Page 28 of Trusting You
She was gripping the countertop with her eyes closed. It looked like she was either having a stroke or doing some kind of new age breathing exercises.
“Cece, are you okay?”
She looked up at me. “Yes, I’m fine.” She plastered on a fake smile.
“Is everything okay out there? We are really busy.”
“No, everything is totally fine. Trent and I have the bar under control, and Kyle is changing kegs right now. I think we’re in good shape.”
“Okay,” I stumbled. “Do you want a taco? They smell amazing.”
“Did Maya give you those?”
“Yes. She wanted to say thank you.”
“I’m sure she did.” She rolled her eyes.
“I don’t follow.”
“Don’t pull the dumb guy routine with me. She was blatantly flirting with you.”
“Okay, but I really don’t think so.”
“Yes, she was. She probably couldn’t help herself since you are so stupid hot.” She kicked the metal prep table with her sneaker and it was really cute.
My mind was spinning. What the hell was happening? “You think I’m hot?”
“Oh, please.” She started pacing around and ignored my question. “I am the one that found her and invited her to come here and helped her make money, but I don’t rate free tacos.”
“Well, I think you do. Please have one.” My mind was at war. On the one hand, her jealousy was adorable, on the other, we had a packed house out there and needed to keep our heads in the game.
I gestured at her with an amazing-looking taco. She took a bite.
“Oh, wow.” Her contented groan shot straight to my dick. “Of course they are delicious. They are farm-to-table too. She’s a goddamn culinary genius.” She took the taco out of my hand and took another bite. “You should ask her out. She is very pretty.”
Angry, jealous Cece pacing around my kitchen was irresistible. I had to fight the urge to grab her and kiss some sense into her. Watching her freak out was so endearing I couldn’t help myself. I grabbed her by the arm, and she looked up at me, her eyes full of confusion.
I took a deep breath. “I think we need to talk about Thursday night.”
She looked up and held my eye contact. “Yes. We. Do.” She pushed me away from her. “You kissed the hell out of me.”
“Yes, I did,” I said, puffing my chest out with pride
“And then you ran away.”
“Yes, I did,” I agreed, feeling deflated.
“What the hell, Liam?” She was mad and she had every right to be. This was just another example of me fucking up. I didn’t want to hurt her. She was my friend and my employee. I had to keep my traitorous dick under control.
“I’m sorry. I have felt like shit for the past two days about it.”
“Are you sorry for kissing me or running away?”
I panicked. This felt like a cross-examination. “Both. I think.”
She took a big step back from me, looking hurt.
What are you doing, idiot? Talk to her. Don’t hurt her more than you already have. Put on your big boy pants.“Listen, Cecelia. I don’t regret kissing you. It was great. But it can’t happen again. You work for me. And you are my most valuable employee at the moment. I don’t want to jeopardize that.”
