Brayden’s Mate—Chapter 34
Taylor sat in the lobby of the Weather Channel waiting her turn to meet with human resources. A few minutes later, she followed a middle-aged woman named Rebecca to her office and sat in a chair across from her.
Taylor smiled, hoping to belie her unexpected lack of enthusiasm.
The woman skipped the small talk and jumped right into the business. “I just have a few forms for you to sign. Have you had a chance to look at the insurance options?”
Taylor shook her head. She’d gotten a packet in an email, but she hadn’t even opened the attachments.
While Rebecca went over the insurance options, Taylor’s gaze wandered to a photograph sitting on her desk. It was a winter scene, a younger couple sitting on a snowmobile holding their infant. Despite being bundled up in heavy coats, their arms wrapped around each other, the baby in their laps, big smiles on their faces.
“Is this your family?” Taylor asked when Rebecca took a breath.
Rebecca sat back, following Taylor’s gaze. “Yes. My daughter and her husband. That’s their baby. My grandchild. They were on vacation in Montana. It’s where he’s from.”
“You must be very proud.” Taylor said.
“I am. They seem so happy. I rarely get to see them, but we Skype at least once a week.”
After Taylor picked an insurance package, Rebecca moved to the next document. “This is your contract.” Rebecca slid the paper over for Taylor to review. “I assume you haven’t read it.”
Taylor glanced at Rebecca, but instead of seeing judgment, she caught a glimpse of mild amusement.
Taylor took the pen Rebecca offered and held it in her hand as she read. It was basically the same terms that had been outlined in the initial email. The difference was a blank line at the bottom for her signature. Her gaze moved back to the snowmobile and instead of the happy young couple, she saw Brayden picking her up by the waist to swing her off the snowmobile onto the ground. She remembered how he’d carried her through a blinding sudden snowstorm and nursed her back to health.
Instead of the contract and photo of strangers, she saw her career sitting on the table side by side with her love life. How was she supposed to choose between them? How did anyone?
He told me to take this job. But Taylor hadn’t fought it. She’d sent him way without even giving him a chance to come up with another option. To find out if he even had another option in mind.
She set the pen down.