Page 58 of Wishing for Love

“I didn’t go overboard and my family is big, but I did spend more than normal. I can bargain shop too.”

Phoenix hadn’t done that. At least with Elsie’s stuff. He just bought what she showed him without shopping around for a better price.

“I think it’s the thought that counts,” he said.

“It is. Everyone thanked me, but my mother said she’d have no reason to wear the sweater and that the shirt had buttons on it and she doesn’t like buttons. I mean, I never knew that. She wears button-down shirts all the time.”

“Sounds like she just wanted to gripe about something.”

“That is normally what it’s like.”

“She was commenting on you working today?” he asked.

Guess he heard more than she thought. “Again, complaining. She thinks everything should be given to people. I’m not sure why. She’s always worked and never gave us kids much. Now that most of us have a better life or make more than her, she thinks we should give it to her.”

“Sounds like you did share with her,” he said.

“She doesn’t get it. I love working here, I really do. Sorry if you thought otherwise.”

“I didn’t,” he said. He moved toward her and pulled her into his arms. “I snuck up here because Elsie is watching some cartoon and I needed a break. I figured I could get a smooch in.”

She laid her lips to his. “This is nice. Thank you for my earrings. I love them.”

She had them in her ears right now. She didn’t ever want to take them out.

“You’re welcome. I wanted to get you something special.”

Which was sweet because he had to have gotten them before they’d slept together. And that meant that he was thinking of her as more than a quick hit in the sheets.

“I appreciate it. Sometimes I do things and then have doubts.”

He ran his hand down the side of her face. “Don’t doubt me,” he said. “If that is something on your mind, don’t let it be. I’m not sure what we’ve got or how it’s going to work out, but I want us to tackle it together. This isn’t a fly-by-night thing.”

She let out a breath. “Thanks for that. I didn’t think so, but then I got talking to my mother and she pulled me back into this place where I hated myself as a kid. Or maybe hated what she pulled out of me. Not sure the full truth.”

“Don’t go back to that place. Stay in the one right here. We’ll figure it out.”

“We will,” she said. She gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “Now I should finish putting together dinner before Elsie comes looking for us.”

They walked down the stairs and she rounded the corner to see the sandwiches all put together with chips and fruit next to them.

“I figured it was the least I could do since you cooked breakfast.”

She wanted to give him another kiss but didn’t because Elsie came running over. “My cartoon is done. Can we eat now?”

“We sure can,” Phoenix said.

They pulled their stools out and sat at the island and she’d have to say this might be the first time she’d felt like she belonged in a real family...too bad she was only the employee.

20

HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT

On Sunday, Phoenix was watching football while Elsie played with her dolls on the floor. Crystal was in her suite and he hated that.

But there wasn’t much he could do about it. It’s not as if Elsie knew that he and Crystal had something going.

Shit, he wasn’t sure he even knew what it was they had. That was the worst part.

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