Somebody Like You (Starlight Hill Series Book 2) by Heatherly Bell Page B

blade, this didn’t initially feel like much though he knew it might blister by tomorrow. But the kind of attention he was now receiving from a penitent Brooke was well worth it.
    Brooke sat on the other side of the booth, wrapping his hand in a wet towel. “Si said the whole order is on the house.”
    He hadn’t expected the funny squeeze in his chest. “That’s not necessary. It was an accident. Hey. I’m okay.” He touched her wrist with his left hand.
    She gazed at him as if she was actually seeing him for the first time, and the years melted away. Back to the time before he’d let her down. “Billy Turlock.”
    Man, the way she said his name. That alone could give him a hard-on, as if he were still a teenage boy. “Brooke Miller. I’m sorry.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “ You’re sorry? I believe I just tried to pour coffee on your hand. It doesn’t even resemble a mug.”
    “I’m sorry I bought the vineyard you wanted. I didn’t know.”
    “How could you know?”
    So she was going to cut him some slack. At least she understood it wasn’t personal. “Exactly.”
    “But I can’t work for you, Billy.” She stated this matter fact, like it was also nothing personal.
    “And why not?”
    “Here’s the thing. I’m thinking my next steps through, taking my time. I’m not going to do anything impulsive. And besides,” she waved around the restaurant. “I already have a job.”
    Time for stating the truth. From his past experience with Brooke, he remembered she appreciated honesty. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you suck as a waitress.”
    For a moment he thought she’d slap him, but then she laughed. “You don’t think it’s cool to pour coffee on a customer’s hand?”
    “I have a feeling your talents lie elsewhere.”
    “You would be right.” She rose. “But this is what I’m doing now, while I re-think my options.”
    No one had to tell him when he’d pushed too far. Brooke needed time to think about it. But first he’d give her something to consider. His offer.
    He placed a bill on the table, and stood. “Fine. But if you change your mind, give me a call.”
    He scribbled his private cellphone number on the napkin. “I’m offering a generous salary, medical and dental. And a 401K. Nice to see you again. Have a good day, Si.”
    He waved, opened the door to the diner, and left Brooke staring at the napkin, her mouth gaping open.
    *****
    “Ack. I did it! I hit ‘send’.” Brooke sat at her kitchen table with her laptop. A few days after seeing Billy at the diner, she’d sent him a simple one sentence email: ‘we need to talk.’
    With an offer like the one he’d made, she’d be a fool not to at least open a dialogue with the man.
    “You have to hit ‘send.’ How else is he supposed to get your message?” Ivey asked, popping the third chocolate cupcake from Genenieve’s All the Tea and China into her mouth.
    “But I changed my mind. I can’t work for Billy. I’m an idiot to think I can.” She reached for another cupcake, before they were all gone.
    “Wanting to talk to him shows you’re open minded. That you’re reasonable and will entertain the generous offer he made.”
    Generous indeed. Brooke still wondered if he’d added an extra zero by accident. In a way, part of why she wanted to talk.
    “But he’ll see it as a weakness. Like I’m giving in, but I’m not. The Mirassu vineyard was supposed to be mine. It would be mine had he not waltzed back into town.”
    “Maybe. But now you have a chance to show him, show the entire town what you can do. Turn the place around and back into the vineyard it used to be before all the trouble. And show George what he lost as well, by not giving you the position as VP.”
    Showing the community that she’d been the reason behind Serrano’s success would be satisfying. George would be destroyed to find out she could be his greatest competition. Of course, if Mirassu were hers in name too, it would be much better.