Page 45 of Help Wanted

She pouted at the screen and buttoned up the extra button before starting coffee for the guys and getting to work.

One of her duties was reconciling Zane’s credit card, and she pulled up the bank’s website with the pile of receipts in front of her. She wanted to be caught up before they left on their trip the next day.

One by one she coded each item and verified the amounts.

She paused on one of the last transactions on the screen. A transaction she had no receipt for.

“Meadow’s Floral Shop?” she said with her head cocked to the side. She only deliberated for a few moments before she picked up the phone and called the shop.

“Meadow’s Floral,” the cheery woman said.

“Hi. This is Kenley calling from New Haven Custom Boats. I have a charge on our credit card from yesterday, and I need a detailed receipt.”

“Sure. No problem.” The woman helpfully offered to email the document to her without hesitation.

Two minutes later, Kenley was staring at a receipt for a dozen roses purchased the day before. She gazed at Zane’s signature, unmistakably scribbled on the bottom line.

Her mind quickly mapped out a scenario. He had been moody the afternoon before, then bought flowers and wasn’t at work today. Clearly he’d gotten into an argument with a girlfriend. Since he wasn’t going to be in today, the flowers must have done the trick.

She sighed and picked up the phone to call Vanessa, hoping she could make her feel better.

“He has a girlfriend,” she said right away.

“No way!”

“Yes. He bought her flowers yesterday.”

“Are you sure? I thought his sister said he was available.”

“Maybe he lied to her. He doesn’t like her in his business.”

“Maybe the flowers were for his sister or his mom’s birthday or something.”

“A dozen red roses? You don’t take red roses to your mother on her birthday. Besides his mother lives in Florida.”

“Right.”

“He’s not here today. They’re probably off somewhere having all-day make-up sex.” Kenley hadn’t had the chance to have all-day make-up sex yet, but Vanessa and Rachel always made it sound wonderful.

“There are plenty of other fish in the sea.”

She didn’t want the other fish.

“This is for the best. It was a stupid idea to get involved with my boss. I need this job.”

“Come on, Kenley. Work with me a little. We need to get you a man. Any man.”

“I’m fine.”

“We either find you a man or I buy you ten cats. It’s up to you.”

“I like cats. Maybe not ten. At least not all at once.”

“God! You’re unbelievable.”

“Love you too.” Kenley laughed and hung up.

She would not let this get her down. Maybe if he and this rose person had been arguing it meant she was a demanding witch Zane might want to replace with the woman who paid his bills. The woman he would be going away with the next morning.