I told him about meeting with the VP of Programming, and the production manager, and the kudos I’d gotten on my outfit. I rambled a bit about the actual job, that it was an on-air position, but I kept the rest to myself.
“Nolan?” He’d been quiet for so long I thought we’d lost the connection.
“Sorry. Today is the definition of a shit show. I’m trying to do ten things at once—”
“That’s fine, I’m sorry I interrupted you. I’ll go. We can talk about it later.”
“Gabriella. Don’t you dare hang up.”
Just because I’d let him get all bossy last night did not mean I’d let him get away with it today.
“Hold on one second. Please.”
Okay. The please worked for me.
Who are you kidding, Gabs? There’s so much about this man that works for you.
So. Much.
“All right. Now I have a moment to talk. And by talk, I mean demand to hear what you’re not telling me.” He paused. “Because I know there’s something.”
Shrewd man. “Two things. You’re a businessman. What employment website gives the most accurate info for salary and benefit packages? I need to make a comparison analysis of what they offered me versus industry standard in case an offer does come through.”
Silence. Then, “That might be the sexiest thing you’ve ever said to me, Gabriella.”
I laughed. “I’m serious.”
“So am I.” Then he gave me the names of three websites. “Now, what’s the next thing?”
My smile faded. “I honestly thought I did great in the interview. Asked insightful questions, reiterated my experience and passion for the game. Naturally they wouldn’t tell me if they planned to offer me the job, and then they also couldn’t give me any idea of when I’d hear back from them.”
“If you’re feeling confident, what’s the problem now?”
“I was feeling confident . . . until I returned to the reception area and saw someone I knew. Two guesses why she was there.”
“She was interviewing too.”
“Ding, ding, we have a winner.”
“Who is she?”
“Jubilee Jones.”
Nolan snorted. “That’s her name? For real?”
“Nolan, that’s a great name for someone in broadcasting. Can’t you just hear it? ‘Now from Studio B, Jubilee Jones, senior analyst for Wolf Sports North news.’”
“I disagree, it sounds like a stripper’s name. Is she a hockey player?”
“No. A figure skater who got fifth place at Nationals.”
“See? Then she’s no competition. Why did you let her torpedo your confidence?”
I sighed. “Because she is my competition. After she didn’t make the Olympic team, the PR department hired her to do ‘slice of life’ type stories of other Olympic athletes on TV. She lived in Olympic Village with us.”
“So?”
“So Jubilee is beautiful and graceful and smart and experienced, and they’d be stupid not to hire her because she’s the whole package.”
“Welk, you’re the whole package. You’re not a bit of fluff. A flash in the pan. You are the real deal.”
I closed my eyes for a moment and just basked. “Thank you.”
“Look, I can meet you tonight. It’d be much later because I have no idea when we’ll get a handle on all that needs to be done here at the bowling alley before tomorrow, but I will make it work if you need me.”
“I am grateful for the offer, but I have to ref at four and then I have my 14U class to teach after that and I know I’ll be tired. So you do you tonight.”
Nolan groaned. “Are you trying to get me to admit that I’d like to do you tonight?”
Would you? hung between us.
“Say the word, Gabriella.”
“Yes. But we’ll talk more about this tomorrow after your event.”
“I’m holding you to that.”
Nineteen
NOLAN
Sam and I showed up early Friday at the bowling alley to set everything up for Saturday’s LGBTQ mixer sponsored by LCCO. Unfortunately I hadn’t realized how rundown the place was; I wished I’d done a more thorough inspection before we finalized the mixer.
I couldn’t blame the condition of the building on Jax’s neglect. He’d ended up buying Lakeside Ice Arena and Rosewood Bowling Alley as a package deal. Not only had his focus been on dealing with staffing issues at the ice rink, he’d spearheaded a complete renovation of the former Boundary Waters bar into Full Tilt Barcade. Plus, in his personal life, he and Lucy had reconciled, moved in together with their daughter, Mimi, and tied the knot the day after Christmas. It’d been a busy few months.
Rosewood Bowling Alley had thirty-six lanes with automated scoring machines on each lane, which was the only