Page 19 of Right With You
He couldn’t know how I was scraping by right now, could he? I hadn’t complained about my finances with friends or anyone. It was a point of pride, admittedly to a fault, that I didn’t talk about money with people. When you grew up with a woman who jumped from one man to another following the gravy train, you learned what desperation looked like. I wanted nothing to do with it.
The fact that I’d let Callum into anything regarding money, let alone this business, was the last vestige of pain I felt about our relationship. And this… this with Luc just wouldn’t work.
Before he could speak, I stood and thanked God for a customer approaching the door. I practically ran toward the counter as the bell rang, cutting off whatever Luc might’ve said, and my need to halt the shame spiraling through my chest. Shame and an unreasonable amount of anger, though I couldn’t be sure who it was for.
CHAPTERNINE
Luc
Well, that went perfectly, and now I had to get to work.
As soon as one person exited, two more slipped in. Elise was buried behind a line of people eager for her donuts. I stepped up to the glass case and waited for her gaze to land on mine.
No chance at reading her expression, I mouthed, “Later,” and she nodded an “okay.” I hoped it genuinely was. Her upset at my suggestion had been rather unexpected.
Two minutes later, Kenny caught me as I was mounting the steps at the front of the Saint building.
“How’d it go?” he asked, clapping me on the back in his affectionate way.
“Poorly.”
He startled. “Really?”
I scowled at him, evidently channeling Beast. Speaking of, the giant of a man plodded down the hallway with a mug of steaming coffee and slowed to greet us as we passed Reception.
“How’s our baby?” Kenny asked him, plucky as all get out and grating on my nerves.
I didn’t normally struggle with his cheery nature because I knew, lately better than ever, what a genuine person he was underneath it all. He chose joy even when it didn’t get served up to him naturally, and I admired it.
But my jaw had locked tight when Elise’s cheeks had burst into flame and her eyes cast down. My gut had dropped into the ground as I’d read the broadcast she sent out with her shoulders curving in just like they used to do around her awful ex.
Shame.Embarrassment.
And I’d been the cause.
Stupid!
“Mybaby seems to be perfect. And my wife is, too.” Jude’s face softened. “She’s starting back next week if the rest of this week goes well.”
“Heck yeah!” Kenny held up a high five and Beast begrudgingly slapped it. Then he held it up in my direction, and I met his with my own hand with zero enthusiasm.
“Even when you’re grumpy you’ll show up for me.” He looped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me in like he might give me a noogie, then waltzed us toward the break room. “Let’s get you some caffeine.”
Allowing him to guide me down the hallway and past Adam, who gave us a chin lift, and Bruce, who raised one brow at Kenny’s steering embrace as he spoke into a cell phone, we arrived at the well-equipped break room in less than a minute.
Kenny reached for two mugs and poured coffee into them, then doctored his, and left mine black. He delivered the mug to the table in front of me and sat.
“Tell Ken-Ken.”
I groaned, then laughed. “I love you, man, but Ken-Ken is not happening.”
He chuckled, shrugging a shoulder. “Made you lighten up a bit, though, didn’t it?”
“True enough. Let’s go.”
He stood and waved a hand, signaling I should start talking as we walked back toward our offices.
“I told her we should be engaged but temporarily. That we should act in a way fiancés would minus the emotional involvement, but including protection, care, etc. because she has a dirtbag ex who she might need help looking out for. And I mentioned I could compensate her.”
