“Drew, aren’t you going to say anything to your new boss?”

“Thank you?”

Rachel chuckles. “Is that a question or gratitude?”

I shrug and give her my patent brand of honesty again. “Whatever fits.”

“Drew!” Lexi huffs.

I sigh, straightening up. “Thank you, Rachel, for giving me the job because you like my sister and her boyfriend, who’s your nephew and is  basically living at our house. Like Lexi said, I’ll be on time, do the job I’m needed to do to the best of my ability, and I won’t run off your customers with my sparkling personality you’ve witnessed today.”

She laughs, looking at me and shaking her head. “I can see we’re going to have a good time with you. I just remembered who you remind me of, and Lord help me with two of you in here with me. It’s going to be interesting.”

She opens her door for us just as a wall of brown boxes are being wheeled past in front of us stopping our exit. “And here he is.” Rachel points. “I was just thinking about you and here you are.”

The wall of boxes stops moving and the sound of a familiar deep smooth voice has my full attention. “And here I am. I hope it was good thoughts. But then again, what else could it be if you’re thinking of me.”

And there is the one thing that will make this job tolerable besides getting paid. I get that funny feeling in my chest, the one that makes my breathing speed up a little, and I have to shut down the ear to ear face splitting grin my face wants to make. What the fuck is wrong with me? Every-time—this so not me—ugh!

“Lexi, what’s up? Came back to slum it for a little while? You missed us that much.” He smiles at her in that way that makes girls want to drop their panties and if you’re a guy like me, just whip your dick out and say have at it, if he was gay. As luck would have it, he goes both ways.

“I do miss everyone but you’re not one of the people I miss. Truth, Holden, I barely tolerated you when I was here.”

“Oh, Lexi, I’m wounded.” He puts his hand over his heart. “And here I was plotting on how best to steal you away from my brother. Way to crush a guy’s hopes as usual.”

“You know it. And as for Sam, she knows if I wasn’t with the love of my life and I swung that way, she’d be my first choice.”

“Yeah, she told us like a hundred times.” He rolls his eyes and looks over to me. “Hey, kid. What’s up? Haven’t seen you in a while. What is it, show your kid brother your old stomping grounds day or something?”

Great. Kid. The one thing no one wants to hear from the unattainable guy out of their league they’re crushing on. I try to keep my sigh of disappointment to myself, and mumble a halfhearted, “Hey.” I tilt my head at him, and let Lexi answer the rest of that.

“Nope,” she says with more cheer than she needs to. “You are looking at your new coworker.” She puts her arm around me and squeezes.

“Okay.” He nods, looking at his aunt.

“Yes, this young whipper snapper will be working at our exalted store. I can already tell he’s going to make quite an impression here.” The corner of her lips tilts up. “You know, I couldn’t remember who he reminded me of. And then you rolled up and it hit me. He reminded me almost of a young you.”

“God, I hope not for your sake. And mine. I wouldn’t want to deal with me back then.” He chuckles.

“You weren’t that bad.”

“Okay, you keep telling yourself that and anyone else who knew me.” He exhales and looks at me. “Good to have you aboard, kid, see you around. Lexi.” His eyes roam up and down her body for emphasis. “A pleasure to see you as always.”

I watch as he pushes the trolly of boxes away. A little crushed but, if I’m honest, kind of giddy. I’ll definitely be seeing him around, I’m going to make sure of it. As far as I’m concerned that’s going to be the best, and the only, part of this job I want anything to do with, besides the money to help my family out, of course.

*********