Page 136 of At First Smile
Sasha tosses Greg another death glare.
He flashes a crookedoopssmile back at her.
Uneasiness braids in my stomach. I shift in my seat, my gaze dropping to Pen.
Her mouth is a firm line as she nods. Pen’s left hand slides from the table’s surface to her lap and grips the fabric of her skirt. Her eyes are intense as they remain fixed on Sasha as she goes on.
“Don’t answer right now.” Sasha reaches out and squeezes Pen’s forearm. “Think about it this week. Talk to Rowan.” She tips her head towards me as if we’re conspirators in this, in whatever plan she and Greg have hatched.
“You’ve given me a lot to think about.” Pen picks up her mug and takes a long sip of tea.
Pen is the picture of politeness. All smiles and warm conversation throughout the remainder of breakfast. But I notice the way her hands curl around the mug’s handle. The shallowness in her laughter. How her eyes don’t meet mine.
Later as we say goodbye and walk away from Bread, I clear my throat. “Did you still want to go to the pier?” I already know the answer.
“I’d like to go home, please.”
“Okay.”
The walk back is quiet, though the thick tension between us roars.
“I swear I didn’t know they were going to do that,” I say as we reach the front door.
“You didn’t seem that shocked when you said I’d be perfect for the job,” Pen grumbles, unlocking the door, she pushes it open. GB runs up to greet us.
“Iwassurprised, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’d be a good fit.” I follow her in.
“Good fit for whom?” She spins, lightning flashing in her eyes.
“What does that mean?”
“Not three days after this—” she raises her bandaged hand. “—and I tell you about what Nelson and Cortes say, Greg and Sasha just happen to show up at Bread to offer me a job.” She slams Cane Austen into the corner by the front door and storms towards the living room.
A furrow notches my forehead. “I had no idea they were going to do that.”
Whirling, she faces me. “But you did talk?”
“I…” Sighing, I slump against the entryway between the foyer and living room. “…I did. It all came out Friday when Sasha was at the arena. I was just sharing with a friend my concern over what happened to you, nothing more.”
“I’m sorry.” Her expression softens. “I just don’t like to feel ambushed.”
I cross the small distance between us and place my hands on her bare arms. “I know and I’d never do that. It hurts that you’d even think that.”
“I’m so sorry… I don’t think that… I was just caught off guard and…”
“It’s okay.” I lean in to kiss her, but she places her hand on my chest and stops me.
Her gaze locks on my face. “But you’d like me to take the job?”
The question climbs down my throat and sloshes in my stomach. It’s a test that I know I’m going to fail. “I won’t lie to you… Yes.”
With a bob of her throat, she nods.
My fingers skim her silken skin. “It is a good offer. You’d be doing the work you love with people who respect you.”
“Withyouragent and publicist’s foundation.” She glares.
“It’s not like that. They are doing this because of you, not?—”
