Chapter 14
“Where are you going for this date?”
I look pointedly at Claire in the vanity mirror and lower my mascara brush. “This is not a date.”
At her spot on my bed, she rolls onto her stomach and props her chin in her hand. Making eye contact with me in the mirror, she tilts her head and smiles knowingly. “Then why did you put on your dark red lipstick? It’s a very romantic shade.”
“Because I like my dark red lipstick.”
“You only wear it for special things.”
I roll my eyes and return to applying my makeup. “The only thing special about tonight is that I’m going to start laying the groundwork for getting this hotel chain out of town.”
“Which is great,” she agrees.
“I think so.”
“But…”
This time, I spin around on the ottoman to face her. “But what?”
Claire sits up and crosses her legs, fidgeting with one of her slouchy knit socks. “But Lucy, you know it’s okay if that’s not the only reason you’re going, right?”
“What other reason would there be?”
She levels me with a knowing look and thoughtful silence. Because he makes my heart beat faster, comes to mind in an instant.
Rising from my seat, I grab my cropped quarter zip sweater, in Ellicottville burgundy, from the dresser and pull it over my head.
It’s the real reason I reached for the darker lipstick tonight—the romance of the hue just a happy accident.
Or, just a normal accident, because there’s going to be no romance tonight.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” I ask Claire again, hoping her presence could be capable of cutting through the stifling tension I feel around Jake.
“If Levi wasn’t working, we could have doubled. But there is no way I’m third wheeling on this date.”
“It’s not a date!”
Downstairs, the doorbell chimes, and Claire turns to me with a wild-eyed expression. “Whatever it is, it’s starting now.”
“I’m not ready though,” I hiss back in horror. Is he early?
“That’s okay.” She jumps off the bed and heads for the doorway. “I’ll stall.”
“No!”
But she’s already halfway down the hall by the time I drop my hairbrush and reach for her, grasping at only air.
The woman that answers the door is not Lucy.
I scratch the back of my neck and try to discreetly steal a glance around her, looking for familiar dark hair and a slender build in the background.
“You must be Jake,” the woman says.
“I am.”
She folds her arms and leans against the door jamb. “I’m Lucy’s roommate, Claire. And I’m very torn about her spending time with you.”
Interesting. I didn’t expect Lucy to tell anyone about my reason for being in town. Unless that’s not what she means? I fold my arms as well. “Why is that?”
“Because she doesn’t need you turning her hometown against her. Granted, it would be hard. Everyone loves Lucy around here, as they should. But if even a single person finds out who you are and they end up giving Lucy a hard time for being out with you—”
“I won’t let that happen,” I answer assuredly.
“You can guarantee it?” she challenges.
Glancing over her shoulder again, I still don’t see Lucy. I’d much rather be saying all of this to her, but it’s clear I won’t get the greenlight until I finish this line of questioning.
“I’ll guarantee what’s in my control. And that’s making sure her wellbeing is the priority.”
Claire nods slowly, her attention still assessing. “Prioritized above business?”
“Above business,” I agree.
She unfolds her arms to push the door open further. With a better view, I finally catch a glimpse of Lucy coming down the stairs. “Definitely above business,” I murmur to myself.