Page 57 of Baker

“Correct.”

“Uhhm.” I shifted my eyes toward the ceiling. After feigned deep thought for a moment, I met his curious gaze. “No.”

I turned around. Holly was still gawking at him. I cleared my throat and motioned toward the sideboard. “Make yourself useful, Holly. Grab the end of that. Let’s center it with the pictures.”

Baker beat her to it, picking it up before she could pick her jaw up off the floor. As I lifted the other end, he continued his full-court press.

“I’d pay you pretty competitively.”

“I’m a California girl,” I said. “Arizona isn’t my jam.”

“You were born in New York,” Holly said.

I shot her an evil glare. “Go home.”

Baker glanced over his shoulder. “I’m Baker, by the way.”

“Holly,” she said, her voice giddy with excitement.

“Do you two want to go get a room?” I asked. “I’m trying to get some work done. It’s tough with you two flirting.”

“I’d pay you a hundred grand,” Baker said.

“Holy crap!” Holly gasped.

“Not interested.”

“Your personality can’t be taught,” he said. “I could go one twenty.”

I almost dropped the sideboard. “I don’t want to leave California.”

“One thirty.”

He had my interest, but there was no way I could leave my job with Mister Greene. Not before I proved to him that he’d made a good decision by giving me the job. And, having Baker as a boss would mean I’d have to stop fucking him.

I was willing to do neither.

I lowered my end of the sideboard to the floor. “Sorry, I can’t.”

He set his end down. His face was covered with what seemed to be a combination of concern and pride. “You won’t even consider it?”

“I can’t. I made a commitment to my boss to improve spending. Until I either succeed or fail, nothing will drag me away from here.”

“Nothing?”

“Nope.”

He stroked his beard and looked me over. After satisfying himself, he scanned the room with his eyes.

“Where’s your tape measure?”

“Don’t have one.”

“Concrete drill?”

“Huh?”

He nodded toward the pictures. “How’d you hang those?”