“Now, you listen to me,” he said very gently, very calmly—clearly a man used to dealing with hysterical women. “You know you’re good. The very best cosmetologist I know. And I need the very best, Lily Pad. Granted, it’s not a manager position like you had, because that’s my job. But I need you while Cassandra’s off to have her baby. It’ll be a walk in the park for you compared to the clientele and work you’ve been doing in San Diego, and by the time Cass is ready to come back, hopefully you’ll have heard back on a permanent job somewhere you actually want to be.”

“But—”

“But for now you’re here,” he said. “I’m all you’ve got, and not to be a complete dickwad, but I’m going to make the most of that. I need you.”

She closed her eyes. “I ran into him.”

“Who?” Jonathan asked and then gasped dramatically. “No.”

“Yes.”

“And it was no big deal because you’re all done up California-style, right? You’re wearing fab clothes and makeup, looking totally irresistible so that he rues the day he let you go, yeah?”

Lily blew out a sigh.

“I’m reading volumes into that sigh, Lily Pad.”

“You should be,” she said. “First of all, no one let me go—I left. And second, being here …” She swallowed hard. “I don’t know, Jonathan,” she whispered. “I’m not sure I can do this.”

“Well, pull on your big girl panties, because you’re already doing it.” He softened his voice. “Listen, I get it. I lived next door to you, remember? But it’s been a long time, sweetheart. It’s okay to move on, to have a life for you. It’s okay to be happy back here, and maybe even rediscover your love of this place.”

There was so much there that she couldn’t touch. So much. Mostly because it was all true. So she concentrated on the part she could control. “But what if what happened in San Diego follows me—”

“It won’t. You were thrown under the bus by your boss and boyfriend. No one would do that to you here, not even an opportunist like me. I’ve got your back. You’re the sweetest, kindest person I know, Lily.”

“You need to get out more,” she said, uncomfortable with the praise.

“Shh. I know of what I speak. So … how did he look?”

“Who, Aidan?”

“No, the tooth fairy,” Jonathan said. “Yes, Aidan. How did he look?”

“Sexier than sin on a stick,” she admitted miserably. “The bastard.”

Jonathan laughed in agreement. When it came to all matters sexual, Jonathan was a free agent, playing for whatever team suited him in the moment.