Page 7 of Wishes on Wildflowers
“Hailey heard he’s won some awards for marketing campaigns in Los Angeles. She’s thinking we should hire him to help us take our business to the next level. What do you think?”
“I think he should go back to L.A. and stay there.” Jasmine’s hand trembled as she lifted her teacup and had a sip.
“Well. That’s not the answer I was expecting.”
Sometimes she forgot Kass had lived in Galena Landing, Idaho, during junior and senior high then been in and out of Spokane until she and her cousin had inherited their grandparents’ bakery. Which meant she hadn’t been around for the Nathan years.
Jasmine willed a blank look to her face and kept her voice even. “He was a jerk, and I’m sure that hasn’t changed.”
Kass’s eyebrows rose.
Really? Hailey had let a bit of juicy gossip go to waste?
Jasmine cleared her throat. “We once dated. Ancient history, and it should stay there.”
From the corner of her eye, Jasmine saw Hailey round the end of the counter, fluffing her short blond hair as she sashayed toward the guys’ table. Surely Hailey wouldn’t go to all that bother for Basil or Peter, so it must be Nathan she had her eye on this time. Poor guy. No, wait. That wouldsolve all of Jasmine’s problems, right? Not only would Nathan get a stiff dose of Hailey — which would serve him right — but Hailey might stop throwing herself at everyotherman in her vicinity.
Okay, maybe that wasn’t entirely fair. Hailey had some good traits. She was a superb baker and seemed able to run a business in the black. She was Eden’s best friend, and Eden was great, so there must be more to Hailey than Jasmine had ever had the patience to look for.
“Hi, guys.” Hailey’s clear voice rang across the café. “Mind if I join you for a few minutes?”
Jasmine wouldnotturn around and see Hailey fluttering her long eyelashes at Nathan. Would not. She met Kass’s gaze across the table as her friend shook her head.
“There she goes,” whispered Kass.
She’d never stopped to wonder what Kass thought of her cousin’s incessant man-chasing. Must be embarrassing being related to her... much like Basil was a constant thorn in Jasmine’s side.
A scuffle of chairs drew Jasmine’s attention. Man, she shouldn’t have been so determined to keep her back to the room. She’d dearly love to see what was going on.
No, she wouldn’t.
“Sorry, Hailey, we were just leaving.” Peter’s voice. “I know you’re almost ready to close, so we don’t want to keep you.”
Jasmine couldn’t help the grim smile twitching at her lips as the clomp of men’s boots came toward the exit.
“Sure, another time, then. Good to see you again, Nathan.”
“Likewise.”
He was right behind her. She could tell by where Kass’sgaze angled. But any second the door would swoosh open, letting in a blast of cold, damp air, and the footsteps would recede. And then she could breathe again.
“Jasmine?”
No. She scrunched her eyes shut, but that didn’t stop Nathan from pulling out the yellow chair beside her and lowering himself into it. She should’ve gone with her first instinct and left the café as soon as she’d realized he was here.
“Hi, you must be Nathan.” Kass stretched her hand across the table. “I’m Kass, Hailey’s cousin and the co-owner of Bridgeview Bakery and Bistro. Welcome back to the neighborhood.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Behind her, she could feel the shaft of air as the door opened. Heard Peter’s and Basil’s voices suddenly cut out as it closed. She might be stuck with Nathan — momentarily — but at least her brother wasn’t here to rub her nose in it.
She gulped the tea and scooted her chair back. “I need to get rolling, too. Linnea’s probably home by now. Thanks for taking a minute to sit with me, Kass.”
Her friend’s gaze flicked from her to Nathan and back again. “Sure. I’ll catch you again soon.”
Jasmine slid her arms down the sleeves of her jacket and winced when Nathan’s hands lifted it to her shoulders. Nathan, a gentleman? “Thanks.” She grabbed her backpack purse and shrugged it on.
Nathan followed her to the door and pushed it open for her.
