Page 81 of Tempt
“Thank you,” I said, relaxing into the chair across from her desk and placing a hand on my chest. “I was so worried about upending things around here.”
She waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t be silly. You said Winnie might be interested in the job?”
“She definitely is. If you’re up for hiring her, she would leave Abelard. She said she could do it on good terms.”
“The position here is hers if she wants it,” Chloe said. “Just have her give me a call. Do you have any idea about a timeline?”
“I don’t,” I admitted. “I’m at the very beginning of this process.”
“We’ll make it all work.” She smiled again. “I love this for you. I really do.”
Back in my office, I closed the door, leaned against it, and allowed myself a little fist pump of triumph. Obviously there was a long road ahead, but I felt like I was on my way. I still had work to do here, though, starting with a wedding rehearsal this evening.
I decided to make myself a quick cup of tea in the kitchen before going over all the details one last time, and while I was waiting for the water to heat up, I got an idea that made me smile all over again.
CHAPTER17
ZACH
“Hey, Zach. Delivery for you.”
I looked up from the conference table and saw Gwyn, the front desk receptionist, enter the room carrying a white plastic grocery bag.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“I don’t know. It just arrived.” She set it in front of me. “Jackson said to tell you he’ll be here in a minute. He’s finishing up a call.”
“Okay. Thanks.” I studied the bag for a second, then untied the handles. As soon as I peeked inside, I smiled. Then I pulled out a box of ginger tea, a plastic bear filled with honey, and a box of something called Assorted Aromatherapy Shower Bombs.
Shower bombs? What the fuck?
“Hey, Gramps.” Jackson strolled into the room, laptop under his arm, and dropped into the chair across from me. “Gwyn said you got a delivery.”
“Nothing.” Quickly, I shoved the items back in the bag.
“Come on, let me see.” He snatched the bag from my hands and looked into it. “Awww. A care package! Who’s it from?”
I set my jaw and folded my arms over my chest.
“What do we have here? Tea.” He placed the box of tea on the table. “And honey—isn’t that sweet?” He held up the bear and made it dance a little, then set it next to the tea. “And...” He pulled out the red box. “Aromatherapy shower bombs? What the hell are those?”
“I have no idea.”
He flipped the box over and read in an overdramatic voice. “Theultimatein self-care. Shower fizzies with essential oils in six stress-melting, pleasure-inducing scents: peppermint, vanilla rose, eucalyptus, lavender, coconut, and jasmine honeysuckle.” He looked at me and raised his eyebrows. “Pleasure-inducing? Who sent you this box of pleasure?”
“None of your business,” I snapped.
“Let me guess. Your secret girlfriend.”
I rolled my eyes. “She’s not my girlfriend. She’s just a friend.”
“I don’t have any friends that sendmefizzing pleasure scented like coconut.”
I stood up and grabbed the bag from him, stuffing everything back inside it. “She knows I’m sick. She’s being nice.”
“How does she know you’re sick?”
Sitting down again, I set the bag at my feet. “Because we’ve talked on the phone a couple times this week. And before you come at me, it’s nothing inappropriate. We’re just friends.”
