Page 61 of Just a Plot Twist
“Youdosmell like senior dog vitamins and peanut butter,” I mutter to her as I scrub under her chin. “And you need another bath.”
Cinnamon tilts her head to one side and stares at me, her dark eyes glittering as her tongue lolls.
“And you have a huge tongue,“ I add, as if to shore up my resolve that I cannot let myself get attached to this problematic dog.
Neither Claire nor Cinnamon are going to be in my life permanently. I can’t let either of them get to me.
Chapter 21
Claire
I hobble into work on Monday with a severe hangover—and no one can know the real reason why.
And when I say “hangover,” I mean this severe malaise that can only come from one thing.
I’m interested in Benson.
And it ticks me off.
It all happened so quickly, and I’m full-blownhaving feelings forBenson Kilpack.
Which cannot happen—thus the foggy, headachy sensation.
My body is at war with itself.
I blow through my Monday morning work routine, and let’s face it, I’m distracted, okay? I’m not doing my best work right now.
I’m pretty sure Benson likes me, but he may not be ready to date yet. He’s a wonderful person, but I wasn’t imagining my grandparents’ looks of disapproval that he was there with me.
Not that that matters when it comes right down to it. I need to do what makes me happy. Still, I want them to be pleased with my life choices.
I maybe want that too much.
To make matters worse, my body is sore from going kersplat on the ballroom floor. My ankle hurts. And I haven’t slept well because I keep reliving Saturday night with Benson and smiling so hard it hurts every time I remember his laugh, or our inside jokes, or the fact that he carried me (again!) after I fell.
I’m waiting for that phone call of disdain from my grandparents to dissect what I was doing antagonizing their swans, falling, and being hauled out of the extravaganza by a man well before the close of the party.
I haven’t heard from them yet because apparently, according to Sophie, after Grandpa surprised Grandma with a diamond gold necklace near the end of the event, he whisked her off on a surprise trip to Majorca.
It’s a second honeymoon of sorts. First the extravaganza was more elaborate than any wedding I’ve been to and now they’re on a luxury trip? What has gotten into them?
I’m happy for them. I just wish I could have seen Grandma’s face when she finally got the diamonds she’d been jockeying for.
Not that I’m regretting the time I spent with Benson.
I’m sure I’ll hear plenty from Grandma and Grandpa when they get back about all that—including how embarrassing my behavior was. Until then, I’m pressing forward as best as I can.
Brace yourselves, I have a city manager position to win right now.
Which is exactly where I’ve managed to switch my focus when Mayor Whitten approaches my office with a grim expression. “I saw you had a fall on Saturday night, Claire.”
Had a fall?One can only say the elderly “had a fall,” right? I can’t be alone in this.
I laugh nervously, my cheeks flaming hot. “Oh that? It was nothing.”
“It looked bad.”
Gee thanks.“No, really, I’m fine and ready to go.”
