THIEF: Part 2 Read Online Free PDF Page B

Juliet offers.  “We don’t pay much, but you know—if you’re interested.”
                  “Thanks,” I say, trying to sound polite, “but I think I’ve had enough stable clean-up to last me a lifetime.  Besides,” I lie, “I’ve got some leads on manager positions around town.”
                  Juliet nods.  “Well, if you change your mind.  And for the record, you wouldn’t be on stables—that’s for community service kids.  Sometimes we get interns in here and they take turns with it.  Most of our employees are horse trainers, groundskeepers, and counselors.”
                  “It would be kind of cool working with the kids,” I say, my mouth finishing the bite of cake I just took, “but I don’t think I could handle it for long.  Like Silas—he really loves it, but I guess some people are called to that kind of thing.”
                  “What?”  Juliet glances across the room, where Silas is laughing with another counselor.
                  “You know what I mean,” I explain.  “Some people just have a knack for working with special needs kids.  I don’t think I’m cut out for it—that’s all.”  I hold up a hand, apologizing.  “I didn’t mean anything bad by it, Juliet.  It’s just not my thing.”
                  Juliet peers back at Silas, confused, and gets ready to say something else.  When she opens her mouth, though, one of the other supervisors calls her name.  She hesitates, then excuses herself.
                  “Having fun?” Silas asks, kissing my cheek.  Up until today, we’ve been hiding our relationship at any cost.  It’s not exactly against any rules, but we didn’t want everyone in our business.  Besides—sneaking around at work was exciting, sexy.  Today, though, with my 100th hour of service officially behind me just as the lunch bell rang,  we made it known.  First, we held hands on the way to lunch, then kissed in front of the staff right before I blew out my candles.  Everyone hooted and cheered, but something in their faces told us we weren’t as discreet the last few weeks as we thought we’d been: everyone seemed to know already.
                  “Guess I better start looking for a job, now that my service is over,” I sigh, tossing my cake plate into the trash.  I clean a smudge of ice cream from his mouth with my thumb and lick it, remembering our first date.  It feels like years ago, but I realize it’s barely been a month.
                  Silas smirks; he’s probably thinking of the wedding expo, too.  “Guess so.  Like I said, my job doesn’t pay much.”
                  “What are you going to do when the summer’s over?” I ask.  “You know, once the camp ends?”
                  He shrugs.  “They still need grounds keeping for the country club.  And sometimes I do odd jobs around town.  There's always something.”
                  “You could counsel somewhere else,” I suggest.  “There’s a special needs school right in the city—”
                  “Maybe,” he says quickly, cutting me off.  He checks his watch.  “You ready to head out?”
                  His rushed words surprise me, but I brush it off.  “Uh…sure.  Just let me go around and say my goodbyes.”
                  “I’ll bring the golf cart around and drop you off at the lot,” he says, and kisses me, quick, before hurrying outside.
                  When we’re at his car, he passes me his keys.  “The blue one’s for the apartment,” he says, “if you feel like napping or something till I get done here.”
                  “Actually…I was thinking of finishing up the renovation clean-up at my mom’s place,” I say slowly.  “The realtor’s going to be there early