“Sounds like a great day. And what keeps you from doing that?”

“That’s easy. Paperwork. Inventory. Bills to pay. Taxes. Forms to fill out. Sales and marketing issues. Personnel issues.”

“It sounds to me like you’re one business manager short of having the ideal job.”

He sat back and pondered her suggestion for a few minutes, studying her until an idea popped into his head. “You know what? You’re right. You want the job?”

Her eyes widened. “Me? No.”

“Why not? You’ve been managing offices all over the country for years. You’ve got the accounting, sales, and business skills to tackle the job.”

“That’s true, but—”

“But what? You don’t think you’re qualified?”

She lifted her chin. “If anything, I’m overqualified. I could get you organized in a matter of months. Then you’d be free to visit each of your shops, hire staff, handle the day-to-day paperwork and any hands-on repair work you wanted.”

He liked seeing that fire in her eyes, the confidence in her abilities. She was right for the job. She knew it, and he sure as hell knew it. “Exactly. So what’s the problem?”

“You know what the problem is, Carter. Actually, there’s more than one problem.”

“Your mom, of course. I didn’t mean you had to start tomorrow. I’m willing to wait.”

“That’s not it.”

“You mean the fact you’re not planning to stay in Hope after your mom is back on her feet?”

Molly hadn’t voiced her plans to move on once her mother was better, but obviously Carter—and probably everyone else just assumed it. And they were right. “Yes.”

He shrugged. “I think that’s just your standard go-to, because it’s what you’ve always done. Why not deviate from the norm? Or better yet, consider Hope your next stopover point in your trip around the world.”

She was at a loss for words. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“So you still feel like traveling, like picking up and moving every few months, finding that next new place to live and that next new job, right?”

“I . . . guess so.”

“Okay, fine. Why not make Hope your next new place to live, and a job with me your next new job?”

“But—”

“Then, when wanderlust strikes again, you can pack up and move on.”

He looked so sincere, with a glint in his eye that she read as just a bit of a challenge. As if he expected her to say no, that it wouldn’t surprise him in the least if she did.

Well, dammit, maybe she would surprise him. Maybe she’d shock the hell out of all of them and stay. Wouldn’t it amaze Carter, and this entire damn town, if she didn’t take off as soon as her mom was able to move around without help?

What if she did stay? At least for a few months. God knew Carter could use the help, and who better to organize his work life than her?

It would be a challenge, and she loved a job that presented an opportunity to learn. She’d streamline his operational systems and create a dynamic sales and marketing plan for him that he’d be excited about.

Then, once she was satisfied—or when the itch to move on became too great, she could do just that, move on, like she always did.

Only this time, she’d leave Hope on her own terms. She wouldn’t be running. Not like last time.

“You’re serious about the job offer,” she said.

“I wouldn’t have made it if I wasn’t.”

“Then I’ll take it.”

His brows rose. “Really?”

“Yes, really. Does that surprise you?”

“Maybe a little.”

“Okay, that was honest. But I’ll still take it, because I think you’ll benefit from my expertise.”

“And I like your confidence in your abilities, so I’ll hire you.”

She studied him, wondering what instigated his job offer. Maybe she was second-guessing his motives, but she figured he’d been baiting her, that he’d never imagined she’d agree.

Too bad. Now he was stuck with her.

She liked the idea of it, though. And she intended to show him that she was damn good at a job. She might not have stayed long at all the other jobs she had, but she left each company in a better place than they were when she’d started.

She’d do the same for Carter’s company. She’d swoop in, take over his paperwork headache, organize his systems and develop a sales plan. Then, when she was satisfied everything was in working order, she’d leave.

By then, she’d be easy to replace with someone competent enough to take over for her. She’d done it countless times before. It was easy.

Though as she looked over at Carter, the thought of working closely with him warmed her.

And the thought of leaving him behind left anything but an easy feeling in her stomach.

Better to stay in the here and now and not think about the future. Staying in the present was always best.

She’d worry about tomorrow and the next day . . . later.

Chapter 24

CARTER SPENT EARLY Saturday morning sitting across the desk from a man he never would have thought he’d hire as his next body guy.

Brady Conners was overqualified, had just come back to Hope after a long absence, and he didn’t know a whole lot about him other than the family connection. Carter had known Brady’s older brother, Kurt, from high school, but they hadn’t hung out in the same circles. Brady had left Hope after high school—like Molly. And he hadn’t come back.