Page 45 of Between Now and Forever
“What do you want me to do? Do you want me to stand in front of my window and watch you climb the ladder and nearly fall to your death?”
I gasp. “First, I didn’t almost fall to my death. Second, I don’t care what you do. And third, what is it with you standing at your window? It’s a little creepy.”
He rolls his eyes.
He’s more agitated than I expected. And although I don’t understand why he’s hell-bent on helping me, I can’t say I don’t like it or that I don’t want him to. But winding him up—watching the self-contained Jay Stetson start to lose his precious control—is fun.
Besides,healmost kissedme. He has it coming.
“Hey,” I say, swinging my hips more than necessary to pick up my water bottle. “Did you ever think of any of your friends that might be looking for a hookup? They could come over and help me. It’d be a two-for-one. He could work with me and thenwork me.”
And . . .he delivers.
Jay cuts the distance between us in half. His eyes flare with irritation. His fists clench at his sides. He peers down at me like he wants to rip me in half—and I consider offering an invitation. But he’s already made it clear that’s not happening.
I’m not one to beg.
Although, I think he’s one to lie.
“Does that question bother you?” I ask, fluttering my lashes. “Because it seems like it does.”
Instead of answering me, he starts across the lawn. “What time are we starting tomorrow?”
“What?”
“What time do you want me here in the morning?”
I laugh. “I said I didn’t need your help.”
“I’ll be here at nine,” he says over his shoulder.
His insistence on helping me makes me smile. Sure, I can do all this on my own—or I can try, anyway. But having Jay around is exciting. And if I get to watch him work and get all sweaty for a couple of days, that’s just the cherry on top.
“Fine,” I say. “But you’re my assistant. Remember that.”
He shakes his head and disappears into his house. Even though I don’t quite understand what he’s up to, I smile all the way into mine.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
GABRIELLE
You cook just like Grandma,” I say, putting away the last plate. “Dinner was delicious, Cricket.”
Cricket’s kitchen is the opposite of mine. The stove itself probably costs more than every appliance in my kitchen. It’s emerald green with gold knobs that complement the bespoke refrigerator across the room. She has a mixer, chopper, and slicer for every meal-prep step. It’s quite a change from my cupboard’s single can opener and cutting board.
“Oh, that’s so sweet of you to say.” She smiles over her shoulder. “One of my regrets is that I never had the chance to cook with her. I mean, sure, we mixed and stirred. But I never got to stand in the kitchen and create a meal with her.”
“She would be impressed by you.”
My cousin beams.
“What’s for dessert?” Peter comes into the kitchen and hands Cricket his tea glass. “Did you make a sheet cake?”
“No,” she says, setting the glass in the sink. “I made a pineapple upside-down cake instead.”
“Oh. I thought we talked about a sheet cake?”
“We did. But I changed the menu, and a sheet cake didn’t go with our entrée, dear.” She gives him a forced smile and turns to me. “Would you like a piece of cake?”
