Page 67 of Moonshine and Magnolias
Steward’s had been her present and future since she graduated college. She couldn’t risk getting fired. But Fountenoy Hall was her blood. Abandoning it would kill her.
And being killed did not feel good.
“I wish I were,” Beth said.
Rob shifted his arm under her head and pulled her against his solid, naked warmth. Her solitary instincts rallied against this simple gesture of support. She was so used to dealing with every crisis by herself that the physical comfort wasalmost a distraction.
She ignored the internal battle and nestled into him, drawing on the strength of his presence. The air swirled around her with sudden realization. She wasn’t alone anymore. Even after Rob finished his work and left, she’d cling to what he had brought into her life. “Beth, my grandmother just died. I can’t make a decision like this under pressure. If I don’t get the time I need, I’ll be second-guessing myself for the rest of my life.”
“That’s perfect.” Beth drew in a breath. “I mean, I’m sorry. About your grandmother.” Wendy heard her tapping on a keyboard and waited for Beth to do what she needed. “Okay. Even though there aren’t any provisions in your contract for this, I can hold them off with argument for compassionate noncompliance. You’ve always been an exemplary employee. It won’t buy you much time, but it’s something. Mr. Steward will agree. He’s not a heartless man.”
Rob’s hand rubbed over her hip. The motion soothed her. “How long do I have?”
“Thirty days. I can try to make it more.”
The solution hit Wendy so clearly it was a wonder she hadn’t seen it before. If she was going to give her cousin full faith like she had asked for, then Wendy needed to be all in, too. She scrambled her feet to push up and sat against the headboard, drawing her knees against her chest. “No.”
Beth made a noise of relief. “Good. Getting more than that would have been difficult.”
Wendy drew a quick, ragged breath. And leapt. “I’m turning in my notice, Beth. I’m going to stay at the Hall.” Rob’s hand tightened around hers. Or maybe she had grabbed his. It didn’t matter.
The HR director squeaked. “You’re what? You can’t! You… you… I’m going to need to tell Mr. Steward. Please tell me you’re open to hearing a counter offer.”
The room tilted a bit, so Wendy closed her eyes against the dizziness. “Do I need to send an email or something?”
“No, you need to wait. I promise I can get you more time.”
“I appreciate everything you’ve done, but this is it. I need to see where this takes me.” Was that about Rob or the Hall? “So, an email?”
“If you’re sure. Yes.” Beth cleared her throat. “Send it to Tina and copy me.”
“Thanks, Beth. I’ll be in touch.” She hung up her phone, but stared at the small screen while she assessed her body’s reaction. No twitching, no tingles or tightness in her chest. Slight elevated heart rate, but that wasn’t surprising. “Huh.”
She had known. In her gut, her soul. The job for which she had worked so hard, had sacrificed her time and holidays, had immersed herself to where it was her life, and she flat-out quit. Not because it was practical, but because it was right and it felt good.
She was home.
“You just quit your job.”
“Yes.” Reality suddenly ripped away the relief and she jumped out of the bed. Fanned her face with her hands. “Oh, fiddlesticks. I just quit my job.” What the hell had she been thinking? She had taken the known and the secure and the practical and let the door hit them on the ass.
Rob stood with her in his glorious nakedness, his hands tracing over her shoulders. “Take a breath.”
She nodded, grasping his wrists and keeping her eyes trained on his face. Inhaled. Exhaled. The whispers in her mind settled. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“I’m glad I’m here, too.” He kissed her, the heat from his lips going straight to her core.
Her nerve endings cried for more. “And naked.”
His hand found her breast. “Always a benefit.”
A knock on the door sounded and Rob rubbed his thumb against her nipple. Wendy covered her mouth with her hand.
“Wendy?” Brandi’s voice called out.
Wendy put her finger to her lips and Rob nodded. She reached for her phone on the bed and shifted it to mute.
Brandi knocked again. “She’s not in her room, Aunt Eulalee. I don’t want tohead out until I have a chance to talk to her. I’ll try texting.”
