Page 119 of Rags's Awakening
“What’re you doing here?” she asked as she hung her coat on the rack.
“Is that the way you greet everyone who comes by to visit?”
“No. Only people who are uninvited.” Casey walked to the blinds and snapped them up.
“I was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d stop by and say hi. I’ve never been in the theatre. Can you imagine that? Lived heremy whole life and never stepped foot in the building.” He pulled out a bar of some kind, unwrapped it, and took a big bite. “It’s kinda cool.”
“And I’m kinda busy. I’ve got end-of-year grants and budgets I need to wrap up.”
Scott chomped on the candy bar, his gaze fixed on her. “How come you haven’t been at work the last couple of weekends?”
Casey rubbed her right temple. “And why is that any of your business?”
Scott shrugged and took another bite.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t have time to visit with you. As it is, I’m already running late.”
“I’ll come back and take you out to lunch.” He glanced at the clock on the wall behind her. “I’ll be back in about an hour. Got a couple of errands to run.”
“I can’t make it. Why don’t you go with you girlfriend?”
“Jillian’s pissed at me. We had a fight over the weekend, and she’s punishing me.” He squinted, his face tightening. “That’s how you women do it, isn’t it? Reel a guy in, then turn into bitches.”
“I’m sorry you and Jillian are having a spat, but it happens in relationships. It’s not the end of the world. Show her some attention—flowers might help if she’s into that—and you’ll both be back on track.”
Before he could respond, Clara knocked on the doorframe, her eyes shifting from Casey to Scott and back again. “Should I come back?” she asked.
Casey smiled. “No. Come in. Scott was just leaving.”
“So, it’s a no?” he said.
Casey nodded.
“Whatever,” he muttered, stalking out.
“Is he a new employee?” Clara asked, setting a thick folder on Casey’s desk.
“No. He’s someone I work with at my weekend job.”
“The nursery, right?”
“Yeah. How did you know I work at the nursery?”
“I know more than people think.” A sly smile twitched across her lips.
Heat flared across Casey’s face, her forehead suddenly feverish. She turned away, fixing her eyes on the beige office wall, trying to hide the crimson she knew was spreading across her cheeks.
“I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” Clara said, her voice earnest.
“You didn’t. I just didn’t think Rags told you,” Casey muttered, pressing her palms to her cheeks.
Clara laughed. “Rags didn’t tell me. He’d never tell anyone anything. I just figured it out. Besides, he’s never come by the theatre this much in his life.”
Casey smiled. “Are you okay with it?”
Clara beamed. “For sure. It’s about time he stopped acting like a badass frat boy.”
Shaking her head, Casey couldn’t wipe the grin from her face. Memories of their early morning lovemaking sent a rush of warmth through her, leaving her lightheaded.
