page36 (1/2)

Laine reached for the book and flipped through it Of all the people at Brandt Interiors, she had hated working with Ramos the least Probably because he was so da the paperwork, and while he had a lot of ideas hi to the ideas of others

“Not that you need it, but juggling a new start up is infinitely easier with help, a place toeach iteers “Not to mention that my record in client relations is utterly impeccable”

Laine narrowed her eyes at hied He knehat others were saying And he was onlyit now, clearly, because he wanted a yes out of her He wanted an out from this company too

“Go,” she ordered “Make it official We don’t want any bleed betorking for his for whatever this will be We can talk over lunch” Laine fanned herself with the contact book “And probably a arita”

Ramos chuckled “You and me both I know just the place”

Chapter Fourteen

Of all the things Laine had expected for her life, being technically une out of an arthouse/coffee shop owned by the boyfriend of her bisexual business partner had not been one of them Actually, she’d always expected to be proer company eventually, and for her life to be essentially the same as always, only with better perks

Now she was listening to so she’d never heard while Raister He returned with a couple of free refills on their lattes, and the two of theot down to work

“Hectorthe latte toward her

“If that’s a hint that I need to just give in to my fate and beco at him

Ra so single, especially once he’d learned that she’d taken up painting again She’d found a class within her skill and price range not too far from her apartment She wouldn’t be featured in anyto class after work two days a week Hector, the sweetheart that he was, had hung one of her efforts up with a price tag of 100 underneath it—which, co it away, but it was the gesture that counted It looked like he’d taken it do, though

“Okay, you call the supplier for the wallpaper, and I’ll get on the phone with the construction guys” Laine picked up the conversation where they’d left off

The days were long, but Hector helped o by faster He also had an office and a few spare rooms above the coffee house where they could make use of his printer and fax machine or make calls when bands came in to play and it was too loud to work Hector had thanked Laine for helping Raet started on his own Laine herself wasn’t particularly interested in entrepreneurship and felt that the two s she wanted to do

That evening, they orking late It wasn’t a painting class evening, so Laine had a little extra time to spare before she called it quits when she noticed Rah that Hector was opening a bottle of wine for a custonaled that he would be two minutes