Obsession Falls (The Haven Brothers #1)

Okay, I kind of wanted to know how I rated next to Zachary. But only out of curiosity, not because I was hoping to be the first to graduate off the bachelor list.

I headed home, telling myself once again that just because I was alone, it didn’t mean I was lonely.

And I almost believed my own lie.

CHAPTER13

Audrey

Lookingat job postings had become so second-nature, I clicked to my saved search while I drank my coffee every Saturday morning without even thinking about it. Yes, I had a job—thank goodness—but working for a small-town newspaper that might be on the verge of closing wasn’t exactly ideal.

Although it was growing on me.

Still, I’d come here intending to take some time to get back on my feet, and that’s what I was doing. I needed to keep looking ahead to the next step.

And I wondered if I’d just found it.

The ad was for a marketing communications manager for a brewery and restaurant chain. That would be kind of cool. They wanted a background in either PR, marketing, or journalism. Heck, I had all three. And it was in Seattle, which was fine. It wasn’t Pinecrest, and when it came to location, that was my main requirement.

I sipped my coffee as I filled out the online application and sent a copy of my resume. I didn’t expect much. I’d applied to about a zillion jobs when I’d been unemployed. But you never knew. This could have been the opportunity I’d been waiting for.

My phone rang—my mom—so I picked it up and answered.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Did I catch you at a good time?”

“Yeah, just finishing my coffee. What’s up?”

“I’m just calling to check in and see how you’re doing.”

“That’s nice of you. I’m doing fine.”

“How’s work? Are you getting settled in at your job?”

There was a hint of what might have been anxiety in her voice, like she was concerned about my answer. “Yeah, I am.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Why is that a relief?” I got up and grabbed a dog treat for Max from a jar on the kitchen counter and tossed it into the living room for him.

“You just spent a good stretch of time unemployed. I’d hate for you to find this job doesn’t suit you, especially since you went to all the trouble to move.”

“That’s true. I guess I can’t say it’s my ideal job, but it’s going okay so far.”

“Plus I’m not sure how I’d explain it if you were to leave right away.”

“Explain to whom?”

“Oh, you know, the ladies here in Pinecrest. They’re always interested to hear how you’re doing.”

I leaned against the counter, suddenly filled with suspicion. “What did you tell them about me?”

“There were just some less than flattering rumors going around. Obviously I couldn’t let people talk about us that way.”

“What way? What were the rumors?”

“Don’t worry about it, honey.”