AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She sighs. “It was a long-ass day at the shop that ended with a last-minute house showing in Spring City.”
I put my face into view of the camera. “Did you get a sale?”
She shakes her head. “Not yet. They’re doing the counteroffer back-and-forth crap. My phone keeps dinging with their messages. I hope they know I’m going to bed soon. I have a long day of going through boxes tomorrow.”
“How’s setting up the shop going anyway?”
“Well, it’ll be a lot better once I get you in there. Tomorrow, right? For such a small shop, you wouldn’t believe how many boxes there are.”
I smile at her and then begin to apply eye cream. I may not have wrinkles yet, but I’m trying to be proactive. The number of wrinkles my mother had was alarming, and since I take after my mother . . . It’s just better to start early.
“Definitely. I’ll get donuts and coffee.” After Cole and I were done working today, I went into town and explored a little. There wasn’t much to explore, just a few shops, but they did have a tiny cafe downtown that doubles as a bakery. I stopped in to see what they offered. Of course, as soon as I entered, the smell of blueberry scones and coffee hit me. I bought both. How could I not?
They were as delicious as they smelled, which could be dangerous for me. Not only will I have trouble keeping what little figure I have, but my wallet will cry. I didn’t come here with a ton of savings; just the money I got from selling my parents’ charred plot to their neighbor. And though I’m starting a job with Tori, that doesn’t mean it’ll pay well. In fact, we hadn’t discussed payment. I didn’t really care at the time. I’m sure she won’t screw me over,but I know she can’t pay much. The shop hasn’t made her any money yet since it’s not open. Everything in that shop was paid for straight out of her pocket. She may make good money from being a realtor, but that doesn’t mean she has a whole lot to pour into the business.
Ergo, I need to be frugal.
“Oh, get me that berry cream one.”
“The white frosting?” It had been an option before I decided on the blueberry scone.
She nods as I screw the lid back onto the eye cream and drop it into the bag. I pick up the phone and say, “You got it.”
“You seem like you’re in a better mood than yesterday.”
“I blame the blueberry scones,” I say with a laugh as I zip up my bathroom bag.
“They are delicious,” she agrees, chuckling with me. “How did today go with Cole?”
I stand fully upright, blow out a breath, and shrug. “He didn’t say a word to me. We worked in total silence.”
Her eyebrows raise, which is almost too hard to see because of the dried clay on her face. “So you didn’t find out why he went to prison?”
“Nope.”
“I mean, I could ask around, but . . .”
I shake my head. “No, don’t do that. It would just feel wrong to find out that way.”
“Okay,” she says with a tiny lift of her shoulder. “Let the mystery continue then. A hot mystery man.” She grins. “I like the sound of that.”
“He isnothot.”
She laughs at my lie. “Don’t even try it, girl. He’s a panty dropper.”
I nibble my bottom lip and lean against the damp wall.Okay, so maybe he is attractive; short-cropped dark hair, perfect square features, his full, kissable lips. Andmy god, his body. That first day, when he took off his shirt . . .muscles for days. Muscles that rippled with each tiny movement. And I only saw his back, too.
A wide grin shows all of her straight, perfect teeth. “You’re thinking about him naked, aren’t you?”
I scowl. “Am not.”
“I have, and I’ve only seen him in passing. I’m sure every woman has.”
I roll my eyes. “Not gonna happen, Tori.”
She sits up straighter, and it’s then that I get the view of her oak headboard. “I heard he has a ripped body.”
I glance away and bite my bottom lip.
