Page 9 of Cupcake of the Month
You looked beautiful last night.
She had an idea who this might be, though she had deleted Josh’s number years ago. Had he really kept hers? And even after all this time, his words still gave her a topsy-turvy feeling in her belly. Especially when she was still bed warmed.Oy. She had convinced herself she was over that.
Speaking of beds. When had Lana left his? Or maybe she was still curled up beside him, the scent of sex on his sheets and around his room. Jordan hoped he wasn’t that much of a douche, texting one woman while holding another.
“Boy, it sure will be great when we hire a special events coordinator,” Brandi said when she was back in the kitchen. “Someone who can really strategically manage this place.”
“Mmhmm,” Jordan answered, her attention still on the text. What the hell kind of game was he playing with her now after ghosting her so long ago?
She put her phone down, but the unanswered message tugged on her mind and made her fingers twitch. Aw, hell. She’d respond, but he was damn well going to work for it.
Who is this?
She envisioned his small smile and the slight shake of his head as he read her message. She ate her breakfast and pretended to not wait for his reply.
And not wait.
And not wait some more.
Seriously? He was such a jerk.
She stuffed a forkful of French toast in her mouth. The sweet taste of Ms. Eulalee’s homemade maple peach syrup more than made up for Josh’s lack of response.
Not really. But telling herself that helped.
Brandi hustled back into the kitchen with dirty plates. “Yup. That coordinator will definitely make a difference. Especially one who already knows the way the Inn works. Right, Jordan?”
“Do you have any candidates yet?” Jordan asked.
Brandi twisted her mouth as footsteps sounded on the servants staircase. Wendy made an appearance in the kitchen, laser-focused on her tablet. Her brown hair was pulled back from her face, not daring to escape the barrette clipped atop her head. She glanced at the clock on the microwave when she hit the bottom step. “Are we running a little late today? Being on time sure will be easier when we get a social coordinator. Don’t you think so?”
“Serving breakfast will be easier with a social coordinator?” Jordan asked.
“You know, so I can help instead of being interrupted with questions about the venue and Brandi can focus on Belle’s.”
“Right.” Jordan’s phone beeped, but she fought its lure to figure out why her friends were acting so weird. For all of five seconds.
Josh.
“And who put that dorky smile on your face?” Wendy asked.
“No one.” She put her phone down. “It’s the wonderful scent of peaches.”
“Dinner is going to be good tonight!” Eulalee peeked into the oven. “Man, those tarts. Now I have to figure out what to serve for the actual meal.”
The older woman closed the oven, then prepared the sanitizer for the three-compartment sink. Rob came into the kitchen and sat next to Jordan while Wendy passed the dishes from the dining room to Brandi.
Jordan made sure they weren’t paying attention to her before she sent a response.I’m surprised you noticed. And I see you remembered how to use a phone.
This time, she put her phone on mute.
Jordan cleaned the dishes, scraping bits of food into the trash before putting them in the wash sink. There were too many to finish before the staff meeting, but at least she could put adent in the pile. Wendy had told her countless times she didn’t need to be there, but it helped Jordan know what was going on and where she could be of help. Plus it let her focus on something other than words that rhymed withlending pawsuit.
When everyone gathered around the island, she dried her hands and checked her phone one last time.
I had to watch a tutorial.His next text came soon after.See you, Jay.
She sucked in a quick breath. Damn it all. He was the only one who ever called her that. He was the only one she had allowed to call her that.
