Clay’s laughter filled the truck and eased any worry she’d had about doing the wrong thing. She’d meant to be funny and to let Tabitha know she didn’t take everything so seriously.
“Lil, I think Tabitha had her sense of humor surgically removed years ago.”
“Who do you think she was talking to?”
“Probably one of her friends. She mentioned that someone was picking her up for lunch. Let’s grab something at Rudy’s.”
“That sounds fantastic. I’ve been looking forward to going there.”
The meal was eaten in companionable silence as Lily mulled over Tabitha’s words. She knew Tabitha had said it to warn her off of Clay, and she wasn’t surprised. The woman might not have a claim to Clay, but she definitely saw him as hers.
“You sure are thinking hard,” Clay said as he munched on his pickle.
Lily smiled at him and remembered the way Tabitha had pursed her lips, like it was a habit. The bitter set to her mouth ruined any appeal she might have. If the woman wasn’t so tightly wound, clutching her cardigan across her chest, she might actually be attractive.
“How long have you known Tabitha?”
“She applied for a job eight years ago when I opened the shop, and she’s been working for me ever since.”
Lily nodded. “That explains it.”
Clay paused in mid-bite on his sandwich. “Explains what?”
Lily watched as he parted his sensual lips again to take the bite. Her mind wandered to how it would feel to have his mouth other places, and the spot between her thighs warmed and tingled. Realizing he’d stopped chewing, she looked up into his eyes and chuckled when he grunted a querying sound.
What were we talking about? “Sorry. Tabitha feels territorial over you because she’s been with you since day one. By informing me about the policy, she made it pretty clear to me that if she can’t have you, I can’t either. I told her, without going into any detail, that I’m not in the market for a relationship. That’s when we got on the subject of …you know.”
Clay grinned as she took a bite and giggled at the memory of Tabitha’s face again. Her face was rounded, like her body, but there wasn’t anything wrong with her that a massage, a glass of red wine, and a vibrator wouldn’t have fixed.
“I’m glad that you’re approaching the situation with a sense of humor, Lily.”
Lily snickered. “I have no choice. I figured bitch-slapping her would not meet with your approval. Feel that wet sensation? That was her peeing on your leg again when she told me about the policy. She feels threatened.”
Clay scowled. “I hate when she’s pissy.”
Laughing, Lily said, “And now you have two women working for you. You must be crazy.”
Back at the shop, Lily was putting her purse up when she noticed the security monitor. Another woman was speaking with Tabitha, their heads close together.
“Tabitha’s lunch date must be here. I’ll let her know we’re back. Thanks for lunch, boss.”
As he slipped his canvas work apron back on, Clay quietly said, “Don’t let Tabitha know I bought you lunch. She’ll be even harder to deal with.”
Lily chuckled as she pushed through the workroom doors. “Yes, sir.”
She joined Tabitha behind the counter and returned her overly sweet smile with what she hoped was a genuine one.
“Lily, I’d like you to meet my friend, Jane Herbert.”
The heavyset brunette scrutinized her with curiosity, her brows knit slightly over deep brown eyes. She waited just a few moments to respond, obviously hoping to put Lily on edge. “Good to meet you, Lily.”
Jane observed her for a few more seconds without saying anything, and Lily felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. What is this? Middle school?
Lily nodded, not looking away. “Likewise, Jane. Enjoy your lunch date, Tabitha.”
“Come on, Tabby,” Jane said as she finally shifted her gaze rather sympathetically to Tabitha. The two left through the front door, heads together, chattering away.
By the time Tabitha returned, Lily had the glass showcases wiped down and everything dusted, even though she hadn’t been asked to. She’d also finished reading the gemstone manual and the employee handbook Tabitha had given her. Tabitha walked in the door, stopped, and looked around but didn’t comment as she put away her purse.
“I’ll be in the back if you need me, Tabitha.”
“Sure. Did you finish the reading?”
Lily nodded and smiled at her. I am not your enemy, woman. I just need a job. She quietly pushed open the workroom doors and walked over to Clay’s workbench, looking around at the setup. His worktable was positioned in the corner so he had his back to her. Adjacent to that, running the length of the wall, was a long worktable. A desktop computer and a printer were set up on one end, and packing supplies littered the surface.