Page 8 of His Contract
I stand from the chair and run my hands over my skirt. Why do they have to be so sweaty when I’m around him? “I should get back to work. More baking to be done before the day’s end. Please enjoy the rest of your meal and say bye before you leave.”
Reaching out he takes my hand before I can leave him. “Jo.”
I look down at his large hand curled around mine and then look up to his eyes. “What is it?”
His adam’s apple bobs as he stares into my eyes. For a moment I think he might kiss the back of my hand, however, he drops it in the next second. “Nothing. I should be going, actually. I have a meeting in a little bit, but I appreciate all the goodies you brought me. I’ll make sure they all find a new home in my stomach.”
I laugh even though my heart falls into my stomach. “I’m sure they’ll love it there. I’m sad to see you go. Same time tomorrow?”
He opens the box to put the Bearclaw in with the other cupcake before he finishes the first cupcake off in one bite. After swallowing, he nods. “Yes, I wouldn’t miss my daily dose of Jo.”
My heart flutters. Does he want to see me every day? Is it because he’s checking up on his little sister Joie, or because he feels the same way about me as I do him?
I start to walk away. I should ask him out. Just make it sound like a friend’s date and then perhaps tell him while on it how I feel. At least then these feelings would be out of me and I would know where we stand. I turn back to him as he stands with his bag. “Cason.”
He looks at me with surprised eyes. “Yeah?”
All I have to do is ask him to dinner. We’ve never had dinner, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start. It’s just seven words. “Drive safe.” Fuck, why am I such a coward?
He rubs the back of his neck. “Always. Have a wonderful day, Jo.”
I nod. “You, too.”
* * *
Ensley laughs as we watch our favorite show Secrets. It’s about a group of girls being stalked by a killer and they have to figure out who it is. It’s a drama, but we turn it on for a laugh due to how ridiculous it can get with its plot twists. I’m staring at the screen, but none of it’s hitting home. I keep thinking about my interaction with Cason today. He probably thinks I’m an awkward idiot. Why can’t I have the confidence of a seductress like Ensley? She could walk up to any person and have them wrapped around her finger and doing what she wanted in two seconds.
“Earth to Josie Kotov, come in Josie Kotov.”
I blink and look over at her. She’s hoarded the popcorn for herself, keeping the large bowl in her lap. I don’t mind, I’m not that hungry anyway. “Huh?”
She tilts her head to the side. “I know that spaced-out look. You’re thinking about Cason, again, aren’t you?”
I clutch my throw blanket closer to my body. “No!” Heat crawls up my neck.
She grins like the Cheshire cat. “You’re blushing! So the answer is yes! What happened?” She pauses our show.
I swallow hard. “I almost asked him out to dinner today.”
Her eyes narrow. “What do you mean by almost?”
I fidget with a green tassel on the blanket. “I started to and then told him to drive safe.”
She sighs. “Girl. He’s not going to get the hint if you don’t say something. Give me your phone.”
I hand it over without hesitation before my mind catches up with my body. She snatches it before I have a chance to change my mind. “Wait! Why do you want it?”
She grins and her fingers fly over my screen. She already knows my passcode. After a second, she hands it back. “There, now when he hits you up for the chat you’re going to ask him for a meal. What you do from there is up to you, but I strongly suggest you tell him about the pining you had for him for years and go from there. I know I’ve met the guy a handful of times, but even if he rejects you, he’ll do it gently and then you’ll move on and I can help you with that.”
“And if he doesn’t reject me?” I stare down at my screen where she’s sent him a text asking if he’s free to talk.
She laughs. “Then girl, get that fine booty of his. I don’t see a problem with it. It’s not like you’re cousins or something. Your families are strange with their old-timey rules. It’s not the twentieth century anymore.”
I know she’s right, but it doesn’t stop my heart from trying to beat out of my chest. It’s getting late. He probably won’t see it until morning. It’ll work out better that way, tomorrow is the one and the only day the bakery is closed, but I’ll probably still go in to do my test baking and work on any mass orders that came in today for Monday. I can invite him there and make Sacha go away for a few hours so we can talk in private. Maybe have some food ordered there. It will still be like we went out to eat, but more private. That way if he rejects me, I don’t have to feel like there’s a dozen people listening in on our conversation and judging me.
Ensley turns on the show again as one of the girls is running down the darkened hall of her high school, screaming her head off as the masked killer pursues her.
My phone dings and we both look at it, my heart hammers. Picking it back up, I frown at the notification.
