Page 80 of Cupcake of the Month
Now her clothes were in her suitcase and her other stuff in boxes. Papers for Mrs. McGraw lay in neat stacks on the table in her room, divided by importance. A courier was coming to pick them up. She had already emailed her electronic files.
Since it was now mid-morning, Josh should be finished with breakfast service and either prepping dinner or washing dishes. Truth was, she didn’t want to face him and the hurt and betrayal that still sent shock waves through her body.
She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, the bright lights showing off her puffy skin and bags under her eyes. She stuck out her tongue at her reflection as she gathered her hair into a bun. A little makeup helped cover any evidence of her empty heart.
Her phone beeped and she picked it up. The text from Micahwas a perfect way to delay, even as her stomach rumbled.
Any updates?
I’ll let you know in a couple of days.
OK. Nate said he told you about our vacation. Did you want to come along?
To the land of hobbits? I’m good.Besides, now it coincided with going to court.
All right. I’ll check in later.
She slipped her phone into her back pocket and stepped outside the stables. A handful of leaves skittered past her feet as she made her way to Fountenoy Hall.
Brandi and Wendy sat at the kitchen island when Jordan walked in, an unfamiliar man on the stool next to them and a laptop on the table. Josh had the industrial mixer going, filling the kitchen with the sweet scent of apples and cinnamon. The look he gave her carried a mixture of anger and lust, and sucker punched her in the gut. What the hell did he have to be angry about? If her stomach hadn’t staged a protest, she would have gone back to her rooms.
Josh turned off the machine and took a plate out of the microwave, his eyes shaded by the bill of his University of Georgia ballcap. He shoved the eggs, bacon, and biscuit into her hands. “You missed breakfast.”
Jordan had no time to react before he turned his back on her and went back to the mixer. She stood gaping, holding the warm plate in her hands. These little considerations had made her smile before, but now it just pissed her off.
The plate clanked when she placed it on the counter. “I’m having yogurt.”
He didn’t turn around. “Suit yourself.”
Damn right she would.
“Give it here.” Brandi reached out her arm. “I’ll eat it.”
Josh passed her the plate.
“Jordan, this is Paul Harper.” Brandi broke open the biscuit. “He’s our new special events coordinator.”
“Oh! Great! Welcome to Fountenoy Hall.” Jordan recognized the name – out of all the applicants, he’d been at the top of all their lists for the position.
Paul was in his early thirties and wore a stylish blue and white pinstriped shirt. He rose and extended his hand, his brown eyes glowing with friendliness. “Nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” She shook his hand. “I know Wendy and Brandi are happy to have you here.”
“You ain’t kidding,” Wendy said.
His grin widened. “I got that impression. Happy to be here.”
Brandi continued with Paul’s orientation as Josh brushed past her on his way to the butler’s pantry. Jordan turned away from his appealing, clean scent when he returned carrying a couple of cupcake tins.
“Here’s the list of current requests.” Wendy tapped on the laptop and slid it over. “I suspect it will take you all day today to contact everyone and handle their requests. Tomorrow, Jordan can show you how to update the events web page for when you’re ready to take those calls.”
“Uh, actually…” Jordan cleared her throat. “I wanted to huddle with you guys later to tell you all this, but my lawyer called last night. I’m heading to Connecticut. Again. And for a while, this time, depending on how it all goes.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Josh freeze at the counter, then resume filling the cupcake tin.
“You’re leaving us?” Brandi asked. “When?”
“Later today.”
