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“Are you saying that because scone sounds kind of like scorn?”
“Absolutely.”
While he couldn’t fault Frankie’s logic, Josh needed more. Despite his best efforts to shake off Clara’s final wounded look, he’d tossed and turned for hours last night while one thought chewed on the corner of his brain. What if he woke up to find her gone?
He’d finally bit the bullet and checked the bathroom. Only seeing her toothbrush next to his by the sink had eased his fears.
There was the kicker. Josh didn’t want Clara to leave. Even if it meant he could have the house to himself. That he could walk around naked eating peanut butter out of the jar and blasting the Ramones until the cows came home.
“What about those chocolate croissants? Women like chocolate, right?”
“Excellent choice.” Frankie packaged a few pastries for him in a pink box. “And if you’re really concerned about the lady’s reaction, might I suggest adding an éclair or two?”
Josh didn’t like Clara’s rules. They’d turned his life into one big game of Operation. If he forgot to use a coaster or left the milk on the counter instead of putting it away immediately after use, he’d kill his imaginary patient.
She already hated him. At this rate, he’d be lucky to keep her on Danvers Street for the rest of the week. “You know what, you better give me the whole tray.”
chapter ten
EVERETT BLOOM BE damned. The sooner Clara got out of this town the better.
The unrelenting crush of traffic mocked her through the window of the car she’d called to take her to Jill’s office. She never thought she would miss the subway. She pulled up a map on her phone. Just a few more miles. After barging back into her aunt’s life after so long, Clara couldn’t stomach leaving without saying good-bye.
Josh had been gone before she woke up that morning, saving her the torture of having to face him in the harsh light of day. He wouldn’t understand why what had happened between them last night made her so embarrassed.
For the second time this week, following her gut instead of her head had landed her in a scandalous situation. Josh would never imagine that she couldn’t sleep because her body didn’t know how to come down from the most intense sexual experience of her life.
It was almost ten in the morning. He had probably done things ten times dirtier to women ten times hotter than her by now.
Fresh-cut flowers, bright topaz curtains, and an ancient floral rug softened the harsh industrial lines of the offices of Wheaton + Partners Public Relations. When Clara knocked on the door of Jill’s office, she looked up from her laptop with a harried scowl.
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sp; “Hey there.” Her aunt shook stiffness off her face. “What brings you here? Everything okay?”
“Yes. I mean, it will be. I’m sorry to bother you at work. I wanted to say good-bye before I headed back to New York.” Her five o’clock flight couldn’t come fast enough.
Concern arranged Jill’s features. “But you just moved here.”
“Yeah, well, it turns out things aren’t going quite as well as I might have hoped with my new roommate.” Talk about an understatement. She had completely blown whatever fragile friendship might have blossomed between her and Josh. “I think it’s best if I get out of here before I cause any permanent damage.”
Clara had gotten so far out of control last night, she didn’t even recognize that woman panting on the couch. She’d made a spectacle of herself and now she had no choice but to pack her bags.
Jill opened her mouth to reply, but a young man holding a clipboard against his chest rushed into the room before she could get any words out.
“The DA finished her call. She’s ready to resume your meeting in conference room B.” His eyes resembled those of a frightened hare. Apparently, district attorneys didn’t appreciate waiting.
“Shit.” Jill’s fingers sifted through the massive pile of documents on her desk. “Sorry, Toni’s a new client. She’s asked me to run her reelection campaign. It’s a big deal for us. Normally someone in her shoes would go to one of the big corporate firms.” Jill beamed and Clara could see why the men of Greenwich had once fallen at her aunt’s feet. “She said she likes that we’re famous for championing underdogs.”
“Of course. I can see that this is a bad time. I should go,” Clara said, already edging toward the door. She could call later on her way to the airport.
“No, wait. Don’t leave. What time is your flight? I’m a bit underwater at the moment. One of my associates quit last week without notice.” Jill continued riffling through the mess on the desk. A folder careened off the edge, splashing papers in a waterfall at her feet.
Clara bent to retrieve the fallen items. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Actually”—Jill cocked her head—“what do you think about sitting in on the rest of this meeting with me and taking some notes? You’d be doing me a huge favor, and it shouldn’t take more than fifteen minutes. Once it’s over, we can sit down properly and talk.”
“Oh, well. I’m not really . . .” Clara stopped herself. She could hardly argue that she couldn’t take notes. She owed Jill whatever favors she required after interrupting her work twice in as many days. “You know what, sure. I can do that. Do you have a notepad?”
