Page 37 of The Meaning in Mistletoe
“Maybe.” He folded his arms in front of his chest, on the defensive. “Why do you care?”
“I can help you.”
“Isn’t it a little presumptuous to assume I’d even want your help? We haven’t spoken in years.”
“You act like that’s my fault.”
“I’m not the one who left.” His jaw clenched, and he hated that she had this effect on him. He suspected his feelings for Ashley had gotten tangled up in his anger toward his father. Either way, he didn’t want to be having this conversation in the middle of his crowded diner.
“But you’re the one who didn’t come after me.” She pinned him with her dark, piercing eyes as though she planned to gaze right into his soul.
But he wouldn’t give her that luxury, not anymore. “You knew I’d never follow you to New York.”
“But I’m in Los Angeles now.” She walked toward him, the click-clack of her heels matching the throbbing of his temples. “A lot has changed, Jack. You want to open an inn, which is a far cry from when all you wanted was a sleepy diner. It’s so ambitious. It’s so—”
“Unlike me?” Jack finished for her.
“I didn’t say that.”
“But youthoughtit, didn’t you? You were always disappointed I didn’t have loftier goals. I just never knew about it. Until it was too late.”
“Jack,” she released an exasperated sigh, “does any of this matter anymore? I mean, look at you now.” She waved a hand to encompass the bustling restaurant. “It’s not even the lunch rush yet and every booth is filled. You’ve obviously done quite well for yourself. I’ll be sure to pass that along to your father,” she added pointedly.
“Don’t bother,” he growled.
“Why not? Don’t you want him to know how successful you’ve become after turning down his job offer?”
“You mean, the job offeryoutook?” He regretted the bitter edge to his words. Especially when he noticed her almost imperceptible wince.
“I just thought you’d want him to know how well you’ve done.” She raised her chin as though reclaiming her aura of impenetrable confidence.
“That’s the difference between you and me,” he said softly. “I don’t care what other people think.”
Even as he said the words, he knew they weren’t entirely true. He cared what Kat thought. Especially now as she breezed through the front door and spotted him speaking with Ashley in hushed tones. Her eyes widened ever so slightly before she spun around, exiting the way she came.
“I have to go,” he said abruptly, brushing past her.
Hurrying outside, he trotted down the sidewalk and tapped Kat’s shoulder before throwing up his hands. “Don’t attack. I’m unarmed.”
This elicited a small smile as she turned to face him. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation.”
“You didn’t. In fact, I’ve been counting down the seconds until you showed up.”
She flushed. “Does that mean you’re ready to work on the display?”
“Yep. I’m embracing my inner Martha Stewart. Let’s go grab the arbor and get started.” As they walked around back to the storage shed, Jack stole a sideways glance as he said casually, “We kept missing each other in the crowd last night.”
“Yes, I suppose we did,” she said without meeting his gaze.
“I thought we’d make up for it tonight.”
“What’d you have in mind?” She peered up at him through thick lashes.
“It’s a surprise.”
“A surprise?”
“Yeah, you do like surprises, don’t you?”
