Read Online Desired in December (Spring River Valley Book 12) by Clarice Wynter - Free Book Online
Authors: Clarice Wynter
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Hall confirmed it. She’s the one you want to reconnect with, isn’t she?”
“You’re very direct, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not a secret that we used to date,” James said suspiciously. What was her angle? He hadn’t yet decided if he liked Evie or not, but if she put his love life in the paper it would definitely be no.
“Have you had any luck in that department?”
“Are you looking for a job as a matchmaker’s apprentice?”
“No, I’m just looking for a good story. The lonely matchmaker reunited with the long-lost love of her life—”
“Whoa, wait a minute, there’s no story here. I’m not going to let you print any gossip about me and Cassie. Besides, she’s dating someone, and I don’t think he’d appreciate—”
“No, she’s not.”
“Yeah, she told me she has a boyfriend. So—”
Evie made a skeptical face. “When does she have time to date? She works all the time.”
James leaned closer to hear Evie better over the rising din of the bar. “How do you know for sure?”
“I’m not her stalker, if that’s what you’re asking, but she bakes cookies for the newspaper cafeteria, and I run into her all the time. The cub reporters drool over her because, let’s face it, she’s stunning, and yes, I hate her—not really, she’s a sweetheart, but come on, the blue eye and the green eye, the sunny blond hair, the perfect skin…she could have any one of a dozen guys, but her favorite show is Baking with the Stars .”
“Huh?” James had no idea what Evie was getting at. “What does Baking with the Stars have to do with anything?”
“It’s on Friday nights.”
“So?”
“A girl who’s dating someone isn’t home watching TV on Friday night. If she told you she’s dating someone, well…” Evie fell silent, staring at him.
She might have stopped talking, but James got the message loud and clear, and the truth was so much worse than he thought. Cassie had lied to him about being in a relationship because she didn’t want him to pursue her. She wanted it to be perfectly clear there would be no second chance for them.
Chapter Nine
Cassie was relieved to find the shop full of workmen when she arrived on Saturday morning. Her decision to give Mr. Walkowski a key so he could supervise work while she made her deliveries had saved her a few awkward encounters with James , and after several days of constant pep talks to herself, she felt more confident that she wouldn’t find herself a hairsbreadth away from throwing herself into his arms again.
“I brought coffee and muffins,” she announced after setting up a small spread in the kitchen. While the crew filed in for cups of joe from a cardboard box and selections from her muffin sampler basket, she kept herself busy arranging an assortment of new pans, whisks, and measuring cups. Once the workmen were finished with their morning break, she planned to prep the fridge and test all the outlets so she could organize each of the work stations. She figured she’d wait until they’d devoured the food and coffee before getting started.
Though she tried not to pay any extra attention to him, she couldn’t help but notice James steered clear of her baked goods, probably reluctant to accidentally sample any more pet treats. The memory of the look on his face when she’d told him he’d eaten a dog biscuit made her smile. As he passed through the kitchen with his coffee cup in hand, his gaze met hers briefly.
She stifled her grin, and they nodded to each other and went about their business like strangers for the rest of the morning.
They were, after all, strangers now. Very little remained of the people they’d been, and when this job was over, they’d continue to be strangers.
Sobered by that thought, she set to work, her smile replaced by a scowl.
*
By half-past three the refrigerated display cases were completely installed and half the floor had been tiled. The white-painted trim
“You’re very direct, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not a secret that we used to date,” James said suspiciously. What was her angle? He hadn’t yet decided if he liked Evie or not, but if she put his love life in the paper it would definitely be no.
“Have you had any luck in that department?”
“Are you looking for a job as a matchmaker’s apprentice?”
“No, I’m just looking for a good story. The lonely matchmaker reunited with the long-lost love of her life—”
“Whoa, wait a minute, there’s no story here. I’m not going to let you print any gossip about me and Cassie. Besides, she’s dating someone, and I don’t think he’d appreciate—”
“No, she’s not.”
“Yeah, she told me she has a boyfriend. So—”
Evie made a skeptical face. “When does she have time to date? She works all the time.”
James leaned closer to hear Evie better over the rising din of the bar. “How do you know for sure?”
“I’m not her stalker, if that’s what you’re asking, but she bakes cookies for the newspaper cafeteria, and I run into her all the time. The cub reporters drool over her because, let’s face it, she’s stunning, and yes, I hate her—not really, she’s a sweetheart, but come on, the blue eye and the green eye, the sunny blond hair, the perfect skin…she could have any one of a dozen guys, but her favorite show is Baking with the Stars .”
“Huh?” James had no idea what Evie was getting at. “What does Baking with the Stars have to do with anything?”
“It’s on Friday nights.”
“So?”
“A girl who’s dating someone isn’t home watching TV on Friday night. If she told you she’s dating someone, well…” Evie fell silent, staring at him.
She might have stopped talking, but James got the message loud and clear, and the truth was so much worse than he thought. Cassie had lied to him about being in a relationship because she didn’t want him to pursue her. She wanted it to be perfectly clear there would be no second chance for them.
Chapter Nine
Cassie was relieved to find the shop full of workmen when she arrived on Saturday morning. Her decision to give Mr. Walkowski a key so he could supervise work while she made her deliveries had saved her a few awkward encounters with James , and after several days of constant pep talks to herself, she felt more confident that she wouldn’t find herself a hairsbreadth away from throwing herself into his arms again.
“I brought coffee and muffins,” she announced after setting up a small spread in the kitchen. While the crew filed in for cups of joe from a cardboard box and selections from her muffin sampler basket, she kept herself busy arranging an assortment of new pans, whisks, and measuring cups. Once the workmen were finished with their morning break, she planned to prep the fridge and test all the outlets so she could organize each of the work stations. She figured she’d wait until they’d devoured the food and coffee before getting started.
Though she tried not to pay any extra attention to him, she couldn’t help but notice James steered clear of her baked goods, probably reluctant to accidentally sample any more pet treats. The memory of the look on his face when she’d told him he’d eaten a dog biscuit made her smile. As he passed through the kitchen with his coffee cup in hand, his gaze met hers briefly.
She stifled her grin, and they nodded to each other and went about their business like strangers for the rest of the morning.
They were, after all, strangers now. Very little remained of the people they’d been, and when this job was over, they’d continue to be strangers.
Sobered by that thought, she set to work, her smile replaced by a scowl.
*
By half-past three the refrigerated display cases were completely installed and half the floor had been tiled. The white-painted trim
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