when we were away from prying eyes.
“Well, keep up whatever you’re doing. You look great,” Thomas
complimented and squeezed my hand. “You can tell me all about it later. But now, I need to freshen up after such an adventure.”
“Come on, everyone, I’ll take you to your rooms.” Ben stepped in and
escorted the new guests away.
Vivian slipped her arms into mine. “Let them settle in, and you can help fix
an early dinner for our new arrivals.”
I forced a smile and nodded. I was afraid of what I would say. The anger inside me was on a slow burn waiting to release.
With me in charge of assembling the sandwiches, Vivian whisked off to check on the dining table. As I was putting the last sandwich together, I found Jack staring at me from the doorway.
“How long have you been spying on me?” I asked coldly.
“I just got here.” He walked towards me and reached over me to pick up a radish.
I felt like the air had been sucked out of the room as we stood impossibly close.
“You have a little something…” He cupped my face and wiped it gently with
his thumb. “Mother’s chicken salad?”
“Yeah,” I said, barely above a whisper.
“It’s nice to see you looking so well, Caitlyn.” Jack leaned in and kissed me
on the cheek.
Heat grew inside me. I wanted to wrap my arms around his neck and pick up
where we had left off. I could pull him into one of the spare rooms and live out
the fantasies I had held for the past year. I could do many things, but I suddenly remembered he had lied to me.
“Don’t fall for another liar, Caitlyn. It’s good you found out now.”
Moving away from him, I snapped, “Lunch is ready. We don’t want to keep
everyone waiting.”
The hurt in his eyes felt like I had ripped my own heart out, but I wouldn’t
let his deception make me feel bad.
While we ate our meal, I answered any questions Jack asked me but asked none of my own. Not giving less or more than what was polite. I focused on everyone at the table, except for him, unless forced to. He made it difficult for me to ignore him. I felt him watching me. Relief filled me when we were done
eating, and I could break away from his gaze.
Quickly, I began to clear the dishes with the hope of hiding in the kitchen.
“Let me help you.” Jack tried to take one from me.
“I got it.” I jerked the plate away.
“Grant, will you help me with this?” Vivian called, holding out a platter.
“Sure,” he said, giving me a look of disappointment.
What did he expect from me? Was I supposed to run into his arms, crying,
‘Thank you, White Knight, for slaying the dragon’?
Jack tricked me. He lied to me. Did he get me this job to save me, to protect
me from myself or from Jeremy? Or was he looking for a broken girl to be the
hero for – to clean up… fix? He was such a good man that he wouldn’t even sleep with me when I threw myself at him.
Pain filled me. “He is a good man. He would never want to be with someone
like you. Not the liar and whore you’ve become.”
When I put the last dish in the dishwasher, Vivian came into the kitchen.
