Page 23 of Christmas in Quincy (The Edens 0.50)

I nodded. “I’m good.”

“Here.” She put one of the muffins on a plate and held it out. “Try this.”

“It’s okay.” I held up a hand. “I’m not hungry.” Worrying about her had put a knot in my stomach that had yet to shake loose.

“Just try it.” She walked around the table, bringing me the plate.

“I don’t want a muffin.”

“But if you try it, you might like it.”

“I don’t want it, Cleo.”

“But if you try it—”

“I don’t want a goddamn muffin,” I snapped, instantly regretting it when her face fell. “Fuck. I’m sorry.”

She tossed the plate aside, the ceramic bouncing and the muffin rolling off the plate, dropping over the edge of the table to the floor. “Fine.”

Her fingers flew to the ties on her apron, ripping and tugging until it was free. Then she yanked it over her head, balled it up and threw it.

At my face.

The white cloth and a cloud of flour smacked me in the nose before I could block it. When I set the apron aside, Cleo was marching for the door.

“Damn it.” I shook my head, giving her a head start before chasing out of the kitchen after her. I caught her in the lobby on the way to the elevator. “Look, I’m sorr—”

My phone rang. I tugged it out of my pocket, Ray’s name flashing on the screen. Shit.

“Cleo, wait.”

She didn’t listen. She pushed the up arrow and the second the doors slid open, she disappeared inside.

I wasn’t sure which Hillcrest to deal with first. I decided on the less terrifying of the two and answered my phone. “Ray.”

“Austin, I understand you sent the pilot home with the plane yesterday. An empty plane.”

“Yes, I sent him home. Cleo didn’t want to leave so I agreed to stay one night.”

“Together?”

“Yes, sir.” There was no point in avoiding details. “The hotel was sold out. I slept on the floor.”

His silence was reaction enough.

“We’ll be leaving for the airport soon,” I said.

“She’s not answering my calls. Tell her I expect her to come straight here when you arrive.”

Ray didn’t wait for my confirmation before ending the call. He didn’t need agreement. He’d issued an order and I would see it through.

One more year. I had to make it through one more year of working with Ray, then I’d take a pay cut from my own salary and cut him loose. But I had to make it another year. Two would be ideal, but one minimum.

Channing was two years away from graduating college and I refused to let my brother go into debt while he earned his degree. I also refused to let my mother go into debt paying for his education.

Mom had sacrificed enough for us both. All I wanted was for her to sail into retirement and enjoy an easier pace of life.

She’d worked tirelessly my entire life to provide for me and Channing. Christmas hadn’t ever been the lavish affair it was for the Hillcrests, but Mom had spoiled us in her own way, with one big gift that she saved for and chose with care. On our birthdays, she’d bake us a special cake.