Page 67 of Cupcake of the Month
She watched him, but her mind wasn’t in it. Her phone vibrated again.
I don’t have you to look forward to tomorrow.
The words caused a flutter in her belly.
“Mr. Wonderful?” Nate asked.
Jordan stuck out her tongue at him.
It’s been the same routine since I began working at FH. Wake up. Brush teeth. See Jordan.
I recently varied the routine by adding Kiss Jordan to that list.
Her lips tingled in memory.I’d say that’s an excellent addition.
Good, because I plan on doing a lot more of it when you get back.
She let out a slow breath, nerves gathering in her belly.I’ll be home after your shift is over.
***
First thing Josh did after he woke up was steal across the living room and quietly open Zach’s door. The tension in the house the past couple of days had been the worst Josh could ever remember. The sight of Zach’s sleeping form on his bed calmed Josh’s racing heart and gave him a small measure of peace.
How long would that last? How long until another letter slipped by him?
The second thing he did was access the parental controls of Zach’s electronics and check his email account and social media. It had become part of his daily ritual. Nothing there. Josh exhaled in relief and dove into his morning routine.
His phone buzzed as he dried off from his shower. He wrapped the towel around his hips, then padded through the open room to his makeshift nightstand.
Of course the text was from Jordan.Can’t wait to see you. I should be back late afternoon.
Longing shot through his heart. Longing to be with her, for a normal, sane life. Longing to tell her the truth. The clock was ticking until she stopped accepting his evasions and rejections.
After changing into his worn jeans and grey t-shirt, he turned the futon back into a sofa and put a bookmark inThe Three Musketeers. It had been on top of the pile last night, and he had tried to immerse himself in the French Revolution. It had worked…if every musketeer smelled like citrus and wore glasses.
He sighed and picked up his phone, thumbs hovering over the keys before typing.I have a catering job tonight. Safe travels.
He grabbed his backpack and headed down the three flights of stairs to the car. What could he do to make Zach realize Josh wasn’t the enemy?
Tell him the truth. And let the consequences happen.
Once he got to the Hall, he checked the guest list for any allergies and got cooking. Soon the kitchen filled with the sizzle of pancetta and the scent of frying onions. Duarte came in with the vegetables Wendy had requested for the Junior League dinner that night, rather than leave the selection to chance.
Josh made a peach compote to use instead of jam, even though he hurried to finish breakfast service so he could get going on the prep work for dinner. And with a catering gig that night, he wouldn’t be able to see Jordan until tomorrow.
Desire stirred his mid-section. He wanted to revel in makingher smile or touching her soft skin. He wanted to take the chance that she wouldn’t blame him, like so many others, for his mom and stepdad. He wanted her more than he wanted to breathe.
Brandi came into the kitchen covering a yawn as he was popping biscuits out of the cast iron pan, her hair pinned up at the top and falling loose down her back. After pouring herself a cup of coffee and washing her hands, she plated the breakfast food. “There’s got to be an easier way to go out at night and still wake up in time for the early shift.”
“I hear that.”
“You do it all the time when you work with Barb. What’s your secret?”
He nodded to her coffee mug and then to his own. “You’re drinking it.” He had survived on caffeine and the sheer force of his will many times in the past eight years.
Brandi brought the hot food into the dining room while Josh scanned over the menu for that evening’s dinner. Though Anthon would be doing most of the service, he wouldn’t be coming in until the end of Josh’s shift. This night was a big deal. Josh savored the chance to show Wendy and Brandi what he could do, even without having gone to some fancy culinary institute.
Wendy breezed into the kitchen, a self-satisfied look about her and her hair loose over her shoulders instead of tied back in her usual neat ponytail.
