friendly in the office, but they hadn’t been friends. He’d been her boss. There was only one reason she could think of for why he’d be here. The one reason she’d been dreading, and hoping she wouldn’t have to deal with.
He wanted to know why she’d quit.
And she didn’t want to tell him.
She’d worked for him for over two years and … she’d fallen in love with him. But in all that time, he’d never given her a second look. Then when he’d fallen in love with her best friend, Jessica, it had broken Melanie’s heart. It had just been too painful to keep working with him, and to watch the two of them together.
That’s why she’d quit.
And she couldn’t tell him any of that.
Sue came to the table with two iced coffees, then returned to the bar.
“I was surprised to find you were working as a barista. It’s quite a change from an office environment.” He sipped his coffee.
“How did you find out where I was?”
He shrugged. “I checked your personnel file. Someone from this location called for a reference.”
“So you just came by to see if I was here?”
“That’s right.”
She shook her head. “I still don’t understand why.”
He leaned forward, his sky blue eyes intent. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
She straightened her back. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You up and left a good job … a job you seemed to be happy at … for no good reason. And here you are working at a job for probably minimum wage. I don’t get it.”
“I needed a change. I like the freedom I have here.”
“Freedom?”
“I’m not tied to a nine-to-five existence. I’m not tied to a desk. I don’t have a boss hovering over me.” As soon as she said it, she realized he’d take it the wrong way.
“Did I hover over you? Is that why you left—”
“No, I don’t mean that. It was the nature of the job. I couldn’t leave my desk without getting someone to cover for me and handle phone calls. I needed to keep on top of both your schedule and your brother’s. What I did was totally driven by what other people needed.”
“Isn’t that true here?”
“People come in for coffee, and maybe something to eat. It’s not a big commitment.”
He frowned. “I’m sorry, Melanie. I didn’t realize you were unhappy.”
“No, it’s not that. I wasn’t really unhappy.”
“If I had known, I could have found something else for you. Something you’d enjoy doing. It’s a big company.” He leaned toward her. “We still could. Say the word and I’ll call personnel.”
Sweet, helpful Rafe. “No, thanks. I’m happy here.” She finished her iced coffee and stood up. “I should get back to work.”
“Wait, Melanie. Just give me another minute.”
She sank back into the chair.
“Please tell me one thing.”
She stared at him, dreading whatever question he was about to ask.
“Did I do something?”
“No, Rafe. You didn’t do a thing.”
In fact, that was the whole problem.
***
As soon as her shift was over, Melanie changed and grabbed the bottle of nail polish she’d stashed in her purse this morning. She couldn’t wear polish to work, and she was a real fanatic, so she carried it with her and put it on after her shift if she was going out. She was meeting Jessica after work and she hated going out with naked nails.
She rolled the bottle between her hands to mix it up without creating air bubbles. It was actually part of a collection of polishes Rafe had given her to thank her for helping him pick out a gift for Jessica. He was always so thoughtful.
She brushed on the polish. A simple two-coater in turquoise, but with trendy black speckles for interest. She finished with her favorite fast-dry topcoat.
She didn’t see her former roommate Jessica much these days. Jessica had moved into Mr. Ranier’s place. And who wouldn’t? Not only was she staying with the man of her dreams, who happened to be beyond gorgeous, he was also a billionaire who lived at the
He wanted to know why she’d quit.
And she didn’t want to tell him.
She’d worked for him for over two years and … she’d fallen in love with him. But in all that time, he’d never given her a second look. Then when he’d fallen in love with her best friend, Jessica, it had broken Melanie’s heart. It had just been too painful to keep working with him, and to watch the two of them together.
That’s why she’d quit.
And she couldn’t tell him any of that.
Sue came to the table with two iced coffees, then returned to the bar.
“I was surprised to find you were working as a barista. It’s quite a change from an office environment.” He sipped his coffee.
“How did you find out where I was?”
He shrugged. “I checked your personnel file. Someone from this location called for a reference.”
“So you just came by to see if I was here?”
“That’s right.”
She shook her head. “I still don’t understand why.”
He leaned forward, his sky blue eyes intent. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
She straightened her back. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You up and left a good job … a job you seemed to be happy at … for no good reason. And here you are working at a job for probably minimum wage. I don’t get it.”
“I needed a change. I like the freedom I have here.”
“Freedom?”
“I’m not tied to a nine-to-five existence. I’m not tied to a desk. I don’t have a boss hovering over me.” As soon as she said it, she realized he’d take it the wrong way.
“Did I hover over you? Is that why you left—”
“No, I don’t mean that. It was the nature of the job. I couldn’t leave my desk without getting someone to cover for me and handle phone calls. I needed to keep on top of both your schedule and your brother’s. What I did was totally driven by what other people needed.”
“Isn’t that true here?”
“People come in for coffee, and maybe something to eat. It’s not a big commitment.”
He frowned. “I’m sorry, Melanie. I didn’t realize you were unhappy.”
“No, it’s not that. I wasn’t really unhappy.”
“If I had known, I could have found something else for you. Something you’d enjoy doing. It’s a big company.” He leaned toward her. “We still could. Say the word and I’ll call personnel.”
Sweet, helpful Rafe. “No, thanks. I’m happy here.” She finished her iced coffee and stood up. “I should get back to work.”
“Wait, Melanie. Just give me another minute.”
She sank back into the chair.
“Please tell me one thing.”
She stared at him, dreading whatever question he was about to ask.
“Did I do something?”
“No, Rafe. You didn’t do a thing.”
In fact, that was the whole problem.
***
As soon as her shift was over, Melanie changed and grabbed the bottle of nail polish she’d stashed in her purse this morning. She couldn’t wear polish to work, and she was a real fanatic, so she carried it with her and put it on after her shift if she was going out. She was meeting Jessica after work and she hated going out with naked nails.
She rolled the bottle between her hands to mix it up without creating air bubbles. It was actually part of a collection of polishes Rafe had given her to thank her for helping him pick out a gift for Jessica. He was always so thoughtful.
She brushed on the polish. A simple two-coater in turquoise, but with trendy black speckles for interest. She finished with her favorite fast-dry topcoat.
She didn’t see her former roommate Jessica much these days. Jessica had moved into Mr. Ranier’s place. And who wouldn’t? Not only was she staying with the man of her dreams, who happened to be beyond gorgeous, he was also a billionaire who lived at the
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