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“No worries,” Cara said. “Glad you got to at least taste it.” Did she sound snarky? She felt snarky toward the woman. She didn’t know if Stacy was trying to be funny or clever, or if this was her normal personality.
Cara set the plate on the tray with the other empty or half-eaten desserts.
Everyone had returned to their various conversations when Mia said, “Do you need help with anything else tonight?”
Cara looked over at the girl. “No, sweetie, thanks for offering, though.”
Mia gave a little shrug and nod.
“Sweetie, huh?” Stacy said in an amused tone. “You’ve become fast friends with the producer’s daughter.”
Cara looked over at Stacy. Was she talking to her? And what did she mean? “I think Mia’s friends with everyone.”
Apparently, Mia heard every word. “Except with strangers.”
Cara smiled. “Except for them.” She picked up the tray and headed back to the kitchen. Jerry followed so closely behind her that he almost bumped into her.
“Wow, she’s a piece of work—” he started to say.
“Hush,” Cara hissed. “There are no closed doors between us and them.”
Jerry pressed his lips together and nodded. For several moments, they worked together in silence. Jerry scraped plates and Cara loaded the dishwasher. When they’d done everything except for going back and cleaning up the dining room, Cara stashed a few things in the pantry. When she turned to leave, Jerry was leaning against the door frame, arms folded. “Spill it.”
“Spill what?”
“What’s going on between you and Roman De Marco? And don’t say nothing, because that man looks at you like . . . well, like you’re a cute lioness in a jungle and he’s the lion.”
“Lions don’t live in jungles.”
Jerry tilted his head. “Not the point.”
Cara blew out a breath. “Nothing is going on between us. Roman told me some things about Stacy, but I can’t tell anyone. I’m sworn to secrecy.”
“I can respect that,” Jerry said. “The bottom line, though, is that he confided in you.”
“Basically.”
“So now it all makes sense,” Jerry said. “Roman confides in you about his ex-girlfriend. She finds out—or he directly tells her—so she now resents you.”
“Stacy has no reason to resent me.” Cara scoffed. “She’s a beautiful, successful, and talented woman. I’ll be gone in a few days, taking any secrets with me.”
“If only it were that simple.”
Now Cara was getting annoyed. Before, she was just frustrated and maybe a little confused. “It is that simple.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Jerry, what are you talking about?”
“Talk is cheap, so tell you what. Be ready tomorrow to join the group on our excursion to the Christmas festival.”
“Oh, no thanks. I’m just fine here in the ranch house, where it’s warm.”
Jerry straightened from the door frame. “It will be worth every minute, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.”
“What are you talking about?”
He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I think the big producer has a crush on little ole you.”
Cara opened her mouth to refute Jerry’s claim, but he slipped out of the pantry and disappeared down the hall.
