Page 65 of Fate and Fortune

At Alli’s last job, the receptionist had been the barrier between the people who made the decisions and the unwashed masses. They’d had power, and they’d wielded it.

“You need to talk to Gabe Hudson,” a voice came from the doorway. “He’s the one who does the hiring and firing. He’s the general manager.”

Brian.

Just how long had he been standing there? From the smile on his face, not long enough to hear her talk about Sam and Boston. He wouldn’t be as happy-go-lucky otherwise.

“Are you listening in on our conversation?” Tara teased. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?”

Brian had an office in one of the spare rooms in the house that he worked out of two or three days a week. He mostly stayed in it with the door closed, but he did come out for food and more coffee.

“I was hungry, and I was looking for you to ask if the leftover fried chicken was up for grabs. If it is, I’m going to eat it.”

“It is up for grabs, and you can have it.”

“Thanks.” Brian turned his attention back to Alli. “You need to speak to Gabe Hudson. Don’t bother talking to anyone else.”

“Why didn’t you tell her this before?” Tara asked with a groan. “When she dropped off her resume and audition tape?”

“Because I asked her if she wanted my help finding a job, and my dear sister practically ripped my arm off,” Brian joked. “She said she absolutely, positively didn’t want my help, and that she was perfectly capable of finding her own job, thank you very much. I know when my input isn’t wanted, so I shut up.”

Alli’s face went hot in embarrassment as she remembered how terse she’d been with Brian. He’d only been offering some help, and she’d acted like he’d crossed some sort of sacred boundary.

“But you’ve changed your mind?” Tara pressed. “Why today?”

“She seemed more open to it,” Brian replied with a shrug. “Besides, she wouldn’t kill me with you sitting there right next to her.”

“I wouldn’t have killed you either way,” Alli said. “But you are right that I wasn’t exactly in a good frame of mind when I showed up here in town. Let’s just say that I was still smarting from being fired. I do thank you for the information, but I’m not sure it’s going to do any good. There is no way that dragon of a receptionist is going to let me past her. Should I call this Gabe Hudson directly? Does he have an email?”

“I have no idea,” Brian laughed. “But I do know that he goes to Tate’s every Wednesday at noon for the chicken sandwich special. He likes the buffalo sauce.”

“How do you know this?” Alli marveled.

“Everyone knows this,” Brian countered. “It’s a small town, sis.”

“Still, it’s amazing. Do people talk about my eating habits, too, I wonder?”

“If they don’t now, they probably will eventually,” Brian said. “Now, do you know what tomorrow is?”

Wednesday.

She had less than twenty-four hours to figure out how to interrupt some man’s lunch and convince him to give her a job.

How difficult could it be?

Chapter

Nineteen

Sam met his siblings at Tate’s for dinner late that night. They’d want to know what happened in Boston, and he was prepared to tell them.

Most things.

He would not be talking about Alli, or their romantic dinner, or the night they’d spent together. That wasn’t for public consumption. His brothers and sisters would get the details about his trip and nothing more.

Tate brought out several large pizzas, and they all dug in. Sam was starving, and as usual, the food was delicious. The tantalizing aroma of tomato, cheese, and garlic had his empty stomach growling angrily.

It was mostly idle chit-chat while they filled their stomachs. How the weather was becoming chillier by the day, and when everyone thought the first snow might happen. Cooper and Zack talked about the upcoming movies they were planning to show at the theater, and Piper talked about a new cinnamon roll recipe she was planning to try.