Page 45 of Clued in to Love
Hilary thought she might vomit. The room began to spin. Her eyes couldn’t focus. Had she read that wrong? Ben had left her?Hewanted a break?
How could this day possibly get worse?
TWENTY-SIX
MARISSA
After their close call at the pub last night, Marissa woke with a new resolve to keep things strictly professional with William. For a moment outside, when they’d been standing next to the falls, their shoulders touching, the heat from their bodies radiating, she had almost imagined falling for him. Thank goodness Parker and her snobby group of friends had shown up. Marissa could have pictured staying for another drink with William if she hadn’t. Getting caught up in his charm was easy, but she had to remind herself that he was used to dazzling people with his wit and rugged good looks. It came with the Graff family name. William had grown up in a Bend-style castle. His childhood had involved bougie birthday parties and trips around the globe, or so Marissa assumed.
Meanwhile, she had grown up in a two-story cottage three blocks from her elementary school, where she had walked to the public school a few blocks away. Her family vacations had been road trips to the big city—Portland, for the weekend, and summer getaways to national parks. Her parents had surprised her with tickets to Disneyland for her thirteenth birthday. They couldn’t afford to fly, though. Her mom packed a cooler and suitcases, and they spent three days driving to Anaheim,stopping in small towns and Northern California beaches along the way.
She and William might live in the same city, but they were worlds apart. Anytime Marissa started thinking about William’s flirty smile and his soulful eyes, she needed to remember that.
She went through her morning routine at her parents’ house, making sure that she didn’t take too long in the shower. Sundays were their snowshoeing days, so they had already packed a thermos of hot chocolate and snacks by the time Marissa had finished getting ready and headed downstairs. She made herself a coffee and scanned ads for apartment rentals: a one-bedroom, six-hundred-square-foot apartment for two thousand dollars a month.
Why did everything have to be so expensive?
Bend was second only to Portland in terms of exorbitant housing prices, but good news buzzed on her phone.
She checked her email and did a little happy dance.
The Graff party had landed her two new clients. Yes! It was working.
She scanned the messages, unable to contain a smile. One was a holiday brunch, and the other was an office party. Neither was as lucrative as the Graff account, but they would both bring in some more cash. As long as she kept her holiday spending in check, she should have enough for first and last months’ rent and a security deposit. It was going to be tight, but this was a step in the right direction.
Yet another reason she needed to stop daydreaming about William and keep her mind clear. The fifty-thousand-dollar prize was within her reach.
Marissa sketched plans for her new projects. The brunch was going to be fun to create. She envisioned waffle boards with syrups, flavored butter, whipping cream, mini chocolate chips, and fresh fruit. Additionally, she would create savory boardswith sausage, soft-boiled eggs, avocados, salsa, and tortillas. The client had requested doughnut boards that inspired Marissa to order old-school milk bottles. She planned to fill them with milk and serve them with reusable red-and-white-striped straws, accompanied by platters of raspberry jelly, bear claws, and glazed doughnuts, along with dozens of doughnut holes featuring holiday sprinkles.
For the office party, the only instructions she had been given aside from the budget was to go with a cocktail hour theme. Marissa would do her classic cheese boards and bite-size finger-food boards with mini quiches, bruschetta, and pinwheel wraps. She was contemplating adding Jell-O shots for a touch of whimsy. She could create Hanukkah blueberry and lemon shots, as well as cherry and lime Christmas-themed shots.
She sent a quick email to the client asking their opinion on the idea and confirming that a boozy board was cool. She had agreed to meet William at the Santa breakfast at ten. It was almost nine. If she left now, she would have time to swing by and take a look at a new apartment that had popped up on her search. It was farther outside the downtown core than she’d hoped for, but it was within her price point, and it was brand-new, so it was definitely worth checking out.
William Graff monopolized her thoughts on the drive. She couldn’t stop seeing his smile or imagining him leaning in to kiss her.
What is wrong with you?
Marissa pursed her lips and held a tighter grip on the steering wheel.
He’s your scavenger hunt partner and the ticket to your independence. Nothing more.
She wanted to believe it, but William continued to dominate her brain no matter what else she tried to concentrate on. She needed to find the next clue at this breakfast and keep movingforward with the hunt. The sooner they solved the puzzle, the sooner she could be done with William once and for all.
TWENTY-SEVEN
OLIVIA
Olivia scolded herself as she fiddled with her ponytail for what felt like the hundredth time. She’d worn her hair up and borrowed a pair of her mom’s dangling earrings for the Santa breakfast. She wanted to look mature and sophisticated for Malik, who was supposedly coming to help check people in for the event, but so far, he was a no-show. Shocker. She couldn’t help being disappointed even so.
Hugo brought her a peppermint tea and a plate of pastries. “They said we could have whatever we want. I’m going back for seconds. Maybe thirds.” He plopped into the chair next to her. “What’s my duty, Ms. National Honor Society Pres? Lay it on me. Your wish is my every command.”
“If you can hand out tickets, I’ll check everyone in,” Olivia said with a smile, handing him a roll of red raffle tickets. “Be sure to tell everyone to write their name and number on the back so that if they win, they can be notified.”
“That’s a tough task, boss, but I’ll do my best.” He ripped a hunk of a cherry turnover in half and offered the other piece to Olivia. He looked grown-up and cute, although slightly uncomfortable in his black slacks, button-down white shirt, and green Christmas tie.
“No thanks. I’ll start with tea.” She wrapped her hands around the mug. “Did Malik text you?”
Hugo chomped on the sweet pastry for a minute before answering. Olivia suspected it was because he was buying himself time to come up with a reply. “No. I texted him last night to be here by eight, but I didn’t get the impression he was super into the idea of being up this early on a Saturday.”
