Nobody else in the world could get away with calling himyoung man. He saw where this was going. “And you think she called Sandra to tell her I was here.”
“I do.”
“And now what? You think Sandra’s going to come storming in here any minute?”
“I don’t know how stormy it will be, but I’ll bet you dollars to doughnuts she’ll be here soon. You mark my words and mark it on your calendar.”
Connor shook his head. “Vivi, I appreciate you looking out for me, but that’s ridiculous.”
She gave him a long look. It was the look of a teacher who was sad that she couldn’t reach a particularly dense student. But Vivi wasn’t done. “There’s a reason that saying about the fury of a scorned woman took root, honey child.”
He gave her a placating smile. God, he hoped she didn’t know it was placating. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You should. Go ahead and laugh, but you’ll see.”
Connor picked up his coffee and took a sip, grimacing when he realized it had gone cold. “Not that it matters now, anyway.”
Damn it. The words slipped out before he could stop them. Vivi’s gaze sharpened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Connor stared at the legal pad again, because the truth was simple. He’d already lost the one thing that mattered to him, and that was Bliss. She’d walked out of his life months ago and never looked back. The fact that she was back in Darling didn’t change a thing.
He forced a shrug. “Nothing.”
Vivi didn’t look convinced. But before she could say anything else, the bell over the door jingled. Connor glanced toward the entrance.
Sandra Wainwright swept inside like she owned the place. Tall, blonde, and wearing a tight-fitted, low cut dress that probably cost more than Connor’s truck payment. She paused dramatically just inside the door.
Her gaze landed on him, face lighting up with exaggerated surprise. “Well,” she said brightly, waving her hand. “Connor! I didn’t know you’d be here.”
Connor slowly turned his head toward Vivi. She gave him a smug, knowing look before standing to leave the table. “What do you know? Someone’s here to see you.” Then she leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Be careful now.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Connor sighed under his breath. “Hello, Sandra,” he said, giving her a grimace instead of a smile and a curt wave back.
She crossed the room, heels clicking lightly against the floor. “Mind if I join you?”
Connor gestured vaguely toward the empty chair. “Suit yourself.”
Sandra slid into it, leaning forward to showcase her cleavage. “You’ve been hard to catch lately.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “Been busy.”
“Too busy for me?” she said, her face a practiced pout.
Connor met her gaze calmly. “Yeah.”
Sandra crossed her arms underneath her breast, managing to shove them even higher. “You used to like spending time with me.”
Instead of responding, Connor started perusing his notes again. Getting dragged into whatever Sandra had cooked up was not on his list. He had far more important things to do today.
Undaunted, she tried again. “I was thinking,” she said lightly, “maybe you could come over tonight.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “For what?”
“Supper,” she said with a suggestive smile. “And… dessert.”
Connor’s expression didn’t change. “No, thank you.”
