“OK,” Rob said sitting down again. “It’s down to these two. What do you think?”
Julie looked at the CV’s again, thinking. “Well, it’s kind of weird. I mean, Grant is the much better candidate on paper, I know: unlike the others, he has actual experience.”
Rob nodded. The other candidates were right out of college, and although they had glittering academic records and smart ideas and had talked about social media until they were blue in the face, they just hadn’t worked in the hospitality sector. Grant and Vicky had.
“Grant also has amazing contacts all around Colorado,” Julie continued. “He’s worked with some big companies in Denver and Colorado Springs, and I’m sure he’d bring us more corporate clients. So, that’s all a big plus for him.”
“But?”
Julie sighed. “But. Vicky really appeals to me.”
“Even though she’s been unemployed for six years and has no local contacts?”
“Yeah.”
“OK. How come?”
Julie took a sip of her tea and considered. “I’m not sure you’ll like my reasons.”
Rob grinned. If there was one thing he’d come to know about Julie Everett over the past year, it was that her instincts about people were rarely wrong. “I may, I may not. Hit me with it, boss.”
“OK.” Julie looked down at the CV. “She’s smart as hell, clearly, and Alina Katz couldn’t recommend her highly enough. That research she did shows me that she hasn’t lost her knack for the personal touch in business – and that’s what we need. Hotels and restaurants are about people and making them happy, in the end, and I think that Vicky gets that in a way that Grant doesn’t.”
“But those sound like very logical reasons – why’d you think that I wouldn’t like your reasons?
“Because those are not my real reasons for preferring Vicky.”
“OK.”
“The truth is that she’s almost forty, right? And she’s newly-divorced and looking to start her life all over again, on her terms this time. That takes a whole lot of guts and determination… and a bit of luck. I want to give her that luck.”
“I get that, Julie.”
“You do?”
He shrugged. “Sure. I mean, that was you a year ago, wasn’t it? Starting all over again at Open Skies. Leaving your whole life in New York behind and fighting like hell to build up a new one.”
“Yeah. It was. You think I’m making this too personal?”
“Well, if you are, so am I. You’re forgetting about Tammy.”
“Tammy?” Julie was puzzled. Her best friend had moved to Denver seven months earlier, and now worked as a freelance clothing designer in the city. She had spent a little over a month at Open Skies after she had been attacked and badly beaten in New York. Tammy and Rob didn’t live together – yet – but they were together in every other sense of the word. They were happy and making it work, and Tammy just glowed with happiness and love every time Julie saw her.
“Yeah. Tammy. Open Skies gave her a second chance, right? It was a place for her to heal and recover and get strong and figure out what she really wanted. The whole reason she’s living in my sister’s rental apartment and designing clothing is because she came here, right? This place brought her new chances and opportunities.”
“And new people,” Julie teased him.
He blushed a bit. “Yeah.”
“Well, OK. That’s all true.”
“So, this place changed your life and it changed Tammy’s. I don’t know why, but I think Open Skies can do the same for Vicky Thompson – I think it can be her new beginning. I even really want it to be.” He thought for a second. “I don’t know, Julie. Something about Vicky just really – speaks to me. I feel like this woman needs a break, badly. She needs something to give her a bit of faith.”
“So, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I agree with you, Julie. She’s my preferred candidate, too.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Rob pushed Grant’s CV to the side and tapped his index finger on Vicky’s. “Let’s give Ms. Thompson a break, a bit of faith, a new life. Here. With us.”
**
Dear Reader,
‘Open Eyes’ (Open Skies #3) will be published on July 17th. If you want to know when it is available for purchase, please check on one of my social media platforms (Twitter and my blog). I will be announcing its release in both of these places.
Thank you for your interest and continued support!
Marysol
About the author
Marysol James is the author of the 'Open Skies' and upcoming ‘Fighting For Love’ series. She writes steamy, sexy, slinky romances which feature strong, complex women and equally fascinating men. Marysol is interested in producing well-written and passionate stories with characters who learn to let go of control and to trust – both in and out of the bedroom.
Her stories are very sensual (very!), and offer smart plots, a bit of humor, and lots of character development, so her books will appeal to readers who want emotional connection as well as sexuality.
When not writing, Marysol can be found swimming, doing yoga, listening to music and drinking coffee. To stay up-to-date with her, visit her blog at marysoljames.wordpress.com or follow her on Twitter (@marysoljames)
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