Tequila Rose (Tequila Rose #1) - Willow Winters Page 0,14

to learn everything there is to know about running one of the foremost galleries in the country.

Gulping down at least a third of my far too sugary latte, I smile as I tally up this quarter’s sales. She recruited me to get the new website online and trusted me to provide the videos detailing the art along with writing the copy for the website. And I freaking crushed it.

Another five-second happy dance ensues, but this time someone walks by the front, their shadow preventing the afternoon sun from making its way back to me in the middle of the gallery. I plaster a sweet smile on my face, tapping at the keys and doing my best to look professional until the shadow passes.

The silence and the wait remind me of when I first applied for this job. I was terrified to hand in my résumé anywhere in this town, let alone this place, my first choice for a job instead of settling for doing anything else here. It was a dream come true to have Mandy Fields move her art gallery to Beaufort. I didn’t have my degree, only three years of higher education under my belt. That wasn’t why I was afraid, though.

My father ripped people off for a living. Every member of a board of directors, every family with any kind of financial influence, all lost money by investing with a crook. Said criminal being one Albert Williamson. My father, more than likely, stole from Mandy and her husband too.

It was just as devastating as it was embarrassing. Even worse, it was damning in this small town.

Everyone knew exactly who I was and my situation when I came home early from college to pick up the pieces of what was left. They all knew I’d never had a job and that I was his daughter. Who the hell was I to ask anyone to hire me? Let alone for my dream job.

My worst fear was that they thought I didn’t fall far from the tree. Why would anyone employ the daughter of a liar and a thief?

The news broke about my father, and he died the next day. Two weeks later, I learned there was no money. There was a single bank account with a few thousand in it but the cheat disguised as a bimbo that my father had been sleeping with ran off with it all.

So I had nothing but a tainted last name and bills to pay. I had no experience, and no lifelines left. Mandy wasn’t my first option simply because of the shame. Renee convinced me to go for the one job I really wanted in this town. She said all the whispers and dirty looks were mistakes and the people around here would remember who I was and what I was made of. Fake it till you make it and all that. It’s her motto and she pushed me to do it. I’m so grateful she did. Robert gave me a place to stay so I could sell my family home and work on paying off debt after debt.

Four years later, this is the only job I’ve ever had, and with the new website and increased sales, it’s paying pretty darn well to boot.

I suck down the rest of my coffee before clicking on an email about the exhibition coming up. We’re hosting the event and I needed lodging information from Chandler. He runs the inn a few blocks down.

The rates and blocked-out dates were the last pieces of information I needed to send out a mass email to all invited guests. By the time I’m done thanking Chandler and whipping up a draft of the email, which I forwarded Mandy to check before I send, a new email comes through. It’s from Mandy. She can’t make it in today. Darn, I really wanted to brag about—I mean, celebrate the sales. On the other hand, literally the other hand, is her coffee, which I shall gladly drink.

I finish mine and scoot hers closer to my laptop. It doesn’t escape me that it’s a bit vexing to not allow any drinks in the gallery, even though I drink coffee right here every day.

But I’m a single mother of a three-year-old. I need the coffee if I’m expected to function and unlike patrons, I can’t exactly leave just to get a drink when I’m supposed to be working.

Just as I’m replying to Mandy, updating her on several things she should know ASAP, including the