Chapter 5
Felicity
So, were there no available apartments in Ashford Creek? It didn’t make any sense that every single place to live would be full at this point. There had to be people moving out or new buildings being put in. Yes, the town wasn’t that big, but it wasn’t a postage stamp in the mountains.
I rubbed my temples, annoyed with myself for continuing to get my hopes up.
Not only had the last apartment I had looked at been a bust, but the first date I had gone on with a tourist on a dating app had walked into the bakery, taken one look at me, laughed, and walked right out.
I really should have been slightly offended at that, but at that point, I didn’t have the energy.
I was too busy trying to run out of the place before Fiona came out from the back and noticed.
It was only some luck that she hadn’t been out front when I had been sitting in my little seat, waiting for this stranger to show up.
Of course, she had video cameras all over the place and probably rewatched it in glee, waiting for the perfect moment to jump out of the shadows and terrorize me with it.
I’d gone from a wonderful day at work, a fantastic lunch with my parents, to an apartment filled with cockroaches, trash, and some form of white substance I never wanted to think about again.
I’d known that it was going to take forever for me to find a place.
I just hadn’t realized it would be so fraught with ridiculousness.
All I wanted was to cement myself in town, grow roots, and maybe, just maybe, move on.
It was just hard to do that when everything felt as if it were pushing against me.
Maybe I was being slightly dramatic, but my date had laughed at me.
“Doing okay, Felicity?” I looked up at Gregory Teller and smiled. He leaned against the doorway, his white hair fluffy since he needed a haircut, and the lines around his eyes and mouth deepened as he smiled at me.
“Just frustrated. I can’t find a place to live.”
“I’m sure your parents would love to have you stay with them. After all, you don’t need to quit having a multi-generational home just because you’ve grown up.”
“That is very true. But I’d like to try this part of my own independence. It’s just finding something in my budget and available in town is oddly difficult.”
“The town council is very particular about what buildings are allowed to be built on town grounds. So, it does limit the full population potential. Not to mention all the short-term rental properties out there for tourists. It’s ruining the housing market.”
“Don’t even get me started. Don’t even get my mother started. She could probably stand on that chair right over there and have an entire speech ready for you. She hates short-term rentals. It ruins neighborhoods.”
“And it’s even worse in larger cities. I do know that our town council’s working on limiting those. So hopefully, that won’t be an issue soon.”
I had been hearing that concept for a while now. And while that would be lovely, it wasn’t going to help me at this moment. Not that I was going to say that.
“Anyway, my break is over now, so it’s back to this notebook.” I gestured towards the notebook and stack of folders for a local company and grinned. “Was there something you needed?”
“Yes, actually, I do have a favor to ask.” I set my pen down and stood up.
“Is everything okay?”
There was something in his eyes I couldn’t quite read, and I moved forward. “Did the doctor call with your test results?”
“Everything’s fine. Like usual. Do not worry about me. I would love for you to add a new client to your roster. One that is solely yours because I failed them in the past.”
I frowned, confused. “You failed them? That doesn’t sound like you.”
He let out a breath and patted my hand. “Sascha passed just weeks after they first opened their business, and well, I couldn’t add them to my roster like I wanted. They slid through the cracks.”
My heart hurt thinking about his late wife. She had been such a kind woman to me when I was younger. And though I hadn’t known her well, I knew Gregory missed her something fierce.
“That’s understandable. Especially since you rarely hire anyone to help you.”
“The best person, other than you, of course, that I’ve ever worked with was Eve Ashford.
” He sighed again, his expression falling.
“That’s why the fact that I failed her son like I did just pains me.
However, I’m pretty sure Teagan finally convinced Callum to come in and request a little more help for Ashford Brews.
They would be a great asset and client for us, and I truly hope that you can take them on. ”
I froze, my throat parched at even thinking about working with Callum.
But that was a silly reaction, considering I didn’t even like Callum that way anymore.
It was a silly crush that was now gone forever.
Just like in the memory of that kiss. And we were friends.
He was Rune’s and Atlas’s friend. Meaning I could work with him. As a professional.
“Of course. Should I call him up?”
“No need, he’s right here. Callum, son, come on back to the office. Felicity will get you set straight away.”
My eyes widened, my palms going damp. “Oh. Now?”
I swore my voice squeaked, and I quickly wiped my palms on my linen pants. “Okay, well. I mean. Sure. This time works.”
Gregory moved back and to the side of the doorway as Callum moved forward.
He had on dark jeans that molded to his thighs, a black Henley, and his leather jacket that had seen better days.
It was chilly out for an April afternoon, and I couldn’t help but remember the time that he draped that jacket around my shoulders one day when we were outside, watching one of Thatcher’s kids in a soccer game.
It had just been a kind gesture, one that had made me swoon.
Thatcher’s daughter had fluttered her eyelashes at me, and I had rolled my eyes at her.
Teenage girls saw everything, and I was grateful that she only teased me, not knowing my true feelings.
“Thanks for taking me on. Teagan is great at what she does, but she fired me.”
My eyes widened. “Really? What did you do?”
“He’s too successful. He needs an accountant.” Mr. Gregory raised his brow.
“Between Teagan and my financial advisor, I’ve made everything work, and my original staff from back when I was in the NFL still does my personal taxes, but the company taxes and bookkeeping needs someone else. So what do you say? Want to help a guy out?”
“I’d love to.” I swallowed hard again. “I mean, it’s about time you came to the best.” I winked as I said it, and Gregory burst out laughing, but Callum just stared at me, those eyes far too knowing.
“Good. I was worried you wouldn’t want to work with me.”
“Why wouldn’t she? You’re family.”
Gregory tapped Callum’s shoulder and had to reach up to do it since he was huge and took up most of the doorway before the old man and traitor left me alone with Callum, heading back to his office.
“So what is it that you’re looking for?” I asked, and when Callum just smirked, I knew that this was probably a recipe for disaster. But it is what I asked for. For him to treat me like a normal human being and not someone who wasn’t old enough to know their own ways and choices.
“I don’t know if you should phrase it just like that.”
“How else shall I phrase it?”
“Felicity.”
“Callum,” I drew out. “Do you have something in mind with what you need, or do you want to make an appointment? Are you looking for somebody to do the actual bookkeeping and payroll? Or just your taxes.”
“Everything. Teagan literally fired me.”
I held back the twitch of my lips. Barely. “Well, she handles so many others, and I know she was just doing it because she’s your sister. She manages a business, a very good business in town. I don’t know how she has time to deal with the rest of you.”
“She said pretty much the same thing. Plus, she’s spending a lot of time helping Kellan and Thatcher with childcare.”
I winced as I gestured toward my desk. “Come take a seat. I’ve been working with Teagan on that too. I really hope that they find someone soon. I know that they were deciding to go in together on that.”
“Honestly, with the teens being old enough, it makes sense. They just need someone to help organize their lives in a spreadsheet sense. The guys don’t have easy work hours.”
“Pretty much. They’re meeting a new woman named Tess today. She’s new to town and needs a job.”
“Well, that’s helpful. Though I hope she doesn’t take any nice apartment that I need,” I added, the words slipping out before I meant them to.
“House hunting, little flower?”
“I am. And you shouldn’t call me that when you’re in my place of business. I’m the one that’s about to know all your secrets.”
His face closed, and I could have kicked myself. “You don’t want to know all of my secrets, Felicity.”
“I just meant the work ones. Promise. Anyway, I hope this Tess works out. And she finds a lovely apartment on her own.”
“I’m pretty sure she already has a place to stay. And is looking for employment. I also know that Thatcher and the rest will get a background check, and they’ll be off to the races. I just hope that this person stays long enough.”
“Considering how many people that they’ve gone through because people that they hire are so unreliable? I agree.”
“Anyway, let me know when you find a place. I’ll help you move your shit.”
“I have more than just shit,” I teased. “But thank you. I’m sure if you hadn’t offered, Rune would force you anyway.”
“That is true. And your mom will have a complete spreadsheet of exactly where things should go, and your dad will order us around according to how your mom orders him. I know the rules.”
“My parents are pretty amazing that way.”
“I was so jealous as a kid, but I’m glad that you guys had them.”