“She’s worried about you. Wants to ensure you feel safe here.”
Mara sighed. “I do, which is why I didn’t want to bring up the jerk. He wasn’t obsessed, just an arrogant ass who thought being the boss entitled him to a few perks.”
Seth growled and held her more tightly. “He looks like an arrogant ass.”
She sighed and banged her head lightly on his chest. “You checked him out online?”
He nodded. “We all did. Better to have a face to a name in case he’s more than the slime bucket he portrays on his socials.”
Her lips tilted up. “I think he’s your garden-variety slime bucket, no obsession in sight.”
“Good.”
With another sigh, she leaned her head on his chest and put her arms around him.
He held her close and kept his hands moving. Not in a sexual way, but hoping to offer comfort and apology. “I’m sorry.”
She nodded into his chest. “Thanks.”
They stood that way for a long moment. Seth was grateful he hadn’t screwed things up permanently.
When she let out another sigh, it sounded better. Less tense, more relaxed. Time for a topic change. “How do you and Fritter like your new space?”
She squeezed her arms and then leaned back. “Good segue to put it behind us. I was too nervous to sleep much, and my tossing all night drove Fritter to sleep in the other room.”
He groaned and set his forehead on hers. “You’re a Chaos Machine even in bed. Are you trying to kill me here?”
That surprised a laugh out of her. “You’re terrible.”
“Not at everything, Mara. Not at everything.”
Her laugh and the twinkle of desire in her eyes were everything he needed. They were back on track, and he had the name of the asshole who’d hurt her.
Chapter 15
You Matter To Me
A few days later, Mara had moved past her embarrassment at everyone knowing about Anson and the circumstances of her firing. As they pointed out, her quitting in the same breath trumped his firing her, especially as he was such an ass.
Ford tracked her down daily to talk about it. To ensure she was okay and that she’d told the whole story. She’d finally convinced her brother that she really was okay, that things hadn’t been worse than she’d told everyone.
After learning what the others had been through in her past, she was embarrassed that such a minor incident had thrown her into such a tizzy of emotions. That had annoyed Amber when she’d said it aloud. Someone making you feel pressured and vulnerable isn’t a small thing. I’m glad he didn’t take your power.
Which was a reminder Mara wasn’t weak. She’d moved out of the state and left her life behind to take on a new job. Sure, she’d had her brother here, but she’d been brave enough to walk away and toward a new challenge.
She was sure Anson had completely forgotten her.
Jolie had laughed and told her there was no way Anson would forget her anytime soon since the online reviews mentioned her multiple times by name. Mara didn’t want to look them up herself in case any were nasty. She wasn’t up to that.
Jolie assured her none were negative about her, and then read several aloud.
What happened to Mara? We miss her baking magic.
Anson Bakes has lost its best baker, no longer worth the visit.
Mara no longer works here—one star.
Dropping my former review from five stars to three mediocre stars. Don’t know what changed, but I won’t be back.
