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So this was the evil oil princess. Juniper had laughed at Stella’s tart description, but now she kind of agreed.
Juniper pictured her with Marshall and despite the desire to laugh it off, she had to admit that they looked good together.
On that thought, Juniper took a step back to distance herself and give them their privacy. A hand to her elbow drew her up short as she moved for the stairs. Marshall shifted a pleading gaze her way and she sucked it up. It’s the least she could do for him, she supposed. He’d offered her a place to stay and made breakfast, after all.
“Truly, you should have called earlier, Marshall.” Priscilla stood a little too close for Juniper’s comfort given she was four inches away from them both. “I’m back now so there’s no need to marry the help. Daddy told me everything.” Another cursory glance and suddenly Juniper felt naked. “Daddy wasn’t too happy about this turn of events either when I talked to him this morning. He’s having second thoughts about the deal you two are set to sign with all the unease in your company.”
“There’s no need to worry. Juniper and I have everything worked out. There’s no need for you to be here, Priscilla.”
Now Juniper wasn’t the only one getting the dirty looks.
“Aren’t you going to offer me coffee so we can talk? You might want to hear what I have to offer on this deal with daddy.”
Marshall sighed. “This way.”
He sounded as happy as Juniper felt.
Her phone went off again, this time in rapid-fire. What in the world? She glanced at the screen as Marshall led them to the kitchen.
She could tell by the tightness in his jaw and the broad flex of his shoulders he didn’t take her words too kindly. She stole a quick glance and sure enough, his eyes were hooded and the mask of the CEO had firmly slipped into place once again.
Anotherding.
He gestured for Priscilla to take a stool.
He yanked open a kitchen cabinet and didn’t waste time in handing over a mug. “I told your father I would be by later in the day. Is there something wrong?”
“Daddy sent me over first thing this morning. He’s extended an invitation to dinner this evening. Just the three of us.”
Juniper’s gaze darted between the two. Marshall didn’t look at all happy, Priscilla had the look of a fox ready to pounce, and Juniper couldn’t do anything but look on. Besides, Marshall was a grown man and could handle someone like her. On top of all that, Pricilla was right, Juniper was the hired help all the way to the end.
Juniper stepped back a few paces for some privacy and thumbed through the multiple messages.
Mayday. Missing: where is your blue binder with your recipes and menu? Any clues would be nice.
She thumbed out a reply to Callie.
One fire adverted.
Another ping. Callie again:Dress doesn’t fit
And then another came in his time with a picture of a small sign outside of Banners’ wedding shop that read:Why go to Juniper when Banners is better!
That took the air right out of her. Why that underhanded, venomous, snidely—What a nasty thing to say let alone put in print! Her fingers tightened around her phone.Calm down, Juniper.She couldn’t afford to lose her temper.
Next message, this one from Gran.
Dresses arrived. Callie’s doesn’t fit and mine makes me look like a hooker. Sad face.
Juniper texted back:On my way home today. I’ll get it fixed.
She’d been scheduled to arrive home tomorrow and go straight to Jon’s Resorts and oversee the decorating for a few hours before heading out to Gran’s party. assuming he said yes. If she could grab a couple of minutes to herself, maybe she could nail down a response from Jon through email rather than a lengthy phone call. She pulled up his email and punched out a quick note. Hopefully, he would see it in time. Being in Switzerland overseeing one of his lodges, she doubted he would get to it within the next few hours. Maybe dodging his call this morning hadn’t been the best idea after all. She pinged his instant messages too just to cover all bases. Maybe she could call him in-flight.
She switched gears and turned back to the fires that were blowing up her phone.
Another message this time from Callie.
Banker visited. Wanted to know if everything was okay. I reassured him. Hope that was okay.
