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“They’re in a lot of trouble, Aspen. I don’t have time to go into details, but they need help right away. I’m sorry to leave you, but they don’t have time to waste. It’s really important.”
“It’s okay, I understand.” She didn’t like it but she understood. “Just be safe. Will you call me?”
“If I can. I don’t know how good the reception will be.” He drew her close and kissed her. “I need to stop in
and talk to Jake before I go. If you need anything, I want you to call him. Promise me you will do that.”
“I will. I promise.” She could take that worry out of his hands. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
16
Exhaustion dragged her down as she trudged her way into the kitchen of the restaurant. She’d hardly slept at all last night. Jamie was teething, but even once she’d gotten him to sleep she’d lain awake, worried about Saxon. He’d called after landing in Colombia, but she’d heard nothing since. He’d been gone for two days, and she was really worried. She wished she knew what was going on. She thought he’d deliberately not told her everything because he didn’t want her to worry.
Yeah, that had worked really well. She couldn’t stop worrying. She wondered if she should go and talk to Jake. Maybe he’d know what was going on. He’d known Joel a lot longer than she had. There was a lot she didn’t know about her fiancé.
Fiancé? Shit. That still sounded a bit strange. She was going to marry Joel Saxon. He wouldn’t change his mind, would he? No. He didn’t make empty promises.
It was a little frightening to realize how much she’d grown to love him. To need him. Even the boys were acting a bit out of sorts. Probably because they could sense how unsettled she was. But she knew they would all feel better once he was back.
She hadn’t told anyone they were engaged yet. It didn’t feel right to do it when Joel wasn’t here. At least she told herself that was the reason. There was also a voice whispering in her head that maybe it wasn’t real.
She’d just wait until he came back. And he was coming back.
“You know, just because you’re fucking the boss doesn’t mean you can waltz in whenever you want,” Renard called out to her from where he stood behind the stove.
Those sleepless nights combined with all her worries meant her hold on her temper was whisper-thin and Renard had just sliced through it with a sharp-edged blade.
“You know, just because the boss has a soft spot for you doesn’t mean you can be a fucking asshole to me and continue to get away with it.”
There was silence, then he turned to look at her. “You threatening to tattle on me, girlie?”
She smiled at him, showing her teeth. “I don’t need Saxon to fight my battles. I’m capable of doing it on my own.”
“That so?”
“It is so. And you know what? I am done baking what you want. From now on, I make the dessert menu, I decide what I’m going to bake each day, and I work the times I want to work.”
“I’m in charge of the kitchen.”
“You are. But unless you want to take over doing the desserts then you’re going to give me the autonomy to do what I want. You’ve got enough on your plate, excuse the pun. You take care of your part, I’ll do mine. Fair enough?”
He watched her carefully. “I don’t want you making shit food and giving me a bad name.”
“News flash, your reputation is already shit.”
He waggled a finger at her. “Pretty sure Saxon doesn’t want you swearing.”
“You threatening to tattle on me?”
She thought for sure he was going to tell her to get lost then he broke into a grin. “Was starting to think you didn’t have a backbone. Fine, you do what you have to, and I won’t interfere so long as you hold up your share of the work.”
She straightened her shoulders. “I’m not afraid of hard work.”
“No, being with Saxon, I guess you’re used to that.” With a laugh, he turned back to his pot and ignored her. She blew out a breath in relief. One battle down. And she felt lighter. She just had to get through these next few days and then Joel would be home and everything could return to normal.
She couldn’t wait.
