Page 178 of One Bad Idea
"If you mean Jax and Jaden, yeah." I tried to smile. "What, you didn't know?"
"No. I didn't. I mean, I knew their initials, and I knew the name of their regular company, but I didn't know they had that whole other side thing going."
"You mean the real estate?"
"Yeah," she said. "It's like they own half the city."
I gave a casual shrug. "Not justthiscity. They've got property all over."
Now, she was frowning. "Yeah. Includingthisplace."
What?I studied Cassidy's face. She didn't look like she was joking.
I shook my head. "No." Still, I took a quick look around. "They don't, do they? Are you sure?"
"Definitely," she said. "And get this, theyalsoown the restaurant where I work."
Oh, crap.
I almost didn't know what to say. "Oh. Um, no kidding?"
Her gaze narrowed. "You knew?"
"Me?"
She gave me a serious look. "Yes. You."
I winced. "If I did, is that bad?"
"Yes," she said. "It's bad.Verybad."
"Why?"
"Oh, come on," she said. "You didn't tell me. What doesthattell you?"
The truth was, yes, I'd deliberately avoided the whole topic. But I had a good reason. I knew exactly how she'd take it.
Lamely, I murmured, "Huh?"
"I'm just saying," Cassidy continued, "youhadto know it was bad, or you would've mentioned it."
"Alright, fine," I said. "I knew. But I figured you'd feel funny if you found out."
"Of course, I feel funny," she said. "I work for my freaking boyfriend."
Funny, I knew the feeling.
I gave her a nervous smile. "Well, technically you don'treallywork for him. I mean, he's not the manager or anything."
She made a scoffing sound. "Yeah, because it's worse. He's the manager's manager with a whole bunch of people in-between." She gave a little gasp. "Oh, my God. I betthat'swhy I never work weekends."
"Oh, stop," I said. "Now, you're just being paranoid."
"I am not," she insisted. "Do you know how rare it is for a waitress to get weekends off?"
"Yeah, but you've worked weekends."
"Not lately," she said. "And get this, if I everamscheduled for a weekend, someone always begs to take my place."
