In Anyone Else's Shoes Read Online Free Page B

conceal his long, lean, muscular frame. Throw in the five o’clock shadow at ten in the morning, the perfect tangle of almost-messy, medium length, deep brown hair, those honey-brown eyes – he was a magnet, and the girls were helpless, floaty threads of metal.
    ‘I’ve got to tell you, Emma, your store is everything I was expecting – and more. I was given a heads-up before my visit.’ Jason had spent almost an entire afternoon with Emma, and was ready to open up.
    ‘A heads-up?’
    ‘Sure. I went over your numbers myself. They’re fantastic. And corporate thinks the world of you. I hope you know that.’
    ‘Not really. Pretty much the only communication I ever receive from Vegas is general, corporate-wide memo type information. Mr Laswell always told me things were fine, if I didn’t hear otherwise.’
    ‘Ah, Robert Laswell. Listen, Emma, I didn’t get to spend much time with the man, but things will be different now, I promise. And you’re doing a great job here. In fact, do you think we could have a minute to ourselves? Let’s step into your office.’
    ‘Um, if you haven’t seen it yet, there’s barely room for one of us in there. But I suppose we could squeeze …’
    ‘Let’s talk outside then, if you don’t mind. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you in private.’
    Emma traced quietly behind her boss to the front of the store. He held the door open for her and she stepped towards the expansive display window. She stopped and turned to face him, and there he was, close to her – personal space close – as if he needed to whisper a secret.
    Emma breathed him in, and, for a moment, allowed herself to consider him as something other than her spirited, assertive new boss; he was strong in other ways too. She imagined freeing two of those pearl-coloured buttons from his crisp-collared white shirt, and, with an inquisitive palm, exploring his smooth, firm chest. Three more buttons then waves of toned abs and … Stop it, she told herself. He’s my boss, and I’m old enough to have been his babysitter!
    ‘I want to ask you two things, Emma.’ Jason’s soulful eyes locked with hers and she couldn’t look away. ‘First off, as you may know, we’re opening a store in Tucson. Our long-range plan is to have it be a multiple store market, maybe three or four locations. It’s very important we get this first one right; otherwise, the whole market could be a bust. I’d like you to consider taking this store – get it off the ground properly. It wouldn’t be a short-term deal, Emma – you’d have to move. I know that’s asking a lot. Now, I can’t make any promises, but down the road, as we add more stores, there will be an opening for a group manager …’
    He continued pushing his agenda, his sales pitch for Emma to pick up her life and relocate a hundred miles from home and from her friends – for a lateral move, and possibly, just possibly, something more in a few years. What would Ty think? Ty – maybe this would be good for her. Tucson could be a fresh start. It wasn’t the other side of the world. It was just a two-hour drive; close enough to not lose anyone in her life – unless she wanted to, or needed to. Her anxiety somewhat quelled, her mind drifted to what sort of cupcake bakeries might exist in Tucson.
    ‘So, of course you’ll have some time to think this over, OK?’
    ‘Sure. Wow, that is a lot to think about, Jason. Thank you for your confidence in me, but …’
    ‘Wait, Emma. I’m sorry to interrupt, but before you say anything else, I have one more question for you.’ Jason’s eyes left Emma’s face for the first time. He looked down at the sidewalk, like a little boy searching for a bug to squash. ‘Would you have dinner with me tonight?’ He continued to look away from Emma, and he suddenly seemed very shy. She thought she detected a blush. ‘We don’t have to talk business. I’d just like to get to know you better …