“Shall we go look at those joists in the basement?” William invited.
Dex nodded and we both followed him down the hall when I spotted James heading straight for the kitchen.
“I’ll be a moment,” I said to Dex before going to cut James off. “James, I have a quick question.”
“If this is about the company party, I already told you my schedule is too busy to take it on.” He paused, then shrugged with a grin. “Although, I suppose I could cancel an event to make room if it helps with publicity.”
“That’s nice. I’ll have my assistant email yours,” I said, not committing to anything. I put my hand on James’ shoulder, steering him towards the reception room. I had no idea what to talk to him about so I went with the first idea that came to me, even though I regretted it the moment it left my mouth.
“My sister is a fan of yours,” I said. “She asked about your next cookbook. When it might be coming out.”
He looked pleased. “Your sister has excellent taste.”
“She likes baking,” I said. “She would buy a book from you if it focused on that. Pastries, desserts, things like that.”
Carly was a fan. She would buy the book even if she never once cracked it open. It would sit on her shelf with her other books that were there more for posterity and show than use.
“A dessert-focused cookbook. That has potential. Very strong commercial appeal.” James nodded in agreement even though it was a very common thing for chefs to do.
“Indeed. You should think about it,” I told him.
“I should talk to Jane about tomorrow’s menu…” James started but I tightened my grip on his shoulder.
“Speaking of Jane. You seem very friendly with her. I heard the two of you used to work together?” I ventured to ask.
“She worked in one of my restaurants. She was a very good employee. Knows her place in the kitchen, if you know what I mean,” James laughed. “Jane has potential but her flavors needhelp. If she had stuck with me for a few more years, I might have been able to bring her cooking and baking skills up to par.”
Part of me bristled, and I had to clench my teeth together in an effort not to turn my grip on his shoulder from friendly to painful. “Is that so?”
“She’s a bit rustic,” James leaned in as though confiding in me. “She had an infatuation with me. Poor girl thought we were more than we were.”
“She had a crush on you?” A cold crept into my bones.
“A crush! She was in love. Used to follow me around like I hung the moon and the stars. My Janie would do anything for me that I asked. Too bad she’s a plump girl, even if she’s somewhat pretty. She didn’t do it for me, if you know what I mean.” James winked.
I barely resisted the urge to deck him. Jane was curvy in all the right places. She wasn’t pretty, she was beautiful. Her shy smiles, her pretty eyes, her quiet competence. This egomaniac had ruined her confidence around others, I felt sure of it.
“It was difficult to let her go at the end since she was a good employee, but I had to fire her. She had gotten to the point where she actually thought we were in a relationship, that I was her boyfriend.” James laughed like it was an absurdity that anyone would consider that he might date Jane. “She even confided to one of the other kitchen staff that she thought I was going to propose.”
My mouth ran dry as my stomach bottomed out. Jane had thought she was in love with James. Did Jane still have feelings for her former boss?
Chapter Ten: Old Scars and New Confusions
Jane
I woke before the old heater rattled to life. It was still dark in the pool house, and for a moment I wasn’t sure what had pulled me out of sleep. Then I remembered Braxton standing in the lobby the day before, brushing off a bridesmaid’s mistletoe wand with that calm voice of his. I remembered the girl’s hand possessively on his arm. And I remembered the sentence that had gotten me through the rest of that chaotic afternoon.
I am interested in someone.
He had said it so simply and so matter of fact. Like it wasn't the kind of declaration that could rearrange a person’s ability to breathe.
I lay there under the blankets staring into the dim light. He had been talking to the bridesmaids. He had been trying to get them to leave him alone. He might have meant anyone. He could have meant one of them. Maybe the blonde with the glitter or the brunette who had leaned so close to him that I had felt something twist in my stomach like jealousy and embarrassment woven into one.
The thought punched me again. I turned onto my side and pulled the blanket up over my chin as I replayed yesterday evening’s events yet again in my mind.
“You’re awake. Why?” she said, her voice thick with sleep as she shifted beside me.
“I couldn’t sleep,” I said.
