Page 28 of Cakewalk
It had helped that I read all of those horrible articles about him online. That at least gave me a logical reason to keep my distance, but now that he had explained the situation with his father and how Griffin had to take the fall… Well, what excuse did I have?
Of course, there was the classic PR nightmare that would happen if he got caught getting handsy with an employee. And yes, even ifIknew he was innocent of the charges, everybody else was going to take it at face value that he was a criminal, and that I was a fool to have fallen for him.
No, it’d all be way too hard to explain to anyone. I doubted I’d even get a chance to explain. It’d just be ex-communication and ridicule, from my family, from the town, from everybody.
I had to keep my damn wits about me, and my skirt on. I had to think of our relationship as nothing but strictly professional, even if I could barely resist him. Even if it was torture to be so close to him, to smell him, to feel his heat when I walked by…
No. Bad Jade. Be a professional.
I parked somewhere inconspicuous and around the corner, not quite ready yet to explain what I was doing driving a BMW. I already would have enough to explain, with the high heels and business attire.
I still could hardly walk in these damn things, but I had expected a more formal setting when I imagined the office of Griffin freaking Reed.
At least he was being budget-conscious.Note to self: Trade the heels in for sneakers tomorrow, before I give myself a grade 3 ankle sprain.
The plan was to go in, order some cupcakes and coffee, then answer the inevitable “Whatare you wearing?” question Courtney would swing at me with a simple, “I interviewed for a new job.”
I wouldn’t tell her with whom; I wouldn’t give her the slightest clue. I’d let her just stew on it, be happy and relieved for me, until we had dinner sometime this week. Then I would tell her the facts. I’d tell her I’m working for the most hated—but most misunderstood, I swear—man in Calhoon.
I stepped into the cake shop, and Courtney’s head shot up over the customer she was tending to. “Jade?” she said, her eyes flicking up and down, from my hair in a bun, to my high heels.
She completed the transaction she had been in the middle of without so much as glancing away from me, her eyes locked, her target acquired. She knew something was very wrong, and I wasn’t sure now that I’d be able to get away with an incomplete explanation.
She moved around the counter and stood before me, still taller than me despite my heels. “What happened to you?”
“I had a job interview,” I said, not meaning for my tone to sound so defensive. “What? I can dress up when I need to.”
“What job opening around here would require this kind of outfit?”
Oh boy. “Aren’t you supposed to dress your best for a job interview? Yeesh.”
“I guess. I just never saw you in high heels before. Where’d you interview?”
“A new place. I really shouldn’t say much, not here.” I nodded slightly at Mrs. Salisbury, who was seated nearby, the most prolific town gossip.
My sister sighed. “Fine. But you’re telling me at dinner this Friday.”
I pointed ahead at the cupcake display. “Could I have four? And two coffees?”
“They already have you doing coffee runs at this place? Did they hire you on the spot?”
“I’ve… actually been in discussions for the past week.” Not a total lie. I did talk to Griffin about my college and volunteer experience during our date.
Courtney huffed. “Well, all right, then. But they better know you’re more than just a coffee gofer.”
“I volunteered.”
“Only two coffees?”
“It’s a startup. You know how I like my coffee. The other’s black.”
My sister sighed and went back around the counter. At least she wasn’t digging further. I was used to her domineering over me, being five years older, but maybe now that I had secured a job, she’d stop seeing me as her kid sister to dutifully watch over.
And maybe she wouldn’t blow her lid when she found out who I was working for.
She put the two coffees in a cup holder and boxed the four cupcakes I had pointed out. “On the house,” she said. “Tell your new boss I said welcome to the neighborhood.”
I carefully balanced the box and cup holder in my arms. “Will do. See you Friday.”
