So Far Away (California Dreamers #2) Read Online Free Page B

look like the bad guy. Or bad gal, I guess.”
    He takes in a deep breath as he seems to consider my story. “Okay. I just want to make sure that there’s not going to be any hanky-panky going on.”
    Hanky-panky ? I know the guy is old, but he’s not that old. That term makes him sound like he’s ancient.
    “I can assure you there will be no hanky-panky on my part, sir.”
    He makes a finger circling motion. “This is a hanky-panky free zone.”
    I nod. “I understand.”
    “And don’t call me sir. Jack is fine.”
    “Jack? You don’t strike me as a Jack.”
    He narrows his gaze at me. “What do I strike you as?”
    “You’ve kind of got a Jeff Bridges vibe.”
    His expression is blank. “Who?”
    “The actor. Jeff Bridges. You look like him. You know. The Dude.”
    He shakes his head. “No. I don’t know.”
    “Never mind.” He’s definitely a recluse. No doubt about that.
    “I think I’d better go to bed.” He rubs his temple. “My head is killing me.”
    “No!” I don’t mean for my voice to be that loud. It startles both of us.
    “No?” He glares at me.
    “You just got up,” I explain. “I think it would be better for me to make you coffee. We could sit down and you could tell me some of your expectations for me as your new assistant.”
    He looks me up and down. “You make coffee.”
    “Of course.” Is that a trick question ?
    “Is it good?”
    “I think it is.”
    His forehead wrinkles even more than it was already. You would have thought I’d just asked him for one of his kidneys with as much thought as he’s giving my suggestion.
    “Okay,” he says finally. “Do you make toast too?”
    I laugh. “It’s one of my specialties.”
    Jackson’s kitchen is enormous, and just as immaculate as the rest of the house. He must have a housecleaner, but I don’t see any signs of anyone else anywhere.
    After I find the coffee-maker and very expensive Kona coffee I start brewing a pot. Being unemployed for so long I could only afford the cheap stuff. Getting to have high quality coffee is definitely a perk of what so far seems to be a really weird job.
    I’m not surprised that he has trouble keeping assistants. The job seems to require a high tolerance for ambiguity. Not many people possess that quality.
    Normally I don’t either, but you know what they say about desperate times and desperate measures. Count me in on that cliché.
    His large fridge is stocked with lots of food. Additional evidence that he has a housekeeper. Someone has to acquire this amount of fresh produce.
    There are several different types of bread. I select the whole grain. I also grab the butter and raspberry jam.
    He’s got one of those eight-slice toasters and I’m immediately jealous. I’ve always wanted one of those.
    I make eight slices, just because I can. And I’m not sure how much he’ll want to eat.
    Once the toast pops up I grab the slices, the butter and jam, and a couple of plates and knives and bring them over to the table.
    Then I grab two mugs, pour us both coffee, and join Jackson at the kitchen table.
    He savors his first sip of coffee like it’s a treasure. Kona coffee just may be as expensive as gold.  
    “How did you know I like it black?” he asks.
    “Call it a hunch. The flavor of the coffee is too good to dilute it with cream or sugar.”
    He points a finger at me. “Smart girl. Your money for the fancy Ivy league education didn’t go to waste.”
    He grabs three slices of toast and slathers on loads of butter and jam. I wait while he takes a few bites before I speak.
    “I wanted to get a better idea of some of your expectations for my job.” I look at him expectantly.
    “Aren’t you going to have some toast? This jam is fantastic.”
    I grab a slice and put small dabs of butter and jam on it.
    Jackson glares at me. “You need more than that. That’s not even enough to taste it.”
    I put a bit more of both the butter and jam on my toast then take a bite. “It is