“Sure.”
She put the bag of tortilla chips on the counter and went to the fridge for the salsa.
“Sit for a minute, Emma. I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever. You’re never home during the day anymore. You text me to come over, but then you’re not here. What kind of games are those?”
Elton had a weird sense of humor. She set down the salsa and leaned her elbows on the counter. “I went back to work. That’s why I hired Harriet. She’s a lifesaver, and Granddad and I both love her.”
“Yeah, she’s great.” Elton rubbed his ear.
He didn’t make a move toward the chips or salsa, so Emma waited, too. The way her stomach was tensing, putting food into it wasn’t a good idea anyway.
“Emma, would you like to go with me to the symphony next Saturday night? A fan of one of my books gave me tickets.”
“Oh, how nice of them. I’ll have to check my schedule, but I’m sure Harriet would be free that night if I’m not.”
Elton got off his stool and edged around the counter until he was next to her, with their shoulders practically touching. “You really do love your grandfather’s nurse. But I didn’t ask Harriet, I’m asking you. The performance is at eight. I thought we could go to dinner first, make a night of it.”
A chill came over her, and she froze in place while her mind raced. Was Elton…? No. She’d never thought of him that way and had assumed he felt the same about her.
Elton ran one finger down her wrist, and she jumped away from him and grabbed the bag of chips in the middle of the counter with both hands. Snacks. They just needed snacks and normal conversation. With a mighty wrench, the bag popped open, sending chips scattering all over the counter.
Emma, feeling humiliated, turned to get a bowl while Elton quietly laughed.
“You gonna be okay there?” He held up a handful of chips and deposited them in the bowl in Emma’s hands.
“I’m fine, I’m just … confused.”
“That makes two of us. Emma, do you think I come over because I’m interested in watching silly little reality TV shows? You know why I’m here. And I think we’ve reached a place in our relationship where it’s time to say it out loud.”
Emma put her hand up. Denial was no longer an option, no matter how much she wanted it to be. “No, I don’t think we need to say anything out loud. Elton, you’re my neighbor and my friend, I hope. And that’s all we’ll ever be.”
Elton’s face changed from one of calm confidence to simmering resentment. “Then you should have made that clear instead of sending me signals that you wanted more.”
“What about the signals you sent Harriet? She likes you.”
“Harriet?” Elton scoffed. “There were no signals. All she ever talks about is her ex, the guy she loves so much that she had to break up with him. Wait, were you trying to set me up with your help? Is that why you sat her next to me at your little party?”
“She’s a registered nurse, Elton. Don’t call her my help. And what’s wrong with home caregiving? It’s a very necessary and selfless profession.”
Elton sputtered. “That’s not what I meant at all. What I’m trying to say is, you can’t play matchmaker with your ...” He was about to say help again but stopped himself. “You don’t see a conflict of interest there? Harriet’s such a people pleaser she’d date Jack the Ripper if you asked her to.”
“That’s not true.” Emma’s throat closed off. Did everyone see it except her? She felt like the room was spinning, with Elton’s smug face the only thing in focus. He’d practically declared his feelings, but when that tanked, he’d found a handhold to hoist himself up with so he could look down on her again. His eyes, his smirk, his stance, they all said she was naïve and clueless, and she hated that she felt the way he saw her.
Elton crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. “Even if I was interested in Harriet like that—which I’m not—there’s no way I’d be her rebound guy.”
“Understood.” Emma bit her lip. Elton would keep going if she let him. He could milk a two-minute conversation into twenty. He just had that gift. “Thanks for returning the rake.” She gestured to the door where she’d left it, hoping he’d take the hint.
Elton’s chin lifted a little. “Clearly, there’s been some misunderstandings on both sides. I’ll find someone else to take to the symphony. See you around, Emma.” He picked up a chip from the counter and popped it in his mouth before seeing himself out.
Emma didn’t get the satisfaction of slamming the door on him, but she picked up the stupid rake he left and marched to the garage with it, her heart so full of anger and embarrassment that she thought she might spontaneously combust. She put the rake on its hook just the way Granddad liked it and noticed the long-handled clippers hung up next to it. Sure enough, there was sticky residue all over the blades. Elton really was a bad neighbor.
Chapter 14♥There Might Be Someone Else
“Your favorite receptionist has called in sick again.” Lois scrunched her nose. “And just when I was about to upgrade her from useless to slightly less useless.”
“People get sick, Lois. That’s the whole reason we work here, after all.” George was not about to jump to conclusions the way some cynical billing specialists might, but it also had not escaped his notice that Jane’s three sick days coincided with Finn’s return to Sacramento.
He hadn’t asked Betty whether Jane was legitimately sick because he didn’t want to put her in the uncomfortable position of choosing loyalties—by either lying to him or betraying her niece.
