She stooped and tried reaching the pill in the narrow space beneath, at the same time answering her phone. “Hello?”
“Kenzie!”
She frowned. “What’s up, Lisa? You sound worried. We arranged for me to be in at ten this morning. You remember, right?” The wood scraped her fingers, and she winced.
“Yes, I know, but there’s an emergency.”
Kenzie paused in her search and frowned. “What’s going on? Everything okay at the shop?”
“We’re out of bread, and our supplier says they can’t deliver until tomorrow!”
“That’s impossible.” Kenzie stood up. “All bread?”
“No, not all. We have rye and pumpernickel. The white and cheese topped is dangerously low. I doubt I have enough to last until you get here. Tony said they didn’t receive the order.”
Kenzie slapped a hand over her mouth. How had she let this happen? The responsibility for the order rested on her, and she’d been too distracted of late. All of her time and energy went into the shop, and she never missed a beat. Now she’d split her attention between her business and Easton. Needless to say, she needed to get a grip fast.#p#分页标题#e#
“Okay, put a special on the chicken and turkey, offering what bread we have. Add a soup and a salad.” She walked over to her bag and stuffed everything inside, then zipped it closed. “I’m going to stop at the grocery store right now and buy all the bread I can lay my hands on. I won’t be more than an hour and a half.”
She walked into the dining room to find a breakfast spread and winced. Easton strode up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her neck, and she melted into his embrace but then drew away. A hand on his chest kept distance between them only because he allowed it.
“I’m sorry, Easton, but I have to go. It’s been fun.”
His eyebrow rose. “That’s my line.”
“You wish.” She chuckled when he seemed put out. “I have an emergency at work. I know I had another hour before I had to be in, but it can’t wait. You understand, don’t you, baby?”
He dragged her into his arms and leaned down. She raised her chin to kiss him, but he placed a small bite of toast in her mouth and smacked her ass. The release came so fast, she stumbled. Rather than chase after him, she made herself a quick scrambled egg sandwich, bummed aluminum foil from the maid—a much older woman than the last—and hurried toward the elevator.
Not until she had averted the potential disaster at work and was home relaxing on her couch with a glass of wine did she remember the pill, still stuck under Easton’s dresser.
Chapter Eight
Kenzie went over her list again and then counted the items on the shelf in her storeroom. Nearby, her cell phone rang. She paused to glance at it, spotted Easton’s name, and then went back to taking inventory. She hadn’t heard from him for a few days, and when she did, she ignored his calls. He had stopped by the house, but she told him she was swamped. With some persuasion, she had convinced him to leave. Sure, maybe they were playing games right now, but she had gotten too attached. He had forgotten his goal, and she wanted him too much.
Another two hours passed, and at last she was done. She stretched her arms over her head, and her stomach growled. When was the last time she’d eaten something? Going home to cook didn’t appeal. Maybe she could heat some leftovers. They couldn’t serve leftover food, but she kept some to deliver to homeless shelters she had made arrangements with.
Returning to the kitchen area, she was already compiling a new sandwich idea in her mind. The bang on the front door made her jump, and she glanced toward it. A shadow behind the blinds tightened the muscles in her stomach. She strode over to the few stairs that led down to the door. Should she go back for the bat behind the counter?
“Who is it?”
“Open the door, Kenzie.”
She blew out a breath of relief. Easton sounded pissed, but at least he wasn’t some stranger. She opened the door and backed up to let him pass. He ducked inside dressed in a suit and coat. The cologne he wore tantalized her senses, and his arm brushed hers as he passed. Somehow, the way he compressed his lips and with his brows cast low, she figured he hadn’t noticed.
“I was just going to fix myself something to eat. Are you hungry?” She locked the door, moved up the stairs, and strode behind the counter. At the refrigerator, she reached to open it, but Easton grabbed her arms and turned her to face him. He towered above her, anger clear in his handsome face.
“Why have you been ignoring me? We agreed to be lovers, did we not?”