All That Really Matters, Nicole Deese [best detective novels of all time .TXT] 📗

it’s not. Finding quality representation can be difficult in my industry, but a good agency partnership allows their talent to focus on what they do best. It’s been a positive experience for me overall,” she explained. “Unlike your fiancée, knowing the numbers behind how everything works isn’t my favorite part of being an influencer, but it is a necessary part. I’m glad I don’t have to figure out the math anymore.” Despite Jake’s overstep, the smile Molly offered my brother looked genuine.

“I bet she’d love to meet you—Clara, I mean. She’s always watching videos on how to tie a scarf or how to dress for certain events or . . . oh, what do you call that thing with the . . .” Jake’s voice trailed off as he mimicked a spastic brush stroke at his cheek, which had my eyes rounding. “It’s something to do with dark and light coming together.”

“Contouring,” Molly interjected with a light laugh.

Jake snapped his fingers. “Yes, that’s it. Contouring. Can’t tell you how many different tutorials I’ve watched since we set a date. Anyway,” he chuckled and shook his head, “she’ll be here Tuesday. I hope you get a chance to meet her.”

Molly crinkled her brow slightly, and once again her glance flitted to mine before returning to Jake. “Oh? So is she teaching for the summer classes?”

“She’ll be doing some mentoring and teaching. She was originally planning to take most of the summer off, with our wedding in September and all, but Clara didn’t want to leave Silas stranded. She’s a big supporter of what they do around here, and she loves the residents.”

“Sure, right,” Molly said slowly, as if breaking down her assumptions into bite-size pieces. “That’s great.”

I gave Jake a hard pat on the back, a reminder that he had elsewhere to be. “The kids will be showing up soon, and Glo will be wanting access to that kitchen for dinner.”

“Which means she’ll be wanting a functioning garbage disposal.” Jake sighed. “See what kind of grunt work I get stuck with when I show up out of the goodness of my heart to help my big brother for an afternoon?”

“Nice try. You lost a bet,” I reminded him. “One you set the stakes for, too. Maybe you’ll think twice about challenging me next time.”

“It was good to meet you, Molly. I’ll tell Clara to keep an eye out for you,” Jake said as he retreated several yard-stick-sized steps backward. “And don’t worry too much about that one.” He pointed at me. “He’s all bark. Well, mostly anyway.”

“Thanks for the advice.” Molly looked straight at me while Jake took advantage of the moment and pointed at her back with the kind of zeal no self-respecting man should possess, mouthing the words Black Widow more times than I cared to count.

“So,” Molly said, eyeing her portfolio in my hand. “It sounds like you may have already filled your summer mentor opening with your brother’s fiancée?”

If there was a hint at nepotism in her query, I wouldn’t back down from it. “With Clara’s long history at The Bridge and her expertise in financials, she’s become an asset around here.”

“Sounds like it.” Molly’s chin remained squared, never dipping an inch, as if nothing I could say would challenge the new shade of resolve she wore. Not even a dismissal.

I respected that more than she knew.

“Our intent was always to have someone train as a mentor under Clara for however long she’d be willing to do that, given her need for flexibility this summer,” I said. “But until today I wasn’t sure we’d have a candidate I could recommend to her.”

I didn’t hate being the reason something sparked to life in her eyes.

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that if you’re interested in apprenticing as a mentor for our summer program, then I’d be open to discussing the terms with you—”

“Really?” She pressed her hands together as if in prayer and brought the tips of her pointer fingers to her shimmery mouth.

I redirected my attention.

“I like the majority of your class ideas. Like Jake said, they’re original and creative, and still relevant to our program. Our continuing residents will appreciate the new subjects. And if you’re open to broadening your audience, I’m certain a few of our male residents will find some of these topics appealing, too.”

“Of course. I like men. I mean . . .” She shook her head. “Male people are fine with me.”

“Male people? Will that term be included in your ‘Talk Like a Pro’ class?”

She peered at me as if trying to read something on my face. “Is that a joke?”

Working to mask the twitch in my left cheek, I moved on and tapped at the second class from the top, the one she and Jake hadn’t yet mentioned on this ten-week syllabus she’d handed me. “I’m also interested to hear more about this class here.”

She read it out loud. “‘How to Master an Interview: Five Simple Steps to Landing the Position You Want.’” She looked up at me again, her cheeks brightening. “To be fair, my interview with you that day was an anomaly and—”

“I’m teasing you.”

She stopped abruptly. “You are?”

“I’m impressed by your work here. It’s good.” I held up her portfolio, and something inside me softened at the way she exhaled. “But I think before you officially sign up for the summer, we should use Tuesday’s class as a trial. Make sure it’s a match—on both sides. If our residents respond well to you, then we’ll go ahead with all the necessary documentation in my office. And then on Friday afternoon, you and Clara can tag team a small group of six young ladies. That will give you some extra experience and Clara some flexibility to attend to other priorities.”

“I think that’s fair. Thank you.” Molly nodded and stuck out her hand, the gesture so unexpected that the grin I’d been fighting since she’d shown up looking like she was ready to take on the Oval Office couldn’t be stopped.

“Silas?” Glo called from the path to the Lavender Cottage. “Cecilia from the