Free Just Add Heat by Genevieve Jourdin Page B

was strange to not know such a simple thing.
    “Sunday.”
He was still standing there. Tomorrow was Monday. Usually I was off on Monday
nights, it was the slowest, but I normally went in early in the day to check
the stock and order what was needed. It took me a second to remember that I no
longer go in on Mondays or any days for that matter.
    “What do I
do on Mondays? Do I have something I need to get done?”
    “Not
really, you’ve been spending most of your time on your book, you usually post
something on Tuesdays, but if things are still…like this, I’ll post that you’re
sick or something.”
    Oh. Well, surely Carter
works on Mondays, but I couldn’t remember what he told me he did. If so,
tomorrow I could spend my time going through my things and trying to remember.
    “What time
do you go to work?” I asked as casually as possible.
    “I already
called my boss. I’m taking a few days off, just to make sure you’re all good.”
    “Please
don’t take off on my account. I don’t want to get you in trouble or anything.”
I was trying to get a little alone time because I really didn’t know how I was
going to get through another day like this one.
    “It’s fine. Mr. Webster
told me to take as much time as I need until you’re back to normal.”
    Nuts. Well, there was
nothing to do in this situation but call it a night. Lucy had followed us in
here and was already curled up on the bed. Bedtime was her favorite time of the
day and I was leaning toward her way of thinking right now.
    “I think I
am a little sleepy. I’m just going to get ready for bed.” I hoped he would take
the hint and leave, but it wasn’t happening.
    I raised
my eyebrows for emphasis when he didn’t make any move to go.
    “Oh. I
guess I need to grab my stuff.” He didn’t hurry, but strolled across the room
to the dresser and took out a pair of boxer briefs before walking to the closet
to pull out a tee shirt and some sweat pants. “Call me if you need anything.”
He walked out of the room and I was left standing there, confused. That didn’t
go like I thought it would. He didn’t even put up any resistance. I felt
strangely deflated.
    I flounced over to the
dresser and opened drawers until I found my sleepwear. There were fewer boxers
and more night shirts than I remembered, but I still chose a pair of shorts and
a tee shirt. I didn’t want to chance wearing something that Carter might take
as an invitation. I pulled on my night clothes, but I wasn’t really ready to
sleep, so I went out to get a book off of the shelf in the living room.
    When I walked past the
bathroom door I heard the shower running. I felt my stomach tighten. This
couldn’t keep happening. I felt like I was crushing on him. Geez, what was I, twelve? I hurried down the hall and into the
living room, seizing a book at random, but relieved to see it was a Nora
Roberts title that I remembered . At
least I could open it to any page and know where I was in the story. I went
into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator, and made
my way back to my room. Just as I came to the bathroom door it opened and I was
suddenly staring directly at Carter’s bare chest.
    I stopped,
blocked by the exquisiteness that was Carter’s unclothed torso, and stood
there, unspeaking, just long enough to appear creepy before I pulled myself
together.
    “Sorry.” I
scurried past him and back into the bedroom, closing the door and leaning up
against it while I got my breath back under control. This rooming together
thing was going to be tougher than I thought.

 
     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
     
    I pushed off from the
door, set my water and book on the bedside table and flopped down on the bed.
There was something I was missing here. I struggled to remember why I was so
opposed to the idea of being with Carter. Really, the only thing that was a
major stumbling block was that he was Cheryl’s brother, and that was always in
that “no go” area of