Page 28 of Love Letter Lost
“How do you feel about ordering a pizza so we can finish up while we wait for it to be delivered?” Ridge pulled out his phone as he spoke.
Amber shook her head. “I ate before I came.”
“It’s been a couple of hours. Are you sure you aren’t hungry?” Ridge looked at Amber as if trying to understand how someone could say no to pizza.
“I ate a ton at brunch with my parents.” Amber shrugged.
Of course she had brunch.I simply smiled. “I guess that means more food for us.”
“How many pizzas should I order?” Ridge asked. “I’m hungry enough I could eat one by myself.”
“How about we do two? One for you and then I’ll split mine with Audrey and Chloe if they show up before it’s gone.”
“But what if I want some of your pizza?”
“I might be persuaded to share,” I hedged. “If you get a kind that’s worth eating.”
Ridge put the order into an app on his phone, adding a side of breadsticks. Satisfied that we had a plan to address our grumbling stomachs, we got back to work until the pizzas arrived. Amber had just finished another arrangement when a knock sounded on the door. I jumped at the sound, bumping the table and causing flowers, tape, and wire to scatter. The movement knocked over my purse, spilling out my green-striped notebook. I quickly scooped it up before anyone else could grab it, stuffing it back into my bag. I then hung the purse on the back of my chair, praying no one had noticed my rush to hide the old notebook. The last thing I needed was for Amber or Ridge to read the words I’d been writing to help me process current events.
Ridge rushed to the door and answered it, leaving me alone with Amber and the mess. She shot me an annoyed look before returning to the arrangement in front of her, which I had disrupted.
After a mumbled conversation at the door, Ridge returned with the food. The smells of garlic and sauce filled my nose, making my stomach grumble louder. Ridge settled the pizzas in the one spot on the counter that hadn’t been taken over by the wedding. He grabbed a slice, and I followed suit, not bothering to locate plates. My first bite of cheese, chicken, and alfredo sauce erased my stress for a moment, and I groaned.
“This is good.” Ridge grabbed his second slice.
I nodded and felt something hanging from my chin.
“You’ve got a little something there.” Ridge reached over with a napkin and dabbed at the spot.
Embarrassed, I reached for the napkin, our fingers brushing. The contact sent shivers down my arms. I mumbled a thank you and looked up in time to catch Amber glaring at me before she schooled her features into a forced smile.
“Hurry up. We still have a lot of work to do, and I’m not staying here all night,” Amber said, her voice filled with forced cheer as she bent to her task and continued working. “By the way, did Ridge mention that his internship will be near here?”
I shook my head, still absorbed in pizza heaven.
“I have to get the internship first,” Ridge said, reaching for another slice of pizza.
“You will. Daddy promised me. Besides, he needs your help with the new development. In fact, if things go according to Daddy’s plan, this quaint little apartment won’t be an apartment for much longer.”
I froze at Amber’s words, a piece of pizza lodged in my throat.
“I saw the signs for the new development when we pulled into the parking lot. I didn’t realize your dad was working to buy this property too.” Ridge continued eating, unaware of the turmoil his words were causing.
“He doesn’t own it yet, but that’s just a formality. With what Milton Corp’s offered the current owner, there’s no way they won’t sell.”
I seethed inside, remembering my dad’s comments about the latest offer. Of course Amber’s family was responsible for trying to take my apartment building away from me. She already had claim to Ridge, not that he was mine, but still, why not take my home too?
I set down my half-finished slice of pizza, no longer hungry.
“If I remember correctly, he’s wanting this property to expand the parking lot and to make a dog park.” Amber continued working, either oblivious to or not concerned with my sudden silence. “Mallory, you should move into one of the new units. I’m designing them, and they’re going to be gorgeous!”
Ridge shot me an odd look but didn’t comment. Instead, he finished his last slice of pizza and returned to the table.
“I guess we’d better get back to work,” he said.
Amber’s phone rang as we made our way to the table.
“Hi, Daddy.” She answered and exchanged a few pleasantries before holding the device out to Ridge. “He wants to talk to you.”
