Page 90 of Always Be Mine

“They are delicious.” Lucy held out the half-eaten coconut chocolate. “I think this might be my new favorite.”

“Mine, too,” Maria said. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go find the little girl’s room. Wait here?” She waited until Ross nodded and disappeared through the crowd.

The last thing Lucy wanted to do was make conversation with her ex, and she was about to excuse herself when Meri ran through the crowd and slammed into her legs. “Hey, kiddo.” She bent and grabbed Meri’s hand. “What’s going on?”

“Auntie Kat said I couldn’t have anymore chocolates.” Meri, who looked as if she’d already had more than her share, was on the edge of an epic emotional meltdown. The sugar crash.

Lucy ignored Ross and knelt so she was eye to eye with her. “I’m sure if Auntie Kat said that, there’s a good reason. And we need to listen to her. But,” she added quickly when Meri’s lower lip started to quiver. “The best part of this being your dad’s shop is that any leftovers are coming home, so we can have them tomorrow.”

Meri considered what she said, and after a moment sniffed hard and nodded. “Promise?”

“I promise we’ll have at least one chocolate tomorrow.”

Satisfied, Meri gave her a quick squeeze. “I’m gonna find Grady.”

Without waiting for a response, Meri took off again. It wasn’t until Lucy stood that she realized Ross was still there.

“She’s super cute,” Ross said. “Your boyfriend’s daughter?”

Lucy swallowed hard and nodded curtly. She’d forgotten that she’d let that slip to Ross the last time she ran into him. Not that it mattered. He’d be leaving town soon and?—

“Lucy, I’m so sorry.” Kat appeared, looking slightly flustered. “Did Meri come and tell you how awful her auntie was?”

Lucy tried not to look at Ross. “She did, but it’s okay. I sorted it out.”

“I really am sorry, Lucy. But she was eating so many chocolates, I didn’t want to make your job any harder tonight than it needed to be. I know Meri is a total bear after she’s had too much sugar.”

“Job?”

Kat turned, noticing Ross for the first time. “Sorry, I don’t think we’ve met.”

“Ross.” He held out his hand.

“I’m Kat. This is my brother’s shop. And that little sugar fiend is my niece. Nice to meet you.”

They shook hands while Lucy wished for a hole to open up in the floor and swallow her up.

“I used to be Lucy’s…” Ross glanced at her quickly. “She used to work for me at my restaurant.”

“Really?”

“It feels like a lifetime ago now.” Lucy swallowed hard and tried to think of how to end the interaction as smoothly and quickly as possible.

“I always forget that you used to work at a restaurant.” Kat laughed and shook her head. “I just assume you’ve been a nanny forever. You’re so good at it.”

“Nanny?”

Lucy’s face burned, but there was no way she could get out of the conversation now.

Unaware of her discomfort, Kat nodded. “Oh yeah, Lucy is Meri’s nanny. She’s been working for my brother for what…a few months now?”

Lucy nodded.

“So you’re thenanny?” Ross’s lips twisted into a smirk. “I wish I could say I’m surprised.”

Her face heated further, and she turned, looking for a way out.

“Anyway,” Kat spoke up first, “it was nice to meet someone from Lucy’s other life, but I’ve got to run. See you soon, Lucy, and I’m so sorry about the sugar.”

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