Samantha was chatting with her best friend, Brandy, who was also her office manager at the PR firm. They both smiled at me as we approached.
"Hi, Samantha, Brandy," I acknowledged each of them. "I'd like you to meet my sister, Valerie."
"It's a pleasure," Samantha said amicably, shaking Valerie's hand.
"Likewise," my sister said, before exchanging the same greeting with
Brandy.
We made small talk for a while and when the time was right, I returned my attention back to Brandy. "I know this isn't the best place to do this but I know you're looking for a new assistant, and Valerie is experienced and
looking for a new job."
Brandy's eyebrows raised, perked up in interest.
"I just wanted the two of you to meet face to face before she sent in her résumé." I didn't explain that Valerie was currently unemployed, or that her ex, a junior advisor and the son of the CEO at the financial firm where she'd worked as a secretary, had gotten her fired in retribution for her not going back to him.
That was my sister's story to tell, if she chose to.
"Wonderful. It's always so much easier when someone comes recommended," Brandy said, genuinely enthusiastic as she withdrew a business card from her purse and handed it to Valerie.
"Send your résumé directly to me at that email address, and we'll go from there."
"Thank you," Valerie said, her eyes wide with surprise. "I appreciate that."
"Of course. We love having Stevie in the office. If you're as hardworking as she is, then we'd be lucky to have you on board."
Samantha glanced at something, or someone, over my shoulder and smirked as she nudged Brandy. "I think our men are getting restless." She looked back at me.
"They're waving us over, so excuse us for now."
"Of course." I looked in the direction where Dex and Max had been conversing with Caleb, but he was no longer with them.
"Wow. Brandy didn't have to do that," Valerie said, staring at the business card in awe. "I would have gone through the regular channels of applying for the job."
"Well, now you don't have to. At least not completely. You'll still have to get through an interview and prove yourself."
She bit her bottom lip, and I could see her insecurities surfacing. "And what about explaining getting fired from my previous job?"
I touched Valerie's arm reassuringly.
"Technically, you weren't fired. You were let go. And trust me when I say that these women are very understanding." I lowered my voice so only Valerie could hear me.
"Samantha had a crazy ex, so both she and Brandy are going to be more sympathetic to your situation than you realize. So be honest and tell them what happened with Mark and his petty revenge."
She nodded and exhaled a deep breath.
"You're right. And this is very exciting. I mean, Dare PR is one of the most highly respected firms in the city."
I loved seeing that enthusiasm in Valerie's eyes. That sense of purpose that had been missing for weeks now. "Yes, I know. And how fun would it be to work together at the same place?"
Valerie tucked the card into her purse and grinned. "Very."
A member of the waitstaff walked up to us, a silver tray in hand that he extended our way.
"Would either of you care for an oyster on the half shell with a simple mignonette?" he offered.
I tried not to gag at the gross-looking mollusk. I knew that this particular hors d'oeuvre was a high-end delicacy, of course, and Remy had spared no expense for this lavish affair for his wife, but I wasn't about to
indulge.
"No, thank you," I said as politely as I could manage.
Valerie shrugged. "Sure, I'll try one."
I watched as my sister brought the shell to her lips, tipped it up, and the grayish blob of meat slid into her mouth. She chewed a couple of times, then swallowed, giving a thoughtful "Hmm" as she returned the now empty shell to a discard dish on the tray.
I shuddered and grimaced through the whole process, and as soon as the
waiter walked away, I said, "Oh my God, that looked disgusting."
"It really wasn't that bad."
A low, masculine chuckle sounded from beside me. Startled, I glanced
to my left and found Caleb standing there.
My pulse ricochetted in shock,
and pleasure. "Sorry," he said, flashing one of those charming grins of his. "I came
over to say hello and couldn't help but overhear your amusing
conversation."
"There is nothing amusing about a raw oyster," I insisted, trying not to
let my little crush on this man show.
He pushed his hands into the front pockets of his slacks, which pulled his suit jacket a little tighter across his solid chest.
"You should have tried one. They're an aphrodisiac, you know."
I laughed and shook my head. "Nope. Something that slimy has no
business being an aphrodisiac."
"Fair enough." Mirth danced in his stunning blue eyes as they held mine, making my heart race a bit faster. "I suppose chocolate and pomegranates are more to your liking?"
"If seduction is the goal, then yes," I said, the words leaving my mouth before I could censor them. Not that I really cared when it was the truth.
He arched a dark brow, looking intrigued. "Duly noted." We stared at one another, as if nothing and no one else existed around
us. It was times like this, when the chemistry between us was so palpable,when the flirtations were rife with innuendos, that I wanted to throw caution to the wind and do something wild and reckless.
Like press myself against his hard body, or kiss him, just to see if that restraint of his crumbled and BDE took over.
My sister cleared her throat, shattering the moment between us, and Caleb glanced at her, a friendly smile easing across his lips. "Valerie, right?" he asked, acknowledging her when I'd forgotten she even existed.
Valerie smiled back. "Correct. It's nice to see you, Caleb. And I promise, my sister is far more adventurous than her discriminating attitude toward those oysters shows."