Begin Again novel Chapter 21

"Mr Anderson, I think we should look at the resumes today," Mrs Gibson, or Gibby as Liam affectionately called her, smiled as he jumped in the backseat with her. She was his father's assistant, but when his old man retired two years ago, he inherited her along with his big shoes.

"Do we have to?" Liam pinched the bridge of his nose, a futile attempt to drive away his looming headache. He didn't want another assistant, but Gibby had stayed on six months past her retirement date. She couldn't postpone her move to the coast any longer.

"Yes we do, darling," she patted his hand in a motherly fashion and handed him the stack of files.

He looked through the first ten, his hope diminishing fast the further down the thick pile he went.

He sat up straight at candidate #21, his palms sweating buckets and his heart racing in his chest as he stared at Eden McBride's photograph attached to her CV.

Two years of searching for her. Who would have thought she'd eventually make her way back to him?

She looked as alive and as spirited as she did two years ago outside Crush when she told him not to be a dick, and wait in line like everyone else. She looked as achingly beautiful as she'd felt in his arms when they'd made love.

No wonder he couldn't find her at any of the libraries he'd searched because even though she looked like one with her thick black frame glasses, mousey brown hair and her questionable dress sense, she wasn't a fucking librarian.

According to her resume, she was a children's book illustrator. Same difference really, both professions had a thing for books.

"I want her." His eyes were dark with determination as he tapped her photo.

Gibby frowned. "Are you sure? She's a children's book illustrator with only three-months experience as a junior assistant."

"But she worked for Van Holt Industries," Liam pointed out. They were a giant in the hospitality industry and did business with Anderson Logistics, on a small scale though.

"She was a temp!" Gibby insisted.

"So?" Liam glared at her. Was she questioning his judgement right now? He would have her, come hell or high waters.

"She doesn't have any experience!" His assistant slammed her palm on her forehead and released a ragged breath.

"Doesn't matter," Liam retorted. "I want her."

Eden might not have the experience, but she would certainly learn. He would teach her, starting with a few lessons on gratitude and never biting the hand that fed her.