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He squinted and pursed his lips at the same time, an expression that distorted his flawless features. Bee noticed that in the early morning light, his eyes were hazel or kind of a watery brown. Maybe the TV lights and cameras made them look bright blue on-screen.
“Where are your supplies?” he asked. “I requested peppermint and tea tree oils. Organic.”
Bee blinked. She’d never heard of putting essential oils in coffee, but perhaps this was a new LA thing. “Er…I’m sorry, but I didn’t get a request for your coffee.”
“Perhaps because I didn’t request coffee.” He smiled thinly, revealing shockingly white, straight teeth. “I don’t intake caffeine. What techniques do you know?”
“Techniques?”
“Ayurveda, Swedish, reflexology…which one is your specialty?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Seriously?” Impatience flickered in his eyes. “Bliss Cove may be a backwater dump, but I was assured I would have all the amenities I require. What kind of lubricant do you use?”
Bee gasped. “Mr. Constantine, that’s an extremely personal question.”
He stared at her as if she were an earwig. “What kind of foot masseuse are you?”
“Oh!” Relief flowed through her, and she laughed. “I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m Beatrice Delaney, the head librarian and director of the Bliss Cove Library. Not a masseuse, foot or otherwise. I told your producers I’d be here to meet you and the team at eight for a tour because I have to open the library by nine.” She indicated the coffee. “I brought you coffee and pastries from our local bakery.”
His lip curled slightly as he reached for the door handle. “I don’t eat sugar or drink coffee, and the only person I want to meet right now is a masseuse who can unblock my first chakra. I need to absorb more earth energy.”
Bee nodded, hoping his attitude would improve now that their misunderstanding had been cleared up. “Yes, of course,” she said. “Earth energy is so important. You’ll need to meet our Bliss Cove mystic, Destiny Rose, while you’re here. Perhaps I can—”
“Look, you’re cute and all,” Clyde interrupted, “but it’s in my contract that no one disturbs me until at least ten. Unless you’re a foot masseuse.”
He closed the trailer door with a snap.
Seriously?
Bee stared at the closed door, her heart sinking. She’d fully expected Clyde Constantine to be as charming and charismatic in person as he was both on TV and in all his interviews. So much for expectations.
With a sigh, she adjusted her glasses and started back to the library. She really hadn’t expected to get off on the wrong foot with the celebrity host ofHex or Hoax?Maybe he was just having a bad morning with his blocked chakra. But she’d have to find a way to make amends with him soon if she wanted this whole venture to succeed.
And she desperately wanted it to succeed. Ithadto succeed, or she’d lose the library, her livelihood, and pretty much her entire reason for having lived in Bliss Cove for the past four years.Investedwasn’t even a strong enough word for her position.
Balancing the coffee tray on top of the pastry box, she hurried past another trailer. Just as she reached the door, it flew open and almost smacked her right in the face.
Startled, she stumbled back with a gasp, her balance wobbling. The coffee tray upended, smashing the paper cups against her chest. All the lids popped off, drenching her in Ooo-La-La Roast, Decaf Dream, and Big Bang Blend.
“Oh, shit.” A deep male voice penetrated Bee’s shock. “Are you okay?”
She blinked, staring down at the mess of coffee dripping off her brand-new lavender suit jacket and white blouse. Somehow, she’d managed to hold on to the pastry box, the lid of which was also now wet and stained.
The male voice muttered something she couldn’t hear—it didn’t sound very polite—before two large hands grabbed the box and crumpled tray from her. “You’d better come in.”
Bee forced her gaze up and found herself staring at a tall, dark-haired man wearing a wrinkled blue T-shirt, at least two days’ worth of scruffy stubble, and a pronounced scowl.
She opened and closed her mouth, unable to get any words past her shock. Why was he scowling at her?Hewas the one who flung open the door without paying attention to the fact that someone might be walking past.
“What…? Why did you…?” she spluttered.
“Come in.” With an impatient mutter, he tossed the ruined coffee tray into a nearby trash can and jerked his thumb to the interior of the trailer. He clomped up the steps and disappeared inside.
Coffee dripped down the inside of Bee’s bra. Trying to gather her wits, she followed him into the trailer as he turned from the sink at the kitchenette and handed her a damp towel. She dabbed ineffectually at the stains, which spread like a Rorschach inkblot across her jacket and skirt. The Ooo-La-La Roast had even spilled onto her new shoes.
No matter what she did, there was no hope. Her outfit, which she had saved just to wear today, was ruined. Tears suddenly sprang to her eyes.
