Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
OLIVIA
“So, how was the job search?”
Sitting across the table from Taj, I was so relieved to be here.
It was Friday, the end of the first full week in the new year.
Following the bout of illness I’d dealt with several days ago, I’d gotten a later start than I’d anticipated on the job hunt.
While I wasn’t feeling nearly as awful at the beginning of the week as I’d felt over the weekend, I still needed a few extra days to feel human enough to interact with others in the event a job sounded interesting, and an interview was on the horizon.
So, I delayed my search.
And at the start of the week, when I was home in my apartment and Taj was at work, I had the time to think about my recovery. I didn’t think I’d have recovered nearly as quickly as I had if it hadn’t been for the way Taj looked after me.
He’d already set the standard for what I believed was a good man, and his response to me being sick only made him that much better.
Witnessing the way he took care of me made it impossible not to fall hard for him.
Even through the bouts of delirium brought on by a fever and the exhaustion from my body working so hard to fight off the sickness, I could still see just how much he cared.
Not once had Taj made me feel like I was a burden, or like I’d inconvenienced him. If anything, he seemed honored to be able to look after me.
It was crazy to me.
Every time I thought he couldn’t get any better, that he’d already outdone himself and would never be able to top whatever kind, sweet thing he did, Taj found a way. He was consistently showing up and being the man that I needed him to be, the man I deserved.
It was no surprise that I wanted to be around him all the time. Of course, he made it easy since he’d made sure we spent every night together over the break between the holidays. I’d gotten used to that, to having his arms wrapped around me every night while I drifted off to sleep.
Over the last week, I’d needed to adjust to being alone at night again. While I believed it was good for me to have time to myself, I still missed him tremendously. So, I’d been looking forward to tonight.
Throughout the week, Taj and I had connected regularly.
Either we’d text back and forth in the middle of the day when he was working, or we’d chat on the phone in the evenings when he was home.
During one of those late-night conversations, Taj indicated he wanted to take me out on a date tonight, and I didn’t hesitate to agree to it.
Now, we were here, had ordered our food, and Taj wasn’t wasting any time in seeking to hear about my attempts to find a job.
I answered his question with the first thing that popped into my head. “Did you know that there are avalanche technicians?”
As quickly as I could snap my fingers, Taj’s expression went from curious to amused. “I am aware of that. Yes. Why do you ask? Is this the career shift you were looking for?”
Horrified, I gasped. “Oh, God. No. I just hadn’t realized it was a thing.
No, I got the sneaking suspicion that the job wouldn’t be for me from the moment I learned it was an actual job.
But I knew for sure that was the case when one of the skills required for any interested candidates was having explosives training. ”
Taj’s mouth quirked with a smile. “I take it you didn’t happen to gain any training in explosives over the years.”
“You would be correct. But I don’t understand what the explosives are for.”
“For controlled avalanches,” he revealed.
I blinked. “I’m sorry. Are you telling me they purposely cause avalanches? Isn’t that dangerous?”
He shrugged. “It’d be more dangerous not to do them.”
Taj went on to explain more about what avalanche technicians did, and I found it rather fascinating. I felt like I’d learned and experienced more in the last month than I had in my whole twenty-five years of life.
“So, you stumbled upon a job listing for avalanche technicians. Was there anything else you found?”
“Well, there were lots of things I saw that I wasn’t qualified for,” I revealed. “Truck drivers, nurses, and teachers for starters. And although I think they’re all admirable positions, I’m not sure I’m cut out for any of those or interested enough to go to school for the training.”
He nodded. “I agree that you shouldn’t get certifications or waste money on school just to land yourself in a career. That won’t make you happy. You’ve done that already. Don’t do it again.”
“I know. I’m going to take my time and do this right.”
“Were those the only options?” Taj pressed. “There had to be things you found interesting that didn’t require any formal certification or training, right?”
“Technically, no. But an idea popped into my head during my searching. There was a posting for a retail store manager position, and it made me think about personal shoppers. I feel like I’m good at styling, and I thought that’d be fun.
But it dawned on me that while it was a big deal in New York City, I don’t see the opportunities for that here in Rising Sun. ”
Understanding dawned, and there was a hint of frustration mixed in for him. “You’re probably right about that. I’m sorry.”
I waved my hand in the air dismissively.
“Oh, it’s okay. I’m not worried yet. It’s only been a few days of searching, so I’m not going to get discouraged.
I’ll keep looking. Plus, I don’t think it was a total waste, considering an actual idea of something I’d enjoy popped into my head.
I’m okay with taking it slow to be happy in the end. ”
Taj smiled at me. “Do you know just how infectious your personality is?”
I didn’t know what I’d expected Taj to say in response to my thoughts about figuring out my life, but it certainly hadn’t been that. “What?”
Still smiling, he shook his head. “I thought that from the very start. Even when you were standing outside in that wedding dress after what had to be one of the most difficult days of your life, you found a way to be joyful. Then I took you shopping the next day, and you were just as happy. I thought it was merely a fluke, but when you were practically jumping for joy after falling so many times when I tried teaching you how to snowboard, I realized it was just part of you being the woman you are. It’s hard for me to feel frustrated, upset, or angry about anything whenever I’m around you. ”
I recalled the day I’d learned to snowboard.
Taj had been so impressed by my enthusiasm for continuing to learn when I’d fallen so much.
“That was very sweet of you to say. I’m glad you said it, because I can assure you, I wasn’t very pleasant even just a month or two ago.
And in the years before that, it was even worse.
Since I’ve been here, I feel so much better on the inside. ”
Reaching across the table, Taj squeezed my hand. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you continue to feel that way.”
He didn’t have to try too hard, because I always felt wonderful simply being around him.
Our meals arrived, so we spent a few minutes tasting and enjoying our food. Eventually, I asked, “So, how was your week at work?”
“Well, I can say I certainly preferred my week with you more,” he revealed.
“But it wasn’t bad. I feel like everyone was just trying to get themselves back into the swing of things following the holiday break.
While I do have the old building project I’m overseeing right now, in addition to meeting with the normal production and marketing teams, I was reminded of the upcoming contest that our riders are going to be competing in a few weeks from now. ”
“Oh, that sounds like fun. I’ve never been to a snowboarding contest.”
He grinned. “I suspected that was the case and was hoping to invite you. Would you like to come along?”
My eyes rounded. “Are you kidding me? I’d love to. Will Kingston and Archer be competing?”
“Yes. And quite a few others. We’ll be heading to Copper Mountain for it.”
“I have no idea where that is.”
“Colorado.”
I perked up. Though I’d certainly done my fair share of traveling in my former life, it wasn’t as though I’d ever had the opportunity to explore any new locations. And I hadn’t ever visited Colorado. “This sounds like it’s going to be so much fun.”
Taj chuckled. “With you, it’s always fun.”
“Alright, so tell me what to expect.”
For the remainder of our time at dinner, Taj told me all about snowboarding contests. I’d learned more about them over dinner than I had in my entire life. Following a delicious dessert—Taj couldn’t go without his chocolate and ordered the dark chocolate mousse cake for us to share—we left.
Once we were in the car, Taj looked over and said, “Tell me what you’d like to do next. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Whatever you want. Movies, dancing, karaoke—it doesn’t matter to me.”
My jaw fell open. “You’d dance and sing karaoke?”
Taj reached across the center console, cupped the side of my face, and stroked his thumb along my cheek. “For you, I’m learning I’d do just about anything.”
If someone had told me weeks ago that I’d wind up here with this incredible man, I’d have laughed in their face. I would’ve told them that I wasn’t interested in being with anyone for a very, very long time.
But here I was with him, and there wasn’t a thing I’d change about it.
Well, except for one thing.
One thing I wanted to change tonight.
“Actually, I was kind of thinking I’d like to turn in one of those tickets tonight that you gave me for Christmas. But they’re all back at my place.”
He chuckled. “Okay. Well, we can deal with the exchange of the ticket later. Just tell me what it is, and we can go do it.”
I curled my fingers around his wrist. “The thing I want to do is at my apartment. I’m pretty sure I saw a ticket in there about building a one-thousand-piece puzzle, so when I was out two days ago, I picked one up.”
Surprise washed over him. “A puzzle?”