Page 19 of Sizzle
“Really?”
She shrugs. “My kids got their own lives these days. All the grandkids are in school. It’s just me and Rupert at home.” I’ve seen pictures of Rupert, but haven’t had a chance to meet him yet. He’s freaking adorable. “Plus, you might I’ve got some experience keeping an eye on somebody who needs help. If your dad’s agreeable to the idea, I’m your girl.”
“You really mean it, Connie? It wouldn’t be forever, and I’ll pay you, of course—”
“Don’t even start with that bullshit, young lady,” she says, glaring at me. “That’s the last I’ll hear of any payment talk. I’ve got the time, and it’s not hard for me to talk to somebody as maybe you’ve noticed. I’m glad to help.”
The first tear falls before I can catch it and Connie’s glare goes laser-focused, strong enough to have me sniffling the rest back fast.
Connie’s husband Frank died about ten years ago after his fourth long battle with colon cancer. She doesn’t talk about him much but he must have been one hell of a guy to have fought it off so long. I don’t think she would make this offer lightly, and it makes me want to weep. Which she’d obviously hate, so I suck it up for later.
“Is tomorrow too soon?” I ask, ignoring the quiver in my voice. The glare dissipates and she smiles a little.
“No problem,” she says. “I gotta get back to work. Text me your address. I’ll head over there around lunch tomorrow.”
“Perfect,” I say. She’s almost rounded the corner when I get myself together enough to call out my thanks. Connie just waves without turning and then I can’t stop the tears.
They’re happy tears, sort of. It’s a relief to have one thing go right, even if it wasn’t at all what I expected.
“What’s all this?” comes a deep voice from behind me. Sex Voice, but dialed back to Sexy Voice this time.
I wipe my face on the sleeve of my sweater as discreetly as I can manage before I turn to face my boss.
“Nothing,” I say. The sniffling might have given me away, though, if his expression is anything to go on.
“Uh huh,” says Elliot. “Do I need to beat somebody up?”
It makes me laugh and I see him start to relax.
“Nothing like that,” I tell him, managing a wobbly smile. “But thanks anyway.”
Elliot gives me a long look, long enough for the tears to dry up and my skin to flush. He set his hands on the table, leaning in close to my face, close enough I catch the clean scent of his soap. His hair is damp and curling at the nape of his neck and the urge to bury my nose there is intense.
“Is there anything I can do?” he asks, his eyes on mine.
I can think of a couple of things he can do. A hundred things. A hundred thousand things.
But he’s my boss and I need this job now more than ever, so I shake my head and give him a stronger smile this time. His gaze drops to my mouth and for a second the air goes still around us.
This time, Elliot shakes his head, righting himself and taking a step back.
“If there’s anything I can do, you let me know, Joelle,” he says. “Please.”
“I will. Thank you.” Elliot walks down the line and back into his office, shutting the door behind him. I inhale, trying to get back some of the air he stole.
I’m so screwed.
7
Elliot
I can hear the thunder over the din of the Friday night crowd, which means the storm’s getting worse. You’d think weather like this would keep people home but if the party-on atmosphere is anything to go by, we’re going to break a sales record this weekend.
I can’t stop smiling.
Finally, a break. Now if only I could figure out why Joelle was crying yesterday, I’ll be set. That, and if Alex shows up. Bastard hasn’t been in all week and I haven’t seen him at the house since Monday. I saw his car in the drive every night when I got in late, so he definitely slept at home. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was avoiding me.
Joelle’s been fine at work, and she doesn’t strike me as the crying type so it freaked me out a little to see it happen yesterday. But she swears it’s nothing and has been okay since, so I have to figure whatever it was got worked out.