Boyfriend for Hire Read Online Free PDF Page B

eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, to how her life would go. There were spreadsheets, timelines, and calendars. All color-coded. Could she go from being a planner to a pantser—someone who flew by the seat of their pants? If she’d learned nothing else the past few weeks, it was that not everything would go as scheduled. Besides, this job was only until something opened back up in the banking industry.
    “Just think of me as Semper Gumby . . . always flexible,” Tawny told her.
    The woman laughed. Good.
    “Interesting motto. Maybe it should be our new company watchword. I think you’ll like it here. We really are one big family. Despite the required crazy ones and a few, occasional grumps, it’s a good place to work. You’ll work hard, but temper that with playing hard and it all equalizes. Which is why it’s important to us that our employees have a good work-life balance.”
    A what?
    Mrs. Spinelli walked to the fridge and grabbed another diet soda. Between the caffeine and sugar, the lady should be climbing walls or running marathons. Then again, Tawny imagined running a company that organized everyone else’s parties probably took a lot of energy and stamina.
    “We make sure our staff gets family time or playtime, whatever it is you need. If, say, you work seven to ten days straight, expect that we’re going to require you take an extra day or two off to recoup. The last thing we want is burned-out planners and an unhappy home life.”
    “That’s very kind of you,” Tawny murmured.
    Mrs. Spinelli took a sip of her drink. “Oh, it’s very selfish of us, really. Can you imagine the mood of an event if our people ran around scowling or yelling at their spouse on the phone because they can’t make dinner or crying because they missed their child’s play? Bad business for everyone.”
    Tawny nodded, not that she had to worry about any of those problems affecting her work. Single, alone, and no one to answer to.
    “Tell me, what do you do for fun?”
    “Fun?”
    “What are your hobbies, pastimes? What are you passionate about?”
    Fun? Get her nails done, shop, work . . . um, shallow and not fun. At least not by this woman’s standard.
    “Documentaries intrigue me.”
    “Oh, my favorites are celebrity bios. Loved reading about Judy Garland and Joan Crawford, but those are way before your time.”
    “Are you kidding? Who doesn’t love Dorothy and hasn’t seen The Wizard of Oz a half dozen times? Mommie Dearest . Not a woman I’d want raising me. Did you happen to catch the one they had on Billy the Kid the other day? Fascinating. I’m not sure if I believe Pat Garrett let him go instead of killing him, and that he lived well into the twentieth century.”
    “Missed it. So what else?” the woman probed.
    “Huge Red Sox fan.” Please don’t ask me for players’ names or positions . “And of course, I love to shop, especially for my niece and nephews.” That last part should help, she prayed.
    “I’ll be frank. I like you, Tawny. You’ve got excellent credentials. Think you’d be a good fit. But . . .” She took another sip of her drink and grabbed a cookie with a muttered oath. “These really are a weakness of mine. Where was I? Oh, the final decision is not mine. Not true, it is mine, but only after I make sure you won’t disturb the balance we have.”
    The confusion she felt must have shown on her face because Mrs. Spinelli patted her on the arm and assured her not to worry.
    “This Sunday is my son’s birthday. We’re throwing him a huge party and all the staff will be there, plus their families. It’s a great opportunity, not only for you to meet everyone, but to see how you fit in with our people. Come. It’ll be a blast. No shoptalk is allowed, it’s all about enjoying ourselves.”
    “Sure, I can come, I would love to meet the gang. Is there anything I can bring?” Tawny snagged a cookie, nibbling nervously.
    “Gifts aren’t required, but I’ll tell you my