Page 36 of Highest Bid

Colleen had retreated mutely to another table, and it gave Layla a minute to breathe and allow excitement to settle. It also gave her a minute to admire Galan’s retreating back, his long-limbed, fluid stride, and the way he so effortlessly drew the eye.

With a silly little sigh, she turned toward the hut to finish the last few hours of her shift. She floated on a cloud right up until the last of the late lunch customers had been served, and the very last table wiped.

But she was aware of Colleen’s venomous looks. Though she was sad at their loss of friendship, she was on too much of a high to allow Colleen’s hostility to bring her down. Layla had worked damn hard; she deserved the promotion.

Ned had his apprentice chef and two kitchenhands cleaning the work stations when Layla waved goodbye. She’d actually miss working at the café and bar. It was busy but rewarding, with Ned’s exceptional cooking leaving customers happy and satisfied.

She caught sight of Colleen farther ahead. The spotted bag slung over the blonde’s slender and drooping shoulders looked as though it weighed her down.

Layla hurried to catch up to her. “Colleen.” She put a hand on her workmate’s arm. “Can we talk?”

Colleen swung around, her whole body stiff and aloof. “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”

Layla frowned. “I thought we were friends.”

Colleen shrugged off her hold and crossed her arms. “We were.”

“And now?”

“Now you’re on your own.”

Layla shook her head. “But I’m not on my own, not anymore. I’m with Galan, and that’s what this is all about, isn’t it?”

Colleen glowered before she leaned forward and hissed, “You show off your body one damn time, and now you’re fucking the boss and getting a promotion. I walk around half-naked in a nightclub full of groping, crude men, and the one time I fuck a man worthwhile I get used and abused and shown the back door. That’s what this is all about.”

Layla gaped. “And it’s my fault you went home with a singer who’s a renowned player?”

Colleen laughed. “Galan was also fucking women indiscriminately. Yet, one night with you, and he’s a changed man.”

Layla blinked. Colleen wasn’t alone in thinking Galan had feelings for her. Hope squeezed her heart. Was it too much too soon wanting it to be true?

Colleen hissed out a breath, and threw a folded up piece of paper at her. “You’ve struck gold, haven’t you?”

Layla gasped, realizing immediately it was her contract. She tapped at her empty back pocket, before retrieving the document from the floor. “You read my contract?”

“It was lying on the restaurant floor...what do you think?”

“I think you should have handed it back to me.”

Colleen curled her lip. “Quit the act already. We both know you stuck your greedy little claws into Galan, and he’s stupidly fallen for your innocent act.”

“Layla, is everything all right?”

Layla turned at Galan’s voice behind her, all her emotional upheaval draining away to leave something warm and fuzzy in its wake. She sent him a wobbly smile. “It is now.” She half turned. “Colleen was...”

But the other woman had already hurried away.

Galan put a hand on Layla’s arm and drew her back around to face him, his eyes watchful, assessing. “She’s resentful of your happiness.”

Layla nodded. “I guess she wants what I have.”

Galan’s eyes softened. “Not everyone is lucky enough to find our chemistry.”

Was chemistry all they had?

In the space of one second, her emotions cascaded from on-top-of-the-world exultation to crushing self-doubt. “I guess not,” she said, her voice brittle.

He frowned. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

---