novelxo When He Desires: Chapter 32
My first day back to work, I walk into Frostbite with a dazed smile on my face and a delicious ache between my legs.
The restaurant is still closed, and the dining room is empty.
“Hello?” I call out. The schedule said Carly would be opening with me today.
My eyes widen when I spot the bottle of Buffalo Trace still out on the bar from last night. I hurry over and put it back on the shelf, ignoring the little thrill that goes through me.
Truth is, I was surprised to get the schedule in my inbox a few days ago. After what happened at the mayor’s party, I wasn’t sure if Brett would want me back here.
I don’t really want to be back here, but money’s money, and no matter what Rowan says, I’m not going to take his.
He offered last night, and then again this morning right as I was leaving.
His insistence is surprising, but I’m trying not to read into it. I already know he’s generous, so his generosity isn’t a reflection of how he feels about me. If he was serious about me, wouldn’t he have asked me about my plans to leave by now?
He hasn’t. Which means he accepts I’ll be gone soon, and he’s fine with it.
He just doesn’t want me around Brett. I get it. Rowan is protective. But I’m a lot less nervous about being around Brett at work where there are plenty of other people to keep him in check.
Footsteps sound, and the door to the back swings open to reveal Frank.
My grin widens. I jog over to him and pull him into a hug.
He laughs at my enthusiasm. “Hey, darlin’. We missed you these past two weeks.”
Two weeks? My God. It’s hard to believe it’s only been two weeks since the fire, and since I agreed to Rowan’s offer. The offer itself seems like something that happened in a parallel universe.
“I missed you too. How’s it been?”
“Busy. The boss’s been in a mood the whole time you’ve been gone. We all guessed why after we heard about your new boyfriend.” He adjusts the cap on his head. “Looks like Brett’s finally going to have to come to terms with you movin’ on.”
“It’s about time, isn’t it?” I spent five months telling Brett it was over and that we weren’t getting back together. His stubborn insistence that he wasn’t going to give up on us never made much sense to me, but after the charity auction, I finally understand.
He thinks he’s entitled to me. He felt insulted that I would leave him. Me, a nobody. He thought I’d forgive any and all of his mistakes if it meant keeping him as my boyfriend, but he underestimated me.
“I’m not saying I deserve the world, but I sure as hell deserve better than him.”
Frank grins. “That’s the spirit, darlin’. Let’s get this place up and running. Carly should be here any minute.’ He claps me on the back before disappearing into the kitchen, leaving me standing alone in the empty dining room.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. “Can’t wait to see you tonight.”
My heart flutters at Rowan’s message, and a familiar warmth spreads through my chest.
‘Me too,’ I say and type back quickly before tucking my phone away.
As I start setting up the tables for the day, Carly breezes in with her usual energy, her blond hair pulled back into a ponytail. She gives me a quick hug before grabbing an apron.
“You look good,” she says with a wink. “I have to admit, I was a bit worried about you when I heard you and Miller moved in together, but I know how it is sometimes. My sister’s husband proposed to her after only a month. I have to admit, I’m a bit jealous you get to wake up beside that fine piece of ass.”
I chuckle, feeling a blush creep up my neck. “It was definitely hard to get out of bed this morning.”
She plugs her fingers into her ears. “I’m way too single to be hearing that. Don’t torture me like that.”
I laugh, and we fall into an easy rhythm of setting up the restaurant together. As we finish arranging the last table, the doors to Frostbite swing open, and Brett strides in with a scowl on his face. Carly shoots me a concerned look, but I give her a smile. I can handle Brett. I’ve handled much worse.
He walks up to me until he’s no more than a foot away. “Blake.”
“Morning.”
“Can I talk to you?”
“Sure.” If he’s decided he’s going to fire me after all, it’s better he does it now instead of making me wonder about it all day.
I follow him into his office, and he shuts the door. It’s messy in here, with paperwork in haphazard piles and his laptop at the center of the desk. Photographs of Brett’s family line one of the bookshelves. One is of him, his brother, and his dad at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new library. Another one is of his whole family at their cottage.
And the third photo is of us.
My gut clenches.
Did he look at it while he was having sex with Melissa? Or did he at least have the decency to put it away when they did it in here?
My skin crawls. I don’t want to spend a second longer here than I have to.
Brett stops by his desk and turns to me. “I want to apologize. I was out of line at the party. I’d been drinking and said things I shouldn’t have.”
For the first time, I notice the bags under his eyes, and there’s a desperate edge to his voice, like he’s finally starting to realize he fucked up.
Amazing that it took him this long.
My lips purse into a tight line. The old me would have accepted his apology, but this new version, the version that won’t accept being hurt over and over again, refuses to make his life easy for him. So I just say, “Okay. Is there anything else?”
He touches his fingertips to his desk. “Have you thought about what I showed you at the Christmas party?”
Is he talking about that background check he did on Rowan? I briefly considered telling Rowan about it, but it was so ridiculous and out of pocket that I decided to spare him. He doesn’t need to concern himself with Brett’s tantrums. What does it matter if there’s no record of him being in New York? I’m sure it’s just some kind of a mistake, or there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation. “Not at all.”
His expression darkens. “Why are you so determined to turn a blind eye to—’
“To what, Brett? Trust me, I know Rowan isn’t perfect. But unlike you, he’s been unfailingly honest with me, and it’s a lot easier to see past a person’s flaws when they’re honest.”
He slams his fist against his desk. “Goddamn it, Blake. He hasn’t been honest with you. That’s what I’m trying to tell you!”
“You’ve got no real proof of anything. You’re just trying to start shit.”
“What proof do you need that he’s a scumbag? Tell me, and I’ll get it for you.”
Doesn’t Brett understand that the more he attacks Rowan, the more I feel the urge to defend him?
“That’s not how things work. You don’t get to accuse a person of a crime based on absolutely nothing and then try to find evidence that fits.”
“Him and that friend of his appeared out of nowhere with enough cash to buy a business. And then he bought the Jackson house too. Don’t you think it’s suspicious? Where did he get all that money?”
I have no idea. But that’s none of my business. “You’re not the only person with money in the world, Brett.”
“If things were going so well for him wherever he was before he came here, why move to Darkwater Hollow?”
“He wanted a fresh start. Who am I to judge that? If I’d managed to sell my house before it burned down, I would have done the same thing.”
Surprise colors Brett’s expression. “Hold on. You were trying to sell your house?”
Shit. Why did I say that? I didn’t want him to know about my plans. What if he tells Uncle Lyle?
I wait for the panic to hit. It doesn’t. What can Brett or my godfather do to me if Rowan’s got my back?
I trust Rowan to protect me. The realization spreads warmth through my chest.
I meet Brett’s gaze head-on and cross my arms. “Yes. I even had an offer. I wanted to leave this town so that I could start a life somewhere where I don’t have to work with my ex-boyfriend.”
Brett takes a step toward me. “What happened to the offer?”
“It was withdrawn when they heard about the fire.”
“Did Rowan know about this?”
“About what?”
“The fact that you wanted to leave.”
“Yes, he knew.”
“Was he in your house in the days prior?”
My lungs expand on a disbelieving breath. Jesus Christ. Is he getting at what I think he’s getting at? “Yes, he was. Drop the detective act, Brett. Tell me what you’re really thinking.”
“I’m thinking everything seems to be working out very conveniently for him as far as you’re concerned.”
I shake my head. “That’s enough. You’re out of your mind.”
“I heard he’s the one working on your house. It wouldn’t take a huge stretch of imagination to see how your house burning down could benefit him in more ways than one.”
Anger burns through me. “Rowan is fixing up my house for me at no cost. Not a damn penny. In the meantime, you cut my shifts when you knew I needed the money. Instead of genuinely trying to help me, you spent your time trying to find non-existent dirt on Rowan and coming up with unhinged theories.”
Brett swipes his tongue over his teeth. “You’re not listening to me.”
“I don’t want to listen to you. I don’t believe a word you say, Brett. Not a word. Can I get back to work, or do you just want to fire me right now and put me out of my misery?”
His scowl makes another appearance, but there’s a triumphant glint in his eyes I really don’t like. “As long as you need this job, you have it.”
I turn on my heel to leave, but as I walk out the door, I hear him call out to me. “Think about what I said, Blake.”