“Working.”
“After that.”
“She’s not working for long, we’re having a short day,” Mrs. C said as she passed them, walking at a fierce pace, arms swinging. No sign of a bad heart there. “In fact, after my appointment, we’ll shut the shop. See you back at work soon, Lani.”
“I’m coming now.”
“Take your time chatting with your friends.” Mrs. C waved a hand over her head and marched off.
“That woman can’t walk slowly anywhere. Just looking at her makes me tired,” Branna said.
Friends.They weren’t her friends, Lani thought.
“We’re having a baby shower for Willow at Macy’s house. Why don’t you come along? It’ll be fun.”
Branna was serious. First she’d invited her to her daughter’s birthday party, and now this.
“No, but thanks.”
“Okay, well if you change your mind, everyone knows the address. Just ask.” Branna left, leaving her and Noah standing alone.
“You should go, it’ll be fun.”
“I don’t know these people. I want to work for a while, then leave here. None of this other stuff.” Frustration was loosening her tongue. “What is it with you people? First I was at Rose’s birthday party, and now I’m invited to the baby shower. Baby shower, for pity’s sake!”
“You don’t like babies?”
“Of course I do, who doesn’t like babies? But my point here is, I’ve been in town a matter of days and you people keep luring me into things. It’s not what I do. I don’t like to do those things… woman things, people things!”
“Calm down there, slugger. You know that sounds just plain weird, right? Besides, how can sitting around gossiping not be your thing? You do have the 101 handbook for women, right? Gossip is right there on the first page.”
“That’s insulting.”
“Surely not.”
“I have to go.”
“Where? You getting a start on your potato baking?”
She’d turned, then stopped and swung back to face him again. “Are you trying to deliberately annoy me?”
“Is it working?”
“And some.”
“You need shaking up.”
“How do you know what I need, and furthermore why do you care? I thought we’d decided to avoid each other. Plus, I’m none of your business. I work and sleep here, nothing more. So tell your friends to stop including me.”
Clearly she was rattled, as Lani couldn’t seem to shut her mouth.
“It was you that decided my intentions were nefarious and that my kindness stemmed from wanting to get you back in my bed, if I remember correctly. Sex as payment for a room.”
Her cheeks filled with color as she shot a look to the left, then the right. “I can’t believe you said that out here where anyone can hear.”
“Sure you can, and as for knowing you need to loosen up, I can just tell. You’re uptight, and one of these people who keeps all their secrets and emotions close. The only time you relax is when I kiss you.”
“We won’t be repeating that,” Lani said, refusing to acknowledge the lick of heat arrowing through her. “I’m not uptight, and not everyone spills their innermost thoughts constantly. It’s always worked for me,” she ground out. “I’m just not loose like you. I don’t have a whole bushel of friends—”
