“I’m just helping Gray out for a while.” My eyes flit to Gray. He’s smiling, but there’s a sadness to him as his bright amber iris dulls. A pain stabs me in the chest. I want to stay, but only to be with him. He’s right, I am scared. I fear being let down again, because with Gray, he’s always been on a pedestal and if I fall, I’ll fall hard.
I couldn’t stay in bed with him this morning, as much as I wanted to. I can’t let myself become attached if this is just a fling for him. I’ve never known him to have a steady girlfriend, so what if I’m just another notch on his bedpost?
Noel scans the room. “We should go out while I’m home, all of us.” He nods towards the till where Glory wipes the counter, though she’s been wiping the same spot for a while with her eyes fixed on Noel. “Who’s the curvy brunette? We could double date. Is she single?”
Gray’s brow furrows. He steps close to Noel, pushing at his shoulder. “Get your eyes off my sister, pervert.”
The blood drains from Noel’s face. “That’s Glory?” He glances between Gray and Glory, then to me. “When did she get so big?”
I can’t stop the smile creeping on my face, but Gray isn’t amused.
“Dude, that’s my sister you’re talking about.”
Noel stutters his words. “I meant tall. Fuck’s sake. Help me out here, Cam.” He pleads with me as Gray gives him a death stare.
I pat his beefy chest with a giggle. “Don’t worry, Casanova. You can take Gray on a date tonight. I have work to catch up on.” Though I think Glory would say yes. She hasn’t taken her eyes off him.
I saunter behind the counter to take the cloth from her before she wears a hole in the work surface. “I think you have a little drool on your chin.”
Her eyes snap to me. “Oh, gosh, is it that obvious?”
“Only to me.” I smile and carry on with decorating the place, leaving the boys to catch up.
* * *
Gray drops a tray of empty cups on the kitchen counter, causing a clatter. “I’ve had some complaints from the customers.”
“Oh?”
“Don’t give me that innocent ‘Oh’. You changed our supplier when I told you not to.”
I roll my eyes and continue to load the dishwasher. “They gave us a free box to try, so it made sense to use it. It’s only the standard tea. I haven’t touched any of your precious speciality teas, don’t worry.”
“The reason people come here is for our unique blend. They can get that cheap tea anywhere. You did the marketing course. I thought you understood about a unique selling point.”
“There’s no point having a USP if you’re not making a profit. I’m trying to help you, Gray.”
“Did you put in an order with the new tea suppliers? If you did, I want you to cancel it, and re-instate our regular supplier.” He’s raising his voice like I’m a naughty kid.
“Or what?” My nostrils flare. My cheeks burn with embarrassment, knowing Glory has heard everything and probably the few customers we have.
His eyes narrow. “You’ll find out.”
“I’m not having you talk to me like a child.” I rip the apron off and scrunch it into a ball, pushing it into his chest. “You can keep your precious supplier. For your information, I didn’t cancel or change anything, I just took the free box of samples they sent. Your regular shipment is still on order, but you’d know that if you talked to me.”
“Talk to you? You’re the one that needs to talk to me.” He folds his arms across his chest. “You need a lesson in communication.”
“You need a lesson in how to talk to people in a civilised manner.” I barge past him and fly up the stairs, ready to pack my things. If he thinks he can boss me around just because we slept together, he has another thing coming. I’m not an employee. I’m his partner. Surely I have some say. He can cool off while I stay at the inn.
The apartment door slams behind me, making me jump.
“Why are you always undermining me?”
I suck in a breath and spin on my heel. “Why are you always undermining me? You’re not the boss here.”
“I warned you what would happen the next time you did something without talking to me first.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Please. I’m not a naughty child that you can spank. You going to put me on the naughty step too?”
