Chapter 13
“Would it be completely unacceptable for me to quit right now?”
Fiona had to force herself to focus on what she was doing. All Cassie wanted was a trim, but at several points during this conversation, it nearly became a bob.
“I’m sure he’s forgotten all about it,” Cassie said sensibly.
“Ha,” Fiona said. “Not a chance. He looked almost as freaked out as I felt.”
She groaned.
“This is why I don’t date. I’m either way too forward or standoffish, no in between.”
Cassie was awfully quiet, but Fiona was well aware she never stopped thinking.
“Well?” she asked, taking extra care as she trimmed a face-framing strand. “What’s your assessment?”
Cassie let out a breath.
“Well, he is right. He’s your boss. He can’t date you.”
“I know,” Fiona said, rolling her eyes.
“But realistically,” Cassie continued. “You won’t be there long.”
“That’s what Stella said,” Fiona added.
“I see no reason why you couldn’t move on from this, hang out on occasion, and potentially date after you leave the restaurant.”
“Yes,” Fiona said, gesturing with a comb. “But what about the fact that I can never face him again?”
“Oh, come on,” Cassie said. “I saw how he looked at you in that dress last night. There’s no way he’s upset that you wanted him to kiss you.”
Fiona gasped. “Cassandra Louise, are you implying that my boss might be into me?”
“Yes,” Cassie said simply. “And now I’m telling you directly that he’s into you.”
Fiona laughed.
“But…” Cassie continued. “He was smart enough to stop it, and I respect him for that.”
Fiona sighed.
“Alright. I won’t quit Hearth. But I am going to keep things so professional that I’ll only address him as ‘chef’ or ‘boss’ from here on out.”
“Don’t do that,” Cassie told her.
“Let’s change the subject before the mortification kills me,” Fiona said. “How’s the farm?”
“Oh, the same,” Cassie said. “Dad’s getting ready for the busy season and had to hire a couple more guys.”
“Don’t tell Stella,” Fiona warned. “You know how she feels about cowboy types.”
Cassie still lived at home, at her father’s farm about 20 minutes outside of town. They had the best blueberries around, and the sweetest watermelon every summer.
“Why not? The boys love when Stella comes to visit,” Cassie said. “And Austin loved when you would visit, but that ship sailed.”
“Really?” Fiona asked, raising a brow.
“You were too slow,” Cassie said. “He and Abby got engaged over Christmas.”
“And he was too young for me,” Fiona reiterated for the hundredth time. “But I’m happy for him.”
She finished up the haircut successfully, amazed that it turned out so well given her current mental state. But as the hours ticked on, she braced herself for what would surely be an excruciatingly slow shift at the restaurant.