Moments In Time: The Complete Novella Collection
in its saucer. “I
would like to repay your honesty. Carlene, tell me, do you like
jewelry?”
    What woman didn’t like jewelry? “I do.”
    “I’d like to make you a job offer.”
    “Me?” I asked.
    Lilliana let out a peal of laughter and
nodded. “My husband and I own a chain of jewelry stores. Maybe
you’ve heard of Stalford Jewelry? How would you like to work in our
Serendipity store? It just so happens we’re looking for an
additional sales associate. You’d be perfect. Would you be
interested?”
    I placed my cup on the saucer with a shaking
hand. No wonder her name had sounded familiar. She owned one of the
most well-known luxury jewelry retailers, and she had just offered
me a job.
    The familiar image of a powder pink box with
a white ribbon tied around it flashed through my mind and I bit
down on a smile. “Yes, I’d love to work for you. Thank you.” I’d be
a fool not to accept such an offer, right?
    “Perfect. I’ll call Sam Doherty, the
Serendipity store manager, first thing in the morning.”
    The next half an hour was spent discussing
the specifics of my new job over the remainder of the coffee.
Lilliana was a warm and kind person. I silently thanked my guilty
conscience for forcing me to return the purse to her.
    When it was time for me to leave, I stood,
and the magazine I’d grabbed earlier dropped to the carpet with a
thump and flipped open.
    I stiffened as I saw Nick’s eyes staring up
at me. The man whose incredible kiss I still tasted on my lips.
“Nick Johnson, Serendipity’s rising star” was the caption
underneath the photo.
    I bent down, picked up the magazine, and
placed it on the couch, trying to hide the tremor in my hands.
    “You didn’t manage to read it. You can have
it,” Lilliana offered.
    “Thank you... Thank you for everything,” I
stammered in response.
    I walked out in a daze.
     
    ***
     
    First thing I did when I stepped into my
apartment was count the money Lilliana had given me. It was enough
to pay one month’s rent with extra left over for other things.
    I climbed under the covers with the magazine
to read the article about Nick.
    It turned out Nick Johnson had only been a
stranger to me. To everyone else, he was a successful businessman,
a real estate developer who’d made millions with his chains of
luxury hotels, which were spread out all over the world.
    I raised my fingertips to my lips. I had
kissed a millionaire. Any hopes of being with him crumbled
instantly. He was way out of my league. Or what if he wasn’t? Maybe
I was deluding myself, but I chose to believe it wasn’t over. Nick
was an ordinary, handsome man—he just had more money than
average.
    I ran a finger along the contours of his
face, touched the soul-touching emerald eyes I’d had the privilege
to dive into.
    Despite the odds stacked against us,
something about this man made me want to be with him. Not because
of his money. My finances were tight, but I’d never date a man for
his money.
    Something else about him refused to let me
go. If only I knew what that was.
    I reread the article at least five times.
Nick Johnson. His name was now etched on the surface of my heart.
It would have been easier to forget him before, when he was just a
handsome stranger. But now I knew more than just the color of his
eyes. I knew he was real.
    Before meeting him, I’d resigned myself to
my life at Oasis, to working and living in a homeless shelter, with
no dreams, no plans, and no desires.
    Until Nick walked into my life and tipped it
over.
    I’d thought Chris would be my first and
last, and I’d never fall for another man. Now I found myself
rethinking my entire life. Maybe Melisa was right—maybe it wasn’t
too late to start over. I had lain low and licked my wounds for too
long. I’d paid my dues. Whatever scars I carried, I’d have to learn
to live with.
    I wanted to become the kind of woman a man
like Nick would be proud to date. I truly had no idea when and
whether I’d see him
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