Roses

Chapter 11

Zoey

"So let me get this straight, he's paying you more than twice what you made at my father's pharmacy just for giving company to his father?" Jack asks incredulously.

"Yup," I pop the 'p' as I balance my phone between my head and shoulder as I clean my kitchen sink. "And I also get free meals, free rides to and from his house and a bunch of other perks you're daddy never gave me." Jack's father, the proud owner of the pharmacy I worked at back in New York, was many things but a good employer was not one of them.

"Girl, you better make this Adam guy your daddy." I laugh with Jack, feeling my cheeks heat up, as I finish up in my kitchen.

It's been two days since Adam visited me in the park. He took my number and blew up my phone with the impressive details of his offer. He probably didn't know the decision had already been made for me or he wouldn't have offered so much money. But when he did, I wasn't going to say anything, duh?!

I texted him last night that I was on board and he said that Sam would pick me up this morning at eight thirty. It's eight twenty five right now. I'm ready, I've had breakfast and my kitchen is clean. I walk up to my living room and plop down on the couch.

"You sound different, Zoey," Jack says suddenly, his own voice different. More serious.

"Different?"

"Happy. Or at least hopeful."

"It's just all the change." I try to keep the smile away from my voice. Nothing good ever came to me from believing I could be happy.

"Hmm," he doesn't sound convinced but I don't discuss it. I wrap up my phone call with him and go outside to wait for Sam.

He arrives soon and I climb in beside him. If this is going to be an everyday thing, I am not going to be sitting in the backseat like he is my chauffeur.

"Good morning, Miss Kirby," Sam chirps.

"Good morning. And call me Zoey, please." He smiles at me and I notice the similarities between his face and that of his father's. "How long have you guys worked for Mr. Thorns?"

"Four years. Since we moved to Roses." There's a glint in his eyes, as if he's referring to something dark. It piques my curiosity but I don't want to pry on my first day. So I simply nod and stay silent.

We reach their house ten minutes later and Adam is already waiting for me at the bottom of the steps leading upto his house. He looks at me and then at Sam beside me and something flashes across his face but he quickly shakes it away. He holds my door open for me and even offers me a hand.

It takes me a moment to gather my bearings and get out of the car. Some job this is.

And I can't even pretend not to feel a sensory overload the two seconds that my hand is in his. Note to self: I like a firm grip by a calloused hand. Or maybe I only like it because said hand belongs to Adam Thorns.

"Good morning," he says, releasing my hand.

"Good morning."

We walk inside quietly and he offers to take my jacket. I remove it and give it to him and I swear I notice him check me out from head to toe. I may have sub-consciously decided to wear one of my nicer looking, tight fitting pair of jeans and blouse for my first day. But I know I wouldn't have done it had it been a different job.

At this point I have stopped denying the pull I feel towards the man towering over me a feet away. He hangs the jacket on a hook with sure fingers without breaking eye contact.

The control he exudes in every little, insignificant thing he does really doesn't help with the pull at all. On the contrary, it enraptures me.