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She shifted and fidgeted with her phone. “So your place is a one-bedroom right?”
“You can take the bed. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
“Great.” She pulled up a new game of Clash Royale.
That wasnotdisappointment poking her like a thorn.
* * *
Rory knew she was in trouble when she walked into Sugar Joy for her Monday afternoon shift, and her mother asked, as usual, “How was your weekend, dear?”
“Great, thanks.” She hurried into the back to put on a clean apron.
She’d told her mother and sisters she’d be out of town, but she hadn’t said anything about the wedding and Grant. While it had been relatively easy pretending to be his girlfriend a hundred miles away from Bliss Cove, there was no way she could dupe her family into thinking they were actually together.
But if she told them the truth, she’d put the entire charade at risk. Her mother and sisters would never tell Edward and Joanna outright that she and Grant were faking it, but any offhanded comment could blow the whole thing up.
This was going to be far more complicated than she’d thought.
“When does Linda start full-time?” She returned to the front counter, tying on her apron. “I should probably start cutting back on my hours soon. Give her a chance to take over.”
“She’s already full-time, so you can cut back whenever you’d like.” Eleanor set a tray of cookies on the counter. “I know you’ll need the time to get ready for your move. Are the arrangements going well?”
“Yes, we’ve done all the paperwork.” Rory started putting the cookies into a basket. “I’m keeping an eye out for an apartment near the Digicore campus so I don’t have to commute too far. The head of my department sent me the details of their upcoming projects so I can get caught up.”
“Have I told you how proud I am of you?” Eleanor paused to hug her around the shoulders. “And how grateful I am for all you’ve done? I’ve known for a while now that it’s past time for you to get back to your career, but selfishly I’ve been happy to have you around. While I’ll miss you terribly, I’m thrilled that you’ve found a job where you can use your talents again.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Rory forced a smile and returned her mother’s embrace.
“Hi, all.” Aria Prescott breezed through the swinging wooden doors leading to the kitchen, looking pretty and bright-eyed as always in a pink sweater and skinny jeans. “Did you finish my order for the birthday party tonight, Mom?”
“The cake is ready to go.” Eleanor nodded toward a bakery box on the counter. “I made some cat cookies for you, too. I just need to box them up.”
“I can do it.” Silver bracelets jangling, Aria pulled a tray of cookies from the baker’s rack. “I had three adoption applications for two different cats this weekend, and our Saturday game night was booked. I’ve had to start taking reservations for the Cat Lounge on weekends.”
“That’s great.” Rory put the basket in the display case.
“Mayor Bowers told me the town council approved a budget for Mariposa Street renovations.” Eleanor patted Aria’s shoulder, her face creasing with a smile. “That’s wonderful.”
“We’re close to finalizing an agreement to renovate and build out the rest of the land,” Aria said. “Oh, be sure to visit our Bliss Cove Preservation Society booth at the Harvest Festival.”
“I’ll give you cookies so you can lure people over.” Eleanor pushed the baker’s rack back into the kitchen. “Rory, put a fresh pot of coffee on, please.”
As Rory started measuring out the coffee, Aria asked, “So, how was your weekend?”
The speculating note in her voice had Rory’s suspicions sharpening. “Fine. Yours?”
“I already told you about mine.” Aria glanced at her, eyebrows lifted. “But on Saturday afternoon, you were spotted in the passenger seat of Grant’s car, heading toward Highway One. He was driving.”
Rory’s heart thumped. “So?”
“Since when do you hang out with Grant?”
“I don’t.”
“Then what were you doing in his car?”
“He was giving me a ride home.”
