His Millionaire Maid(31)

She didn’t see much of him, which was both good and bad. She missed his company. Missed his drop-dead handsomeness, and the flutter he gave her whenever she glimpsed him. But she also couldn’t stop worrying about how her father threatened Joe’s dreams and how Joe would react if he ever found out her true identity.

In an effort to distract her thoughts from Joe, she threw herself into her duties. The rooms at the Comet were immaculate as she polished every surface in sight and swept up every fleck of dirt. In the kitchen she volunteered for anything that needed doing and didn’t mind Sarah’s regular outbursts. She also found time to help Mrs. Stewart organize her stock for the charity stall. Her days passed in a blur of activity, and at night she fell into bed, exhausted. She didn’t mind. She liked being part of the team, knowing she was making a contribution, however small, toward the success of the festival.

The festival began on Friday, and the crowds steadily built up over the weekend. Sarah’s special menu was a hit, and the bar and restaurant did a roaring trade.

Saturday midmorning, Nina had just finished her cleaning duties and was heading out of the inn when Joe stopped her.

“Where’re you hurrying off to?”

“It’s my first shift at the charity stall. I don’t want to be late.”

“But you haven’t had your break yet.”

His brows drew together as he studied her in a way that made her self-conscious. She knew she didn’t look her best. She hadn’t been eating or sleeping well as each day ticked over and her departure drew closer and closer. She had asked Joe not to tell anyone she was leaving until the Monday after the festival. In fact, she planned to catch the early morning bus on Monday and be gone before anyone realized it. She hated good-byes, and the thought of having to say good-bye to Joe especially made her sick to the stomach.

“Did you have breakfast this morning?” Joe asked, still frowning.

She shook her head.

“Wait here,” he said in a gentle yet commanding tone.

She waited, and a minute later he returned with something wrapped in a paper napkin.

“Here, eat this.”

The savory tart in the napkin warmed her hands, and she found she had to blink back sudden tears. Tears because Joe had given her a tart?

“Thank you,” she managed to say. This was the first exchange they’d had all week that wasn’t about work. She had tried to avoid being alone with Joe, and she suspected he had done the same.

He shifted on his feet, pushing hands into pockets. “You gotta take care of yourself.”

She battled the tears again. “You, too.”

He was silent, and then someone came out, and the moment was over. Nina hurried off, slowly nibbling at the savory tart.

The beachside park where the main festival was set up was already buzzing with activity. There were stalls selling wine, cheese, sausages, and lavender. A jazz band played. A pancake-eating competition was about to start.

Mrs. Stewart greeted her warmly when she arrived at the stall. “Oh, am I glad to see you, dear. I’ve been run off my feet.”

“Why don’t you take a seat?” Nina suggested.

“You were right about those French dresses,” Mrs. Stewart said with a smile as she sat down. “They’ve been flying off the racks.”

Nina was delighted. “Oh, I’m so glad.”

“We might have to go back to the store and pick up the rest.” She waved to the throngs of people strolling around the park. “Can’t disappoint our crowd.”

“I didn’t realize the festival would be so popular.”

“It’s all thanks to the organizing committee and especially Joe. Hartley is a really nice little town. Not too big, not too small.” Mrs. Stewart beamed with pride. “I’ve lived in plenty of other towns, but this is the only place where I’ve wanted to put down roots. What about you? You seem very settled here.”

“Well, I don’t know,” Nina said, caught unawares by Mrs. Stewart’s question.

A few weeks ago she would have definitely thought she wasn’t cut out for small-town living, but now she wasn’t so sure. She liked the people here, and people seemed to like her. The regulars at the Comet Inn, Mrs. Stewart and her charity workers, Vince, Joe’s friends. They had all welcomed her. And none of them knew who she really was, so their friendliness had to be genuine. It would be nice to live here, to become a part of this community.

But that was never going to happen. Come Monday morning, she was leaving as suddenly as she’d arrived, and a month from now Hartley and all its residents, including Joe, would seem like a mirage to her.

And what would she be doing instead? She didn’t know, but she did know that she wouldn’t be working for her dad. How could she, knowing that he used attack dogs like Perry Stevens to bully people into submission? She didn’t have much influence over her dad, but she’d use every ounce of it to make sure he backed off from Joe.

Sunday morning she dragged herself out of bed, her calf muscles already aching, and shuffled into the kitchen. She found Sarah preparing what seemed to be a mountain of spatchcocks.

“Hey,” Sarah greeted Nina wearily. Her usually upright figure drooped, and there were deep shadows beneath her red-rimmed eyes.

Nina gaped at her. “Have you been here all night?”

The head chef shrugged. “I had a few hours’ rest in my car.”

“But that’s insane. Does Joe know about this?”

Sarah instantly jerked her head up. “No, and don’t you dare tell him.” She glared at Nina with her usual pepper. “The kitchen is my domain, no one else’s.”

“Still, you could have asked for help.” Nina filled a kettle and switched it on before hauling out a coffee press. “You want some coffee?”

“That’d be great.” A trace of appreciation flickered across Sarah’s face.

Nina made the coffee, filled two mugs, and passed one to Sarah. After a few reviving gulps, Nina set down the mug and dusted her hands. “Tell me what I can do to help.”

“Well, you could chop up walnuts and parsley. That way Chris can help me with the spatchcock when he comes in. But you need to pay attention to your work. The walnuts and parsley have to be evenly cut. No lumpy bits.”

Nina spent several hours helping Sarah prep. She went upstairs to clean the rooms, then did another shift at the charity stall before returning to the inn. By then the lunch crowds were beginning to thicken, and the next couple of hours passed in hectic activity. The pace had slowed to a trickle when Sarah grabbed Nina by the elbow and almost frog-marched her out the back.

“I just wanted to say thanks for all your help this weekend.” Sarah crossed her arms, frowning and looking uncomfortable. “I appreciate your help.”

Nina waved her hand. “It was nothing.”

“No, it wasn’t nothing.” The furrows on Sarah’s brow deepened, and she pulled at her lower lip. “We, uh, we got off on the wrong foot initially. I was convinced you wouldn’t last. Also, to be honest, I thought you were bad news for Joe.”

“I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Joe.” Nina’s throat tightened, and she couldn’t help adding, “Joe’s a great guy.”

The other woman looked away as she shuffled her Doc Martens in the loose gravel. “Yeah, he is.” There was a long pause before she sighed. “I guess I’m defensive about Joe because I used to have a thing for him.”

Dumbfounded, Nina turned her gasp into a cough. “Oh, really?” she spluttered.

Sarah’s face had turned a deep red. “I’m over it now, but it took me a while.” She shook her head. “For years I held a candle for the guy and did nothing about it. You wouldn’t be so useless.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. You’re the type who wouldn’t hold back. You’d tell Joe exactly how you feel, then you’d probably drag him into bed, too.”

A hot tide engulfed Nina’s face. God, if Sarah knew what she and Joe had been up to… But it was over now, she was leaving tomorrow, and she’d hate to damage Joe’s relationship with Sarah.

Wiping her hands on her apron, she backed away a few steps. “You’ve got the wrong idea about me, Sarah. When it comes to men, I’m as clueless as the next girl. And I’m glad you’re over Joe.”

“Like I said, it took a while.” Sarah’s lips pulled down. “But I’m fine now. Joe’s a great boss, and I love cooking here. I’m glad I didn’t screw that up or I’d be left with nothing.”

Nina’s stomach contracted. She had screwed up royally, and now she was left with nothing. Suddenly she couldn’t bear any further confessions from Sarah.

Nina slipped back into the inn and hurried to the bathroom near her room, where she splashed cold water over her face. After a few deep breaths to calm herself, she left. She was walking past Joe’s office when he called out to her, and every nerve ending in her body jumped in response.

He rose from his desk as she entered. “I wanted to say thanks for all your hard work this weekend, especially in the kitchen.” He rounded his desk to stand in front of her. “I know Sarah can be a hard-ass, so I’m glad you don’t hold it against her.”