Page 6 of Found Objects
“Oh dear God.” She pointed to where the gentlemen were standing in a group beside a limestone arch. People had to walk under it from the circular drive before you could cross the courtyard and enter the restaurant. “They wanted to speak to you as soon as you came in. I’m sure it’s about some kind of partnership.”
“You’re the manager,” I nearly whined. “Why do they need to speak to me?”
“Because you’re the owner, and the guy standing in the middle—do you see him?”
“I see all three of them.”
“Yes, but do you see that guy’s thick blond hair, the tan, and the shoulders? Did you clock all that?”
I did a slow pan to her.
“What? You don’t see him there with the big blue eyes and those gorgeous cheekbones?”
“May I remind you that I haven’t had coffee yet?”
“Do you know what you need more than coffee?”
“It’s too early for you to be gross,” I warned her.
“Laid.” She enunciated the word clearly for me. “You need to get laid.”
“People look at you and think, total earth mother, not someone with her mind in the gutter.”
“He’s pretty, you’re pretty, I think—”
“Why are you like this? Why can’t you be—”
“I already tested him. I had Sachi walk by the group, and both his friends were drooling,” Paris said. “Then Gaia walked by, with her hips and boobs—”
“You’re so crass.”
“—and the guy with the black hair actually fell off of his chair and spilled Sasha’s homemade lavender honey down the front of his shirt. That’s why his jacket’s zipped up now.”
“Oh, did we get a delivery today? I need to grab one for—”
“You’re not listening to me. The man could not be less interested in the women who work here, but I’ve been watching, and you, my friend, he has not taken his eyes off of.”
Even from where I stood, I heard the man take a breath before a smile curled his beautiful mouth and lit his face when I glanced over. No doubt about it, handsome man. The issue was, that fast, I could tell he wasn’t for me. There needed to be power to draw my interest, a strength that radiated from the inside out. He didn’t possess that. It was the trait that drew me to all people, what everyone who worked for me had going for them. Every single woman there had an inextinguishable torch inside, a tested life force. And while to be my friend, it wasn’t necessary, to work for me or sleep with me, it was vital.
“Oh, see? He’s smiling again. Very interested in you.”
“Because he knows they got fucked in the deal with Bill and they need a piece of my land, and even though it’s early for a Friday morning, Desmond already told them to go to hell.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Bill’s land is locked in; it doesn’t go to the road. You need—”
“No, Desmond sold.”
I turned to look at her. “Seriously?”
“Yep. He’s moving to Phoenix to live with his daughter.”
“No shit?”
“No shit,” she confirmed. “They’re good.”
“Huh.”
