AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Had hell frozen over without his knowledge? Roxiealwayscircled the conversation back to her life and her feelings. That self-centeredness was one of his guaranteed, surefire insults he could fall back on when he needed to throw her one last quip.
Joe scowled. How had he not noticed a damn thing?
Because he’d been the asshole who’d barely bothered talking with her since getting back. Because he’d been making every damn thing about him.Ironic.
“Oh, I have an idea!” Alex’s expression brightened. Hell, she was practically glowing. He could see why Quinn had fallen for this little spitfire of a woman. “Roxie’s always complaining about being a third wheel to me and Quinn, but you’re here now.”
He grimaced, not sure he liked the turn this conversation had taken. “Okay...”
“Swing by the shop and tell her you guys are having dinner with me and Quinn tonight. Like a ‘Welcome home, Joe!’ dinner.”
He snorted. “That’s the best you’ve got?”
“You’re right.” Alex tapped her chin in thought. “If anything, that would make her boycott our house for the entire evening, huh?”
“Ouch. Thanks for that.” It was true, though.
She ignored him. “I know! Tell her I have an announcement to make.”
“What’s the announcement?”
Again, Alex looked at him like he was slow. “There is no announcement, Joe. It’s the excuse we’re using to get Roxie over for dinner so she can sit down for once and not work herself to death. Got it?”
Damn. Maybe he was slow after all.
CHAPTERSIX
Given the terrible morning she’d had, Roxie expected the rest of her day to follow suit. Because that’s how it always worked, right? One thing led to another until you were stuck in a giant debacle of crap gone wrong. But the hours passed by without drama, and soon, only thirty minutes remained until closing time.
While she still had a couple hours of paperwork ahead of her, there were no catering events to worry about tonight. She was looking forward to a nice, quiet evening alone in her office with the pie and wine she’d promised herself.
Comfort Food’s front door opened, and Joe sauntered inside. Her mood plummeted.
Sheila and Nina were standing at the counter beside her. Both of them tittered, and Sheila puffed up her ample chest. Roxie ground her back teeth together.
Tucking his thumbs into the pockets of his well-worn jeans, Joe approached the three women with that half-grin, half-smirk playing on his face. His black sweater fit snugly over his broad—
Wait. Why the hell did she care what he was wearing?
Clothes, Roxie. They’re just freaking clothes, and he’s just Joe. Obnoxious, annoying, condescending Joe.
She sighed in time with Sheila and Nina, but while they were smitten, she was frustrated. Because Joe was only obnoxious, annoying, and condescending toher. To everyone else, he was magnetic and kind.
She shouldn’t care. But she did. And she needed to figure out how to stop.
While her employees swooned over Joe, Roxie ignored them all. Grabbing the stack of mail she’d just retrieved, she headed back to her office. Once seated at her desk, she busied herself with the pile. Bills, bills, junk mail, and more bills.
A plain white envelope gave her pause. Her full name was inscribed on the front in neat handwritten letters. There was no return address, no mailing address, no postage. Only her name. Just like the envelope from a few days ago.
She tore the top open, and a lone picture fluttered to her desk, face down. The fine hairs on her arms rose.
Oh, for god’s sake, Roxie, it’s just a damn picture.
Despite her internal pep talk, she forgot how to breathe as she turned it over.
Objectively, it was a really pretty photo of her. It could have been an advertisement for outdoorsy activewear: black running pants, a neon-green half-zip jacket, and a running belt locked around her waist. She stood off the side of a dirt road, illuminated by the moonlight, her body in profile as she looked out over the horizon. The twinkling lights of the Pacific View Resort cast a magical glow in the background.
Her brain finally connected the dots. Bile rose in her throat.
