Page 20 of In Good Company

She laughs. “No comment.”

I glance over my shoulder with a raised eyebrow. “You don’t have to say it out loud. I know I’m better than anyone else you’ve worked for.”

She lets out a deep breath as I hold open the side door for her. The playful smile on her lips and narrowed stare tell me nothing about what’s going through her head. “I guess we’ll have to see about that.”

I shake my head as she steps into the small mudroom.

Yeah, having her here every week is going to be fun.

As soon as she’s far enough into the room, I shut the door and gesture to the hallway. “The kitchen is right this way.”

I carefully brush past her, making sure to keep my distance despite the narrow opening of the room. We’re both quiet as I guide her to the kitchen.

“Here’s where the magic will happen,” I tell her, setting the bags of food on the large kitchen island. I tuck my hands in my pockets and turn to face her, wanting to gauge her reaction to the space.

She’s silent, her big brown eyes slowly assessing the room. I wait for a few moments, wishing I could get inside her head. It’s a high-tech kitchen. There’s not much more she could want for in here, but her silence makes me nervous. Is it missing something? I’ll buy her whatever else she could want.

I tap my knuckles against the counter as I watch her closely. “Everything look okay?” It isn’t hard to miss the uneasiness in my question. I clear my throat, not used to having to question things. Uneasy is not a tone I have often.

Lucy’s eyes find mine. Her wide smile could thaw even the most frozen of hearts—including mine. “Of course,” she answers, her voice breathless. She pulls her eyes from mine as she looks around the kitchen. She runs her hands along the quartz countertop, her bright smile never once leaving her lips. “I don’t even have words. Cal, this kitchen is stunning.”

I try to ignore the way my chest constricts ever so slightly at the way she says my name. “It should have everything you need. If you happen to find something it’s missing, just purchase it with the card you were given.”

Her top teeth rake against her plump bottom lip as she tries to keep her smile from growing. “Thank you. Really. I appreciate you giving me the job when things could be awkward because of Oliver.”

I grunt. As much as I love hearingmyname from her mouth, I loathe hearing his. “Shouldn’t be awkward at all. He’s stupid and didn’t deserve you. I’m glad you didn’t let him hold you back from accepting the job. That would’ve pissed me off.”

Her jaw drops, but she can’t be that upset because there’s still a hint of a smile on her lips. “That would’ve pissedyouoff?”

I fold my arms across my chest. “Yes.”

“Why?”

I take a step closer to her. There’s still enough space between our bodies that we aren’t inappropriately close. But even with an acceptable distance between us, the air still feels thick with something. “Because my brother should never be the reason you pass on a great opportunity. You honestly shouldn’t spare him a second thought anymore.”

Her head tilts to the side as her eyes track my face. She doesn’t shy away from our sudden close proximity. “Do you not find it cold to speak of your brother that way?” Her question comes out unsure. She doesn’t ask it judgmentally. It’s as if she truly can’t comprehend how I’m able to talk about Ollie that way.

“Maybe I’m a cold person.” I keep the thoughts running through my mind about my brother to myself. I’m indifferent toward Ollie in a way that probably could come off as cold. But it isn’t just me. I know he feels indifferent about me as well. The blood shared between us doesn’t mean we have to be close.

“Maybe you justwantpeople to think you’re cold,” Lucy offers. She shrugs, taking a step back and rounding the large kitchen island. She runs her fingers along the knobs of the range, completely oblivious that her comment has left me speechless.

ELEVEN

LUCY

My stomach twists with nerves—and maybe my hunger—as I put the finishing touches on Cal’s lunch. His assistant told me, as a general rule of thumb, to prepare enough food for four people for lunches and dinners and two for breakfasts. If numbers change, I’ll be told the evening before or early the morning of.

This is the first official meal I’ve cooked for Cal. I want him to love it. I don’t want him to regret hiring me.

When I showed up this morning, I wasn’t expecting to find him home. And I certainly wasn’t expecting him to give me a tour of the house himself. I imagine he’s a very busy man. You don’t get to a place of power like him—and have so much money—without committing yourself to work. But he’d taken his time showing me every room.

It meant more than it should.

Cal’s house is breathtaking from the outside, but it’s even more incredible on the inside. It’s common knowledge that he’s a big deal. But to afford this home as a summer house…he’s beyond rich.

“It smells incredible in here,” a voice calls from somewhere in the house. I smile, recognizing the voice from the club. I’mbusy drizzling the top of the salad with dressing when Jude strides into the kitchen. He wears a golf hat with the Pembroke logo on it and a green polo.

“I hope it tastes good,” I remark, using a napkin to wipe the edges of the plate clean.

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