“Oh!” I exclaim and quickly move away from the tray, guiltily glancing at Freya.
“C’mon!” She rolls her eyes. “I learned how to cook something else besides lasagna!”
Everyone’s quiet, and that’s saying enough. I slowly retreat to the furthest part of the couch, trying not to draw unnecessary attention.
“Josie!” Freya calls out with delight. “Do you want to try my dumplings? They’re so good.”
I quickly shake my head. She narrows her eyes, slowly shifting her attention from person to person until no one can hold it together anymore, and everyone starts laughing.
Soon, I bring my feet under my butt, making myself comfortable, and listen to their chatter while ogling the beautiful, homey cabin. This is something one can callhome. Made with dark colors and heavy wood, the place screams ‘stability’ and ‘roots.’ And the coffee table Freya rests her feet on reminds me so much of the one in the bed and breakfast—I guess it’s Mark’s work too.
“Josie, I love your dress,” Leila suddenly says from her window.
“Thank you,” I reply shyly, trying to pull the hem lower to cover my very exposed thighs.
“Kenneth won’t know what hit him,” Kayla chimes in, taking a sip of her homemade margarita, which is awful if I’m honest, but somehow, it’s still the best drink I’ve ever tried. Well, maybe not better than Rory’s delicious masterpieces she makes specially for me.
“W-what?” I mumble, feeling my cheeks turning red.
“Oh, please.” Leila rolls her eyes. “We all know.”
“Know about what?” I quickly look between them and find every single one of the ladies looking at me with understanding. “C’mon. Does anything in this place stay hidden?”
“Not a thing.”
“No.”
“Nothing.”
ChapterTwenty-Six
KENNETH
When Josie left the station, I got a few curious looks from Jennica. I’m surprised she was able to hold her tongue and not bombard me with questions. The silence lasted about thirty minutes before she couldn’t do it any longer, and now she’s going for a full-on interrogation.
She walks into my office, where I’m stewing in anger.
“When are you going to go over there?” Her voice is just as angry as I feel, and I don’t have to pretend I don’t understand what she’s asking.
“When I know I won’t throttle her.”
“I don’t blame you.” She whistles. “Want me to go with you to make sure there’s no bloodbath?”
I shake my head. “I appreciate it though.”
“Don’t sweat it.” She shrugs one shoulder. “I like Josie, and I think she’s good for you. So she’s good for us.”
I meet her eyes with a stare of my own.
“What? She is. You’ve been killing yourself with work, Boss, or letting everyone else kill you with their complaints. Neither is good for the town.” I’m about to protest, but she shushes me with a raised finger. I hate when women do that because it’s like a magic wand of sorts that makes grown men lose their footing. “Don’t even sweat it, you won’t change my mind.”
I nod with acknowledgment, respecting her opinion and desire to make me a family man.
“By the way, about that girl who came here the other day?” she says, meaning the young woman who came here before I stormed off to the bar the other day.
“What about her?”
“I think we should hire her as an office assistant or something.” She shrugs her shoulder nonchalantly as if she doesn’t care. “We could use the help, you know, and now we have a lot of work, thanks to Freya’s center.”
