to return to your dream job,” Emerson grumbles.
I eye him. “That so bad?”
My brothers scowl. Clearly they agree already, and don’t like one bit of it.
“Admit it,” I say, “This is a win-win.”
“It could be,” Nolan says. “Although that doesn’t solve everything. We still need a new crew ASAP.”
I grin. And there it is, just what I was looking for: agreement, implicit if not explicit.
I get out my phone. “On it.”
One Day Later…
“I still don’t see why we all had to be here.” Nolan gives his long light brown hair-ed head an irritable shake as he chomps on some cashews.
“Agreed.” Emerson’s on his phone, glaring at it as if it’s to blame. “My knowledge of business practices is exactly zilch.”
“You know I value your opinions,” I tell them. Besides, it’s not like sitting around interviewing endless candidates is exactly my idea of a great time either. If I suffer, it’s only fair they do too. “Anyway, it’s time.”
The next few hours in my office pass in a blur of faces and names, takeout food, first impressions, quick discussions and split-second decisions.
After what must be all of the hires, I’m already out of my chair, ready to leave, no questions asked, when Landon stops me. “We still don’t have a cinematographer, and we’ve got four hopefuls out there.”
Shit.
I mentally set aside my long hot shower for another hour. “Alright, send them in.” Might as well get this over with.
The first woman barks more angry questions at me than I have for her. By the end, I’m ready to fling my clipboard at her head, except she leaves first.
The next woman walks in as I’m sipping my water. I look up and freeze.
“Hello,” she says. “I’m Harley.”
“Hello,” I force myself to say, while I try and fail to tear my eyes off the showstopper that’s just walked in.
Keep your head in the game, Greyson.
But it’s too late. One smile of hers and I’m done for. Those turned-up mauve lips light up her entire face, make her green eyes crinkle in the corners, her freckled nose crinkle too; even her gap-toothed teeth and every golden hair on her head seem to beam.
Everything else falls away.
All I know is that I want her. I want her bad.
Landon clears his throat, and I brace myself against the chair. Attractive or not, we still have an interview to give. With any luck, she’ll flub it and the choice will be easy. On the other hand, I just want to get these interviews finished and get out of here.
“Why do you want this position?” I ask, swiping a brief glance at her.
“I love cinematography and I’ve loved your work from the start. Evergreen Avenue, then that special on flamingoes, plus the show where they were all cooped up in the cabin, I’ve watched every one of them dozens of times. Opportunities like this don’t come every day—sometimes they don’t even come every lifetime.”
My back teeth grind together. Alright, she’s good, I’ll give her that.
Landon shoves a resume under my nose and I scan it briefly. Harley is just as young as she looks: she’s fresh out of college.
“Why do you think you’d be a good fit?” I ask her next.
“I might be new, but I know my stuff. I was top in my class at USC School of Cinematic Arts, and even now on my days off I’m always learning and practicing. I love what I do. Oh, and I don’t quit. Ever.”
The intensity in her tone makes me look up. I swallow.
Her face is even more driven, which makes her look even sexier. And the way she’s acing all these questions… fuck.
“You have any questions for us?” Noah asks.
He likes that one, claims it’s the only half-interesting question, thanks to some terrified man who started crying two hours back and then basically ran away.
“What do you want?”
She looks straight at me. My mouth falls open. She can’t possibly…
Catching my eye, her mouth falls open too. She recovers herself quickly, though.
“I mean, for the job—what are you looking for?”
“You,” Emerson says, then chuckles. At my glare, he coughs. “Joking, of course. I’ll let my big business whiz brothers answer this one.”
“Thanks.” Landon’s ironic look is no less harsh than my glare was. “We are looking for someone who’s passionate in what they do, a team player, someone who isn’t afraid to get a bit dirty.”
An awkward silence settles as I force myself not to look her way. A bit dirty—he has to use this phrase with our