Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Lane froze, his lips parting slightly, but no sound came out.
“Simon’s promotion… he’s been made dean of your old department, and they’re expanding the vet program,” Chad explained. “Adding more fieldwork, integrating teaching with hands-on animal care. You’d still get to teach, but you’d also have a chance to work directly with animals. Exactly what you said you wanted.”
Lane’s eyes flicked to me for a second, blinking rapidly. My stomach twisted.
He did that blinking thing when I offered him a second slice of cake for dessert or when he was late for work, but I started getting handsy in the shower.
It was the blink of temptation.
“You’d have access to state-of-the-art facilities,” Chad went on. “More funding than you’d know what to do with. A chance to make a real impact. They’re looking for someone to lead the program, and I told Simon you’d be perfect for it. You don’t need to be back until this summer.”
“This summer?” Lane whispered. “But…”
Kelsey returned at that moment. “Here we go! Coke for Jay. Sweet tea with lemon for Lane. And soda and lime for… the older gentleman.” She set down Chad’s drink, and I decided she deserved a really, really good tip.
Lane stared at the glass she’d set in front of him. “There are three lemon wedges in this,” he said, surprised.
Kelsey nodded. “Annie-Ruth at the Tavern told me that’s how you take your tea. Three lemons, always. Never two, never four.” She giggled like she found Lane adorable… and I couldn’t argue since I agreed. “Is that okay?”
“It’s perfect,” Lane told her with a smile. “Best thing about a small town, huh? People know you.”
Kelsey nodded.
So did I.
Chad scowled.
“I’ll need another minute with the menu to choose my entree,” he told Kelsey curtly. Once she departed again, he turned to me. His eyes narrowed, and I knew I was not going to like whatever came next. “Jay, I want you to order whatever you want today.”
I frowned. “Uh… I was planning on it. They have great rib eyes—”
“I don’t want you to worry about the expense, alright? I know this place is probably a bit much for you,” Chad went on pleasantly. “It’s my treat.”
Hand on my Coke, I froze. Had I heard him right?
The way Lane’s expression had locked into a mixture of horror, anger, and misery suggested I had.
“Chad,” he said, voice shaking with anger. “What the hell—?”
“Not a problem,” I told Chad tightly. “I can pay my own way.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell Chad I had more than enough money—that I could buy the dang Steak n’ Bait, if such a thought ever occurred to me—but I pinched my mouth shut.
When I’d invested my last couple of thousand dollars in my friend’s start-up a few years back, I’d done it because he needed the help, and I’d had it to give, not because I had any idea I’d end up wealthy. And I didn’t tell folks in town that I had money, or even that I owned the Suds Barn, because I didn’t want them looking at me like I ought to be one of the folks in suits at the table at the front of the restaurant—all talk, talk, talk and no action. No fun.
I liked cleaning cars. I liked having time to help out my friends and neighbors. I liked being Jaybird Proud.
For half a second, though, I wavered, and I wondered whether the money would make any difference to Lane. Whether it would make up for my lack of degrees and lack of refinement and lack of ambition.
Just a few hours ago, I would have sworn he wouldn’t have cared either way, but suddenly, I wasn’t sure of anything…
Except that if I kept sitting here, I really was gonna pop Lane’s ex-boyfriend in the mouth, and then what would happen to Lane’s exciting job offer?
I was not going to ruin this for Lane.
I pushed to my feet and summoned a friendly smile. “Shoot, I just remembered I, uh… I’m not going to be able to do lunch after all.”
“Oh, no.” Lane stood too, eyes wide and worried. “Jay, are you—?”
“Sure. Yeah. I’m fine.” I waved a hand. “Just remembered I promised I’d help… somebody with an Entwinin’… thing. I saw Chuck Gimbal out front. If I hurry, I bet I can catch a ride with him.”
I gave Lane another smile, a warmer one, because none of this was his fault. None at all. He was still the handsomest, kindest man in the world. He’d told me he only wanted casual, and I hadn’t entirely believed him, and that was my own doing. “I’ll catch you gents later.”
“I’ll see you at home?” Lane asked hopefully. “Tonight?”
“Probably, yeah.” I shrugged. “I live there, don’t I?”
It was a funny thing how a broken heart could feel so much like a sick stomach. I took a quick detour from the lobby to the men’s room, worried my breakfast was about to reappear. Fortunately, it only took a minute of me staring at my own reflection before I got my stomach back under control.