Page 19 of Even if It Hurts

“Is that so?” she asked in a tone that lacked all surprise. From the mischief glinting in her eyes, I had a feeling she’d known all along.

“You knew?” The demand left me on a hiss, but I quickly reared back and asked, “Wait, didheknow? I mean, he recognized me—I think. Maybe. I’m not sure now...”

Laughter poured from my aunt as she grabbed one of my hands in both of hers and patted the top of it. “I told him none of my realizations.”

“But you knew,” I unnecessarily confirmed.

“Well, not all that hard to figure when he came storming out of the shop, ranting about having to take care of something because of girls with zero awareness who are fixin’ to get themselves kidnapped. Then as soon as I sat down, you started telling me about a man who kissed you to save you.”

An embarrassed sound caught in my throat. “I can’t work for him. Right? I never even told Jackson because it was?—”

Unbelievable. Exhilarating. Disorienting. All I could think about for so long...

“Nothing,” I lied. “I was never supposed to see him again. But I have to tell Jackson now, and he’ll flip. Even if he was okay withme working somewhere other than the farm—which, he isn’t—he wouldn’t let me work here.”

Aunt Ada hummed dismissively and gave my hand a tight squeeze. “If I’d told you who my boss was, would you have taken the job?”

My lips parted, but whatever immediate response I’d been about to give faded away.

Because of course I would’ve. This job had nothing to do with Asher Briggs and everything to do with the baby I’d found screaming as five intimidating people had crowded around her, failing in their attempts to calm her.

Our kiss and Asher’s attractiveness were nothing more than something to note and move on from the way he’d seemed to.

But the way his eyes had—no! No.

There was nothing in his eyes. There was nothing about him, period.

Still, I found myself asking, “Did you only offer me the job because you knew he was the man from last summer?”

“I take offense to that question, Lainey Ray,” she chided playfully. “You should know I’m much more creative than using a man’s hurt and the needs of a baby to fulfill my agendas.”

My eyes narrowed skeptically, but I eventually said, “Yes, I still would’ve taken the job.”

“Then it’s settled,” she said with a soft clap as she started toward the bedroom door. “Let me show you around this shack of a place so you’ll know where everything is.”

“About that,” I began as I let her lead the way. “When you said you’d let the front desk know I was coming, I didn’t think it was so a doorman could let me up to a penthouse apartment with a special keycard. I also wasn’t expecting the address you sent to lead me to a high-rise in the City Center District.”

She lifted a shoulder at the teasing accusation. “Again, would you have come?”

My eyes rolled because she knew it wouldn’t have changed my decision, but I still said, “I would’ve gone home to change first.”

A snort left her. “You’re going to be with an infant all day. No sense in dressing any way other than comfortable. Besides, I don’t think Asher understands the meaning of the wordsformal attire.”

A hum that I hoped sounded like amusement rolled up my throat as I followed Ada through the apartment and once again tried forcing away thoughts of that man.

But by the time she’d finished giving me a tour of the most beautiful and coldest place I’d ever seen, I found I couldn’t stop thinking about Asher Briggs as I wondered if he really enjoyed living the way he did.

Other than the blankets and toys left forgotten in the living area, everything was tidy in a way that screamed it shouldn’t be touched. There wasn’t anything that hinted at the man who lived there. Everything was all hard lines and dark, dark colors, offsetting the two stories of open windows, and giving the massive apartment an even more unwelcoming feel.

It looked like an overly modern, luxury hotel suite that some baby things had been left behind in.

“Thoughts?” Aunt Ada said as she shut the large refrigerator doors.

“I’m afraid to touch anything.” The confession left my lips on a whisper and had my great-aunt huffing out one of her scoffs.

“You’ll be fine, sweet girl,” she assured me. “There’s nothing in here that can’t be replaced.”

I started to tell her that hadn’t been what I was worried about, but a hesitant sound left me as I considered her words. “Well, that too, but I meant how everything is so organized.”

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