Page 28 of In Spades

“Are you?” I teased. “Or are you just trying to pry a date out of me?”

“I’m an excellent listener, I can iron pants like a boss, I grill a mean steak, and I always put money in the Salvation Army buckets at Christmas.” He ticked off his endearing qualities on his fingers.

“They should nominate you for sainthood.”

“Nah, I lied. I really was just trying to pry a date out of you.”

I clicked my tongue and shook my head. “Such a relentless heathen.”

He smirked and crossed his arms, muscles bulging beneath that tight gray t-shirt. “But really, what’s going on?”

Ugh.

His messy brown hair and hazel eyes chipped away at my defenses. And that didn’t compare to the damage already done by that irresistible work-face of his.

The way Will looked when he wore his silver-framed glasses and became so engrossed in a project that he forgot about the world around him—that was work-face.

And it was sexy.

I sighed, turning away from him to return the dust rag and lemon spray to the cleaning cart. “Just some work drama.”

“You can tell me, ya know. If you want to.”

“I’m fine,” I said flatly, forcing a smile to soften the words. It’s not his fault someone bought the inn. Or that I’m teetering on the edge because I don’t know if I’ll have a job in a few weeks. He didn’t need me to dump my fears on him.

Will started to speak, then cut himself off. He didn’t push any further, and I was grateful.

He didn’t know it, but my life was a house of cards. A slight breeze would make it all come tumbling down.

Holding everything together for five people was exhausting. I was tired of slapping on a smile and pretending like everything was okay.

It wasn’t.

But I lifted my head and told myself to hold it together just one more time. I had been telling myself that for five years.

Just one more time.

“Do you get a lunch break?” he asked in a gentle voice.

I nodded, not trusting my voice to remain steady.

“What time?”

“When I finish this floor,” I said, glancing at the bedside clock. “So, probably an hour and a half.”

“Can I have lunch with you? You know, on your break?”

“I was actually going to catch up on some… work,” I said. My plan had actually been to take a nap in my car during my lunch break, but I couldn’t say that.

Will raised his eyebrows, but he didn’t call my bluff.

“I wanted to try out the restaurant next door,” he said. “Revanche, right?”

I nodded.

Will moved closer and trailed his fingers down my arm. “If I order something to-go, and find you in about an hour and a half, would you eat with me?”

A cautious smile flickered at the corner of my mouth. “I can see that being a possibility.”

---