Spying On The Boss. Janet Nye Lee

in a single moment.

      She had gone with him to Asheville after Maddie’s death. He’d found Jules stunned and scared in the care of Maddie’s best friend, Kate. She’d put her little arms around his neck and told him her mommy was dead. He remembered sinking to the floor, Jules in his lap as they cried together. After her tears tapered away, she had whispered a question to him. Who’s going to take care of me now? He’d told her he was. A movement in the doorway caught his eye and he saw Victoria standing there. The words Victoria and I will died on his lips at the expression on her face. Horrified. Furious.

      That night, they’d argued. She told him to let Kate keep Jules. That she had no intentions of starting their marriage with a half-grown kid. And he had no business even trying to take on a young girl. He’d listened to her with a dizzying sense of stunned relief. It was as if a mask had slipped and he was seeing into her soul. And it was ugly. When she said if he was going to take custody she might as well leave him, he told her to go home and pack her things. To be out of the house before he and Jules came back.

      In the time between burying her mother, settling her affairs and coming home to Charleston, Jules asked if Aunt Victoria was going to live with them. He told her no. He told her he and Victoria had decided they didn’t love each other enough to get married. And he prayed Jules would never hear or figure out the truth. Because she’d been disappointed with his answer. Another woman gone from her life. Maybe when they got through this first year, he’d look into that Big Sisters program. Something to get a stable female presence in her life.

      He dropped the truck into gear and backed out of the parking space. This is exactly why you shouldn’t be thinking about Sadie Martin. There is no way to make this work. He shook his head. Damn, he was attracted to her. And he suspected he wasn’t the only one feeling the sparks. Guilt squirmed in his gut. He was lying to her. Spying on her. It’s your job. It’s what you do. Somehow, he didn’t think she would see it that way. And even if he quit, he could never do anything about this attraction and not tell her. And she’d never forgive him. Do the job. Secure your relationship with Henry. Get out. Nothing else to do.

CHAPTER EIGHT

      “WHY ARE YOU so nervous?”

      Sadie frowned at Molly. “What? I’m not nervous.”

      “You are. You’re running all over this kitchen like a chicken with its head cut off.”

      Sadie pointed at the stove with the knife in her hand. “I’ve got three different spaghetti sauces going. I’m trying to chop up this stuff for salads. I’m not sure if we have enough noodles. And we haven’t even started dessert yet.”

      “Yes? And how is this different from any other Friday Feast? You’re about to vibrate out of your skin.”

      Sadie scowled and returned to slicing tomatoes. “You’re imagining things.”

      Truth was, she was nervous. Wyatt had called to let her know Julietta was very excited to come to the dinner and see Jack again. Now she was acting like a geeky high school girl who had the captain of the football team coming to her house. And she hated it. Hated the out-of-control feeling that left her both scared and hopeful. Wyatt was an employee, and her giddy little heart needed to wake up to the fact.

      “Are you slicing those tomatoes or slaughtering them?”

      The beautiful locally grown beefsteak tomatoes she bought at the farmers’ market were now a goopy mess on the cutting board. She put the knife down. “You do it. I’ll get the bread ready.”

      Molly hip checked her away from the counter and began to salvage larger bits of tomato. “Maybe you should go sit down with your jelly-bean jar for a little bit.”

      “Ha-ha. So funny.” Sadie began opening bags of French bread.

      Molly looked up from the tomatoes. “Remember, we need slices, not bread crumbs.”

      “You’re killing me with your razor-sharp wit today, Molls, killing me.”

      “Come on. Spill it before the guys start showing up. It’s Wyatt, isn’t it? You two could short out a power grid with the sparks flying off you.”

      Sadie froze. No. It wasn’t noticeable. But Josh had noticed. Now Molly. This had to stop. She was setting a horrible example. If she couldn’t control herself, what authority did she have to tell the guys to control themselves? Rule number one: no fooling around in word or deed. None. Not even in jest. She took in a deep breath and let it out. Wrapped her jangly nerves up tight and pushed them deep down where she kept her fears and tears. Don’t act the fool. She stood up straighter.