Strictly Business: Callie (Gold Club Staffing #1) by Cheri Wood

Author:Cheri Wood [Wood, Cheri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-05-06T05:00:00+00:00

GCS

It’s Friday afternoon and I’ve spent hours on my feet, helping Nick navigate the job fair he’s been enlisted as speaker at without being mauled by women or pestered with unsolicited business pitches from people who are supposed to be helping youths decide on a career, not further their own. I’m packing up what remains of our promotional material when Nick approaches me.

“Just about ready to go?”

“Yeah. It looks like you were a hit with the kids, there’s not much left of the giveaways.”

“I think that probably falls into the category of ‘free stuff always sells’,” Nick says with a crooked smile.

“Well, most of the brochures are gone, too, so…”

“Good. Less for me to lug back to the office.”

“Need some help?”

“Oh, please. I am man, watch me carry,” he says in a deep voice, hefting the cardboard box I’ve just closed. He fakes staggering under the weight of the box and I can’t help but laugh.

“Okay, then. Go on, I’ll watch.”

“It’s nice to hear you laugh,” he says as he heads for the exit. I follow, unable to resist the bait.

“I laugh all the time,” I remark as we reach his car in the parking lot.

“Huh.” He doesn’t exactly sound like he agrees.

“What does that mean?”

He shrugs. “It’s just… I haven’t heard it in a while. Hey, do you mind grabbing my keys? Right jacket pocket.”

I reach into his pocket and pull out his keys, pressing the button to unlock the car. “I guess I’ve had a lot on my mind lately.”

“You know you can talk to me, right? If I’m working you too hard, or if you’re having difficulties, I’m here.”

“Thanks, but work’s fine.”

“I don’t have any complaints. I’ve just noticed you’ve seemed a bit down lately.”

I shrug. “Just life stuff. I’ll work harder.”

“No,” he says and sets the box down on the passenger seat before turning back to face me, “that’s the last thing I want. Maybe you should take some time off, go on a vacation or something. I hear California is nice this time of year.”

“I can’t just go on vacation, Nick. I have a husband to take care of. Responsibilities.”

“I’m sorry, is he sick?” Nick frowns.

“No. Why?”

“You just said you needed to take care of him, I figured-“

“Oh. No, I just meant, like regular wifely duties. Not that kind,” I add quickly when I realize what it sounded like. Then I go and stick my foot even deeper into my mouth. “I mean, of course that’s part of- oh, never mind.”

“Callie. How old is Tom, again?” He rests his arm on top of the car door.

“Forty… three.”

“Right. The last time I checked the Adult Male Handbook, I’m pretty sure it stated that once we reach the ripe age of twenty-one, we are expected to be able to take care of ourselves.”

“You did not just say ‘Adult Male Handbook’?” I can’t help but snort.

“I’m bad at thinking up analogies, okay?” he cringes. “My point is, you shouldn’t have to be at the beck and call of your husband twenty-four-seven.

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