Free Fresh Temptation: Barboza Brothers, Book One by Reeni Austin Page B

much time
though. I just stepped out of a meeting to take your
call .” Her voice became slightly louder.
“ Any chance you want your old job
back? ”
    “You’ve got to be kidding
me. I just started a brand new job today.”
    “Oh, shoot! I thought you
were a sure thing. ”
    “What happened? I thought
the company was on its way out.”
    “Apparently not. We were
acquired by Emilieu Global .”
    “No!” Cara walked to her
chair and sat down.
    “Yes. There were rumors
for a long time but it just became official today. They work very
fast. They already had new operating budgets waiting when they met
with senior level management today. They added fifty new positions
to the headcount with more on the way. I was so hoping to bring you
back .”
    Cara whined to herself and
pressed her palm against her forehead. “I can’t believe this. Of
course it would happen the day I start a new job.”
    “I’m sure you can still
quit the new job. ”
    The logical side of Cara
told her to take the job in Chicago. She and Isaac were stable
there. And she loved working with Justine. But when she thought
about Victor, her answer was clear. “I’m sorry. I can’t do it. If
this had happened a week ago or even a few days ago, I’d probably
already be packing boxes. I have to stay here. I need to see what
develops.”
    With a dramatic sigh,
Justine said, “ Fine. But if you change
your mind in the next…I don’t know…couple weeks? Month? You let me
know. ”
    “I will.”

Chapter Seven
     
    Cara opened the front door
on Friday evening and entered the house with a sigh of relief. Her
feet hurt and she was dying to slip out of her body shaper and into
some comfy sweatpants. “I’m home!”
    Isaac ran to her from the
kitchen. “Mommy Mommy Mommy!”
    She picked him up and gave
him a kiss. “Were you a good boy for Grandma today?”
    He gave her a mischievous
grin and said, “Yes,” then threw his face against her
neck.
    Cara had a feeling he was
lying, but she was quickly distracted by rich aromas wafting from
the kitchen. She gently lowered Isaac to the floor and he ran off
to the living room. “Mom, what are you making?”
    Patty’s eyes brightened
when she saw her daughter appear. She reached for a potholder and
opened the oven. “Nothing much. Lasagna. Garlic bread.”
    A glance around the room
piqued Cara’s curiosity. On the kitchen counter, she saw some of
her mother’s recipes that were only used for holidays and special
occasions. Homemade garlic bread, Grandma Sylvia’s special red
sauce, among others.
    When Patty saw Cara touch
the recipes, she snatched them from her hand. “I need
those.”
    “What’s going on? Is it
someone’s birthday I don’t know about?”
    “No.” Patty smiled.
“We’re…um…just celebrating your first week at your new
job.”
    “Oh.” Cara returned her
smile. “That’s sweet. I hadn’t thought of that. Is Marcy coming
over?”
    “No.”
    “Well, I’ll invite her. I
don’t think she’s working tonight.”
    “No!”
    “Why not?”
    “Just…no. Not tonight.
Trust me.”
    Cara shook her head and
turned to leave the kitchen. “Fine, whatever. I’m too tired to
argue. I’m gonna go get comfortable.”
    “Don’t get too
comfortable. Wear something decent.”
    Cara spun around to face
her. She knew that tone in her meddling mother’s voice. “Okay.
You’re up to something. What is it?”
    Patty shrugged and focused
her attention on a mixing bowl on the counter.
“Nothing.”
    “You’re lying. What’s
going on? Did you invite someone over?” Cara raised her eyebrows.
“Is it Stanley, that guy you met in the park a few weeks ago who
you don’t think I know about?”
    Patty’s lips pursed as a
pink hue flooded her cheeks. She whisked the ingredients in the
bowl. “That was nothing.”
    “Oh, come on, mom. You’re
a hot grandma.” Cara was glad she talked Patty into dyeing her hair
recently. The new dark brown color covered Patty’s gray and