Page 31 of Jett

“I heard. And his wife died a few years ago.”

I blink as my aunt recounts this news. “How do you know?”

“Your mom told me.”

“My mom told you?” Something tells me that Aunt Scarlett has an idea about my crush. “How? When did mom tell you?”

She sets down her glass. “Toward the end, hon … toward the end, your mom told me that your stories about work entertained her, but she was also worried about you. Though, she seemed to think that your boss was a good man, and he’d been good to you.” Her mouth twists as if she’s about to say something.

“What?” I frown, because I sense she’s hiding something.

“Your mom was very lucky to get onto that clinical trial so quickly, and it was a miracle that there were no extra costs. I mean …” She pauses.

“What, Aunt Scarlett?” That trial was the breakthrough we’d needed. It was our last hope, especially when the surgery didn’t remove the whole tumor and the chemo after didn’t entirely kill it off. This was a new clinical trial, in early stages of development, but within a week she was on it. I didn’t think about it much at the time. I’d assumed it was just luck.

“The doctor said a kind benefactor made a huge donation to the hospital and that certain strings had been pulled, and your mom was one of the lucky ones.”

I sit back in relief and shrug. “There are plenty of philanthropists in New York.”

She nods. “There are.”

I swallow the lump in my throat when I think of my mom. I used to tell her about Jett Knight, but I never told her outright that I had a crush on him. I guess instinct told her. It hurts to know she was worried about me. That's the last thing I wanted.

“He's always dating,” Eliana adds.

Aunt Scarlett waggles a finger at me. “You can't go there if he's attached.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. Cari has no plans to get anywhere near him, even if he was attached!” Eliana cries. “Our girl likes to wallow in the misery and torture of unrequited love.”

I fix my friend with a pointed stare, irritation crawling along my spine at the poor opinion she has of me.

“He's unattached at present.” I lift my wine glass smugly.

Eliana snorts. “He's ...what? What happened to Alicia?”

“Who's Alicia?” Aunt Scarlett asks.

“A hotshot hot attorney,” I reply. At this they both look at me like I am nuts.

“I hear you on the misery and torture.” Aunt Scarlett points her wineglass at Eliana.

“They broke up recently,” I clarify.

“Sweet!” Aunt Scarlett points her glass at me. “You can have some fun now, if things progress on vacation.”

I want to fan my face, but dare not with four eagle eyes trained on me.

“Aunt Scarlett! Do not encourage her. A man like Jett Knight would eat her for breakfast and spit her out by lunchtime,” Eliana protests.

“Then she’ll surely enjoy the breakfast.” My aunt winks at me.

Eliana howls with laughter, thumping the table as she doubles over. “That might help her get him out of her system.”

“Aunt Scarlett!” I am shocked.

“She’s right.” Eliana has a shit-eating grin on her face. “You’ve handed in your resignation, and he’s taking you on vacation—”

“He not taking me on vacation. He's taking Brooke. He promised her, but Anna quit. Anna is Brooke’s nanny,” I explain to my aunt.

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