AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Even Goldy is seeing the light. She hasn't come right out and admitted to being in favor of the farm, but she's no longer predicting it will be an unmitigated disaster.
I stop in my arranging to press a kiss to Skidmark's furry head and he blinks up at me for a moment before settling back to sleep. He's been staying in Honey's room every other night now, so I'm finally getting some sleep.
"Good morning, beautiful."
I smile at the sound of Grant's voice and lean over the counter to give him a kiss. He's in shorts and a t-shirt today, both worn and comfortable-looking. "Here to see your brother?" I say to the man I've seen every night for the past week and a half.
Turns out, I like having a boyfriend.
"I am." Grant's smile makes me want to lean over the counter and kiss him again. "Want to have lunch with me after I talk to Lazy?"
"I'm not sure I can get away. Your brother's been asking me to stay through the lunch rush."
Grant looks around at the empty bookstore. "Doesn't look like much of a rush."
"It picks up after one with the dessert and afternoon snack crowd. Just because your brother is my boss, it doesn't mean I can flake off on him any time you want me to."
"I'll talk to him." He leans across the counter and kisses my cheek. "Be right back."
I sigh and go back to setting out pastries. As much as I want to spend more time with Grant, I don't want to take advantage of Lazy. The store really does get busy after one and I don't want to leave him in the lurch.
The pastry shelf is looking thinner than I'd expected by this time of the day. "Gotta run to my car, Skidmark. I'll be right back."
The little skunk's nose twitches, but he gives no other sign of having heard me.
I weave between bookcases toward the back exit of the store where my car is parked. I'm passing by the open door of Lazy's office when I hear Grant say in a frustrated tone, "How credible is this Abby Winters?"
My heart stutters and I freeze just out of sight. I shouldn't eavesdrop, but I'm not going to walk away and give Abby the chance to poison another employer against me.
"Does it matter?" Lazarus asks. "Dani does a good job, and she's happy here."
"It matters if this Abby is telling the truth or not. We can't—"
Something inside me sparks like a firecracker and I can't hold back. I march into that office, oddly calm. "Is that what you think? You think I was such a terrible baker and business woman that my ex-partner feels the need to badmouth me to every potential employer?"
Both men startle and turn to me. Grant's eyes are wide, his expression horrified, but Lazy appears calm.
"Dani—" Grant raises his hand as though to talk down an armed intruder.
"Did Abby call here? Or did you track her down, Grant, while you were looking into me?"
Grant drops his hands, his expression pure disbelief. "I told you I wouldn't look into you, Dani, but you haven't exactly been forthcoming. I didn't even know you used to own a bakery."
"And that gives you an excuse to talk about me behind my back? I get that you want to protect your brother from me, but I'd think you'd at least have the decency to talk to me first." I'm shaking with anger and I feel nauseous. I hate that I've screwed up again and trusted the wrong person. I press a hand to my chest to ease the pain there. Why does this hurt so much more than it did when Abby betrayed me?
Lazy stands and crosses to the door, patting my back before leaving and shutting the door behind him. I stare at the closed door. Why did he leave? Is he going to let Grant be the one to fire me?
"Dani," Grant says. "I'm not trying to protect Lazy from you. I'm trying to protect you."
I turn back to him, thoroughly confused. "What?"
"Lazy doesn't believe anything Abby told him when she called here. He's seen your work ethic and tasted your pastries. He figures she has some sort of vendetta against you."
I relax a bit. "She called here?"
He nods. "Lazy called to give me a heads up about this woman who appeared to be out to ruin your life. I'm not sure what you overheard, but what Lazy and I were discussing was how to undo what Abby did to you and make sure she can't take your recipes. It's not right that she's blackballed you in Atlanta and ruined your reputation."
I take a step back, my earlier calm fleeing. "How do you know about that?"
