
“Wherever is most comfortable,” I said immediately, my gaze sweeping across the room quickly. “Am I the only one?”
Traum led the way down a short hallway, past two other doors before tucking into a large window-lit office at the end. “You are.”
He gestured to a soft-looking chair across the desk from him. I took it quickly, taking my phone out and setting it on the desk in front of me. “I can’t decide if I should be flattered or embarrassed.”
“Well, considering the size of Salus Glen, I’m just flattered someone wants to come hear me talk.”’ His eyes were so dark it was hard to tell where the brown iris changed into the black of his pupils. “Well,” his smile curled up, “Two someone’s I guess.” He rose from his chair once more, “But then, she has to listen to me.”
I turned, immediately seeing a tall blonde woman leaning against the door jam. Traum passed by once again, leaning over to press a kiss against the newcomer’s cheek. They moved with an enviable comfort with one another, the woman’s hand curling around Traum’s elbow as he swept a thick arm around her waist.
My cheeks ached a little as I forced myself to not grin at them. How could anyone hate love? Especially when there were couples like this out there in the world.
I stood, extending a hand. “Lulu Yale, Salus Glen Times.”
“Bailey Emerson, contracts, logistics and anything else that this guy can’t figure out.”
She shook my hand firmly, her long nails shimmering in the overhead light. Bailey was stunning with her high cheekbones and bold dark brows. She assessed me with a quick cursory look before nodding towards my seat. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“No, no interruption. You’re more than welcome to join us if you’d like. I was planning only a short informational article for our weekday publishing and then, if you’d like, I’d be happy to set up a regular meeting to discuss anything else you’d like conveyed to locals.”
Traum nodded, “Sounds reasonable.”
I twirled my pen, “I will admit that, in order to do any of that, I have to first understand what exactly you do here.”
Traum’s lips curl in a smile, “In Salus Glen or here in the External Trade Agency?”
“Both,” I grinned and then leaned over to push a button on my phone, “You don’t mind if I record this do you?”
Traum shifted but responded with a quick nod. “Sure.”
I tapped the record button on my voice memos before turning my attention back to Traum. “Why don’t you start with who you are? And then, we will dive into the External Trade Agency.”
“Well, that’s an easy place to start. My name is Traum Emerson and I’m the new head of external relations for the ETA. My job is to convince people to look to smaller cities, like Salus Glen as a new start. The small town dream isn’t dead, it’s just been delayed. And, with small towns able to offer safe housing, well-organized education systems and more than enough job opportunities, it makes sense that they be the next step in the population shift away from large cities.”
“And you want to bring new people to Salus?”
‘I want to bring the right people to Salus.”
I hummed, “Good answer.”
My eyes flickered up to him once again, “You didn’t answer the part about yourself.”
His fingers steepled, “There isn’t much to say. My life really started the day I met my partner, Bailey and Salus Glen seemed like not only the best place for us to settle, but also an amazing opportunity for others like us.”
“Like you?”
Traum’s stare was dark on mine, “Others who have not found a place where they can truly call home.”
I took a quick note, tapping my pen against my thigh. “Any family with you? Kids?”
“Not yet,” his smirk was directed over my head at Bailey, who I knew still stood behind me. “But, we both have high hopes for Salus Glen being our future.”
Ugh, cute. I hated them. Not really, they were adorable.
“What would you consider a success for the ETA?”
“That we provide a real future for those who are looking for somewhere to thrive, and in turn create a new wave of success across a town very deserving of it.”
I blinked, “That was a really good answer.”
