Page 30 of Under Ground

I take a bite of the muffin. “Mm-hmm well …”

She shakes her head. “I’ll take the basket away if you’re going to hold out on me.”

I swallow and laugh. “It was really lovely. He’s just such a nice guy.”

“Good. You deserve a nice guy.” She flounces back to her chair and drops onto it. “I was really scared that you’d tell me I was the fan of a douche.”

“He’s not that at all.” I smile. “He’s very sweet. Want one of these? I can’t eat them all. I’ll take a couple home for Casey, but I think there’s about a dozen in there.”

Anna leans over and plucks one out of the basket. “Yes, I will have one of these delicious banana muffins your Hollywood star boyfriend gave you.”

I laugh. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

She wags a finger. “We’re not doing that again. Besides, he obviously likes you. Look at all this.” Taking a bite of the muffin, she lets out a loud moan. “Ohhh, that is so good.”

“What on earth is with all the moaning going on out here?” Gareth steps out of his office, and both Anna and I burst into giggles.

I hold up the basket. “Want a muffin?”

He eyes me cautiously. “What’s wrong with them?”

“Nothing. They’re amazing. And I’ll never eat all these by myself.”

Anna points at the basket. “Try one, Gareth. They’re freshly baked.”

He reaches for one and sniffs at it before taking a bite. “Where did these come from?” he asks.

“Alex sent them to Lana. It’s so sweet.” I swear Anna has love hearts in her eyes as she says the words.

Gareth’s eyebrows rise. “Is that right?”

“Yes.” I let out a contented sigh. “I don’t know how he got this so right, but he nailed it.”

“You didn’t read the card,” Anna says.

I laugh. “I think the smell of those muffins overrode any thought I had about that.”

She pulls the envelope off the flowers and hands it to me.

Thank you for a great night. I need to see you again.

The thought of him doing this makes my heart flutter.

I blush and tuck the card back into the envelope.

“What did it say?” Anna asks.

I shrug. “He wants to see me again.”

She lets out a squeal and Gareth narrows his gaze. “So, are you going to?”

“Are you kidding?” I reach for another muffin. “This is so the way to my heart. I just have to remember to keep some for Casey to eat.”

He rolls his eyes and makes his way back into his office.

Nothing can get me down.

Not even working for him.