Page 25 of Cupcake of the Month
“Let me check.”
She heard muted mutterings and tapping before Luke got back on the phone. “Can you be here by two?”
“Sure.”
“She has a rare half hour break.” He gave her the address.
Jordan exhaled slowly and slipped her phone back in her pocket. She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyelids, trying to relieve some tension, then stretched her neck to either side. No need to show Josh she was bothered by anything. This lawsuitwas her problem.
She pasted a pleasant smile on her face and reentered the kitchen.
He took one look at her over the prepped vegetables. “What’s wrong?”
Jordan gaped at the ease in which he read her before she managed to cover. “I’m trying to figure out what to wear to a party tomorrow night. I’ll be with Lana, if you want me to pass on any messages to her.” Maybe that would show him she wasn’t bothered by him getting into her mind so easily.
His mouth twisted into a sardonic smile that spelled failure as clearly as running for home when the catcher already had the ball. “Because you’ve always been so worried about clothes.” He slid the red peppers to the side and worked on the celery, his long fingers expertly lining the ends and cleanly chopping it into even pieces. “You don’t have to tell me, but don’t make up excuses.”
Before Jordan could give him a scathing response – and it would have been tremendously scathing – Wendy and Brandi came in to the kitchen with Eulalee. Anthon entered through the back door. Rob followed behind, his nose in his tablet.
Jordan swallowed her exasperation and positioned herself for the staff meeting on an empty side of the island, away from Josh. As everyone gathered around, she was forced closer and closer to him. When the meeting started, only a few inches separated them, enough for her to inhale his fresh scent under the layer of ham and peaches.
Eulalee led the way, discussing the number of check-ins and outs for the day, and recent changes to the schedule. “We have food to drop off at the local shelter. Rob, is that something you can do?”
“I can this afternoon,” he said. He gripped Wendy’s hand, and she gave him a wide smile. “There’s, uh, a literary agentinterested in the book I’m writing about my great-uncle and your great-aunt, and I have a phone call about it in an hour.”
“That’s fantastic,” Jordan said. Rob had spent the summer at Fountenoy Hall doing research that led him to write the book – and to Wendy. “Mazel tov.”
The others added their congratulations and Rob exhaled a deep breath. “Thank you. It may come to nothing, but it’s something right now.”
“It’s a huge something.” Wendy leaned in and kissed his cheek.
Jordan turned away at the affection, letting them have their moment, and locked gazes with Josh. Her breath lodged in her chest at the craving in his eyes. Her tongue darted out to wet her suddenly dry lips and his stare dropped to her mouth, the craving turning into desire.
Her skin lit with awareness and her body swayed imperceptibly closer. Her arm brushed against his bare skin. He was as hot as she was.
He shifted, a deliberate movement that took him away from her. The break in contact was like a sheet of ice coating her and she yanked her arm away. How stupid could she be? He was stirring her like cupcake batter.
“Jordan?” Eulalee asked.
It took a huge amount of will not to snap. “Yes.
“The food. Can you take it to the Feed the Hungry shelter?”
She’d rather throw it all in Josh’s face. At least then they’d be even on the wearing food count. “Of course.”
“I think that wraps it up,” said Eulalee. “Ladies?”
“Nothing from me,” Brandi said.
“We’re going to Plates of Macon tonight,” Wendy said. “To find unique caterers close by for Fountenoy Hall events.”
“I’ll be there at Barb’s booth,” Josh said.
“Then we’ll definitely stop by. I’ve heard good things abouther cooking,” Wendy said. “Plus she’s the one that sent you to our kitchens. I need to go thank her.”
“Okay. Good job today, Josh,” Eulalee said. “Anthon, let’s get those desserts going.”
Josh took a bag out of the fridge and put it in his backpack while the others exited the kitchen. He didn’t glance in Jordan’s direction.
