Page 33 of Always Be Mine

“It’s him. Isn’t it?”

Lucy dropped her head in her hand but didn’t say anything.

“Lucy! Did you kiss your boss?”

“I didn’t know,” she finally said. “This was before I knew there was a job or a…well, before I knew anything. I just decided to take your advice, which I now think is awful advice, actually. Anyway, I didn’t know, and it was before I got hired, so now that I know who he is and that he’s my boss, nothing is ever going to happen.”

Lucy wasn’t sure whether she was trying to convince Mandi, or herself.

After a moment of silence on the other end, Mandi released a long breath.

“Please don’t say anything.” Lucy squeezed her eyes shut.

“I was only going to?—”

“Mandi.”

“You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”

“Sorry, I?—”

“I was going to suggest you run yourself a hot bath, close your eyes, grab a vibrator, and put a whole new fantasy in your head.”

“Mandi!”

“What?” Her friend’s laughter reverberated through the phone. “You need to get that piece of shit ex out of your head, and your mind is a powerful thing, Lucy. Don’t underestimate it.”

“I appreciate the advice, Mandi.” She rolled her eyes.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me.” She laughed again. “Seriously, Lucy. Now that I know you’ve alreadykissedhim, it changes everything.”

“It doesn’t change anything, Mandi. He’s my boss.”

“And?”

Lucy froze.

She didn’t mean it. Not like that. Lucy knew that. Still, it stung.

“Oh.” Mandi realized her mistake at once. “I didn’t mean it like that. I was just?—”

The dismissal bell rang, drowning out her friend’s excuse.

“Mandi? I’ve got to go.” Lucy disconnected the call and stuffed her phone in her backpack before slinging it over her shoulder. It didn’t matter what Mandi said.

Itdidchange everything.

ChapterEight

She’d beenat her job almost a full week, and although she was still getting used to the early mornings—which were very different from her days working at the restaurant where she’d sleep in after late nights—it was all going much smoother than she would have guessed.

The house was still dark when Lucy pulled her car next to Craig’s Jeep in the carport at the back of the house. She let herself in with the key he’d given her and took a minute to get the coffee started and put the kettle on for tea. After the first morning, Craig had stocked his house with four different kinds of tea for her.

He was usually in the kitchen waiting for her by the time she arrived, but when the water had boiled and he still hadn’t made an appearance, Lucy figured he must have slept in. Not that it made any difference to her. She’d been watching his morning routine all week; she didn’t think it would be much of a problem to get Meri ready.

Lucy flipped on the light in the hallway as she made her way to Meri’s room. Craig’s door was still shut at the end of the hall.

Slowly, she turned the door handle and entered Meri’s room with only the light from the hallway.

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