Page 56 of All Mine

Was she sending Lewis her food? That diabolical vixen. I’d laugh if Stephen weren’t angry with the situation. He didn’t appreciate a spirited competition. “Look, I have it under control. We’re as good as done. I told you, I’m taking care of the problem.”

“So you were only seducing her to get her out of the way?”

“Yes, of course.”

“It’s time to stop now, get this sale closed, and those houses bulldozed. This flirtation of yours has gone on long enough. I don’t want you seeing Lauren Hart anymore.”

“What? No, that’s unnecessary. I’m only keeping her close to gain her cooperation.” My mind raced, searching for a way to convince Stephen that not seeing Lauren was the more dangerous tactic.

“I have an idea. If you’ve sufficiently hooked her, you can now distract her from the sale by breaking it off. That’ll get her out of the way without additional interruptions.”

This bastard wanted me to break her heart for the sake of his sale? “It was just sex, so I don’t know that it’ll have the effect you’re going for.”

“You’ve made yourself quite the fixture in her life recently. Now staying away will sew enough confusion to keep her off-kilter. Your methods are a bit unconventional, and I’d never thought of it myself, but distracting the problem may just work to our advantage.”

I didn’t think of this. It wasn’t my plan. Nothing about Lauren was. My professional and personal lives I kept completely separate. And sleeping with Lauren had nothing to do with the sale, but I couldn’t say it out loud. The smell of the sugary treats emanating from the bakery made my stomach roll.

“This is a small town. It’s going to be hard to avoid her,” I said. “The best way to beat her is for me to stay in her inner circle.”

“Let me put it this way—stay away from Lauren Hart, or you’re fired.”

Twenty-One

Lauren

I pressed my hand to the darkened window of the supposed office space of Carter Global Development and peered inside. The room remained furnished but devoid of people. It’d been three days since the asshole was in my bakery. I’m an idiot and should have killed him when I had the chance.

I should never have gotten close to Camden Carter. Screwing him was one thing, but the intimate conversation was another matter entirely. Then the jerk up and disappeared. What happened? He freaked out. That’s what happened. The playboy had a genuine feeling that wasn’t just from his dick, and it scared him.

“I’m completely ridiculous,” I muttered, stomping back to my car. “If he wants to see me, he knows where to find me.” I slammed the car door. I’ve lost my mind talking aloud to myself. I rubbed my forehead in a fruitless attempt to thwart the oncoming headache. Luckily, the perpetual needs involved in owning and running a bakery meant I hadn’t been able to wallow too profoundly in self-pity over the jerk. I had to keep moving and fighting, no matter what.

My eyes scanned Lou’s, spotting Sloane, but I was also looking for him. I’d become something I despised, a woman obsessed with a man. But, I straightened, pushing the thought of him from my mind, and strode to the table, sliding in across from Sloane. The usual hunger-inducing smell of grilling meat turned my stomach.

“Hey guys,” Eden said, sidling up to the table wearing a Lou’s branded T-shirt, jeans, and apron.

I am such a horrible person. I’d not checked with Eden about how the new job was going. After pulling this woman out of her car and talking her into staying here, I’d completely abandoned her, focused only on my bullshit.

“How do you like the job?” I asked.

“I’m so busy that I don’t have time to think most days, which works for me. And it’s been a blast. Everyone’s so nice. How are you doing?” Eden asked, rubbing my shoulder. The same move is given to the tragically dumped the world over, to which I share the same tired reply.

“I’m fine.” La-dee-dah, nothing to see here.

Sloane and Eden exchange a glance that tells me that neither believes this, but they’ll let me try to salvage my dignity.

“He hasn’t been in here,” Eden said.

“I don’t care,” I said.

“It was weird. He got a phone call, and then just left. He wasn’t even finished with his breakfast,” Sloane said.

She’d mentioned this tidbit several times, like that made any of it better. I mean, I wasn’t expecting a relationship out of this or anything. Just some between the sheets fun until he made the sale, and I had to hate him for tearing down the bakery.

“Oh my god.” The realization slammed into me. “Lewis sold the houses.”

“I don’t think—” Sloane started.

“It makes sense,” I interrupt. “He made the sale and knows how I feel about it, and that’s why he vanished.”

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