“Don’t tell me you didn’t know his plans.” The anger still radiated through her. Her rational mind screamed at her to stop, but she was working on adrenaline now.
“Cassey, I didn’t know what he was up to. I swear it. I haven’t seen him or talked to him since the night we ate dinner a few weeks ago.” He held out his hands and took a step back.
She looked at him, gauging his face, and could see he was telling the truth. After a minute, she sighed and relaxed her shoulders. “I’m sorry; it’s been an emotional day.”
“I understand. Have you eaten lunch?”
She was so caught up in her anger towards his father, it took a moment for her to process what he had asked her.
Chapter Ten
Cassey sat across from him at his favorite fast food place in town, and he could see the wariness in her face. Her silver eyes, which were normally bright, were dull and foggy looking. There were purple blotches under those eyes, and he could tell she wasn’t getting enough sleep. She looked like she’d lost some weight as well, but he knew better than to mention it.
He reached across the table and touched her hand lightly. “Has it been that bad?”
“What?” She looked up at him as she rubbed her forehead. “No.” He could tell she had just automatically denied it.
When he sighed and looked at her, she closed her eyes and lowered her hand from her temple.
“Yes, okay, it has. Half of my staff has been out the last few weeks with the flu.” She laughed a little. “To be honest, at first I thought that was your father’s doing. Then this morning, after seeing the notice, I spent a few hours arguing with the local health inspector, who is apparently the only health inspector in Adams County. After going back and forth, I finally got him to agree to come back down to my place and reinspect on Monday afternoon. When I walked back from the meeting, I noticed that two other places, including The Lunch Box, were closed down due to violations as well. I can’t even remember driving to Emerald Beach.” She closed her eyes and shook her head.
“I’m sorry you’re having to deal with all this by yourself,” he said and meant it. He wished she hadn’t turned him away. It had hurt not being with her, but the time apart had only reinforced his desire to be with her. He’d taken so many steps in the last few days, and he knew that once he had everything lined up, he would find a way to change her mind about their relationship. All he needed was some time.
“It’s not that bad. I have the new inspection on Monday.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve given the employees a day off.”
“A day?” he asked, his curiosity in his voice.
“Yes, everyone is scheduled to be in first thing Sunday for a complete cleaning of the place. I want that inspector to be able to eat off the floor.” She smiled and he gained even more respect for her.
“I’ve got nothing to do on Sunday if you need another set of hands.” Her smiled dropped away a little, and he could see concern flash in her eyes.
“I don’t know.” She looked off, pulling her hand away. She shook her head and looked back at him. “I just don’t think I can deal with you right now.”
He felt like laughing. “Deal with me?”
She nodded. “You—” She stopped and swallowed, and then reached for her iced tea and took a sip. “You said you couldn’t be friends with me.”
He waited, taking a breath before he spoke. “No, I said I want to be more than just friends, and I still mean it.”
She looked off over his shoulder. He could see her eyes water up a little as her hand went to her forehead again and started rubbing her temple.
“I can’t.” She shook her head lightly.
“Can’t or just don’t want to?”
She blinked, holding her eyes closed for a moment. “Both. I have too much to handle right now. I don’t think I can deal with trying to figure out what is going on between us.”
He thought about it. “What if we went back to how it was before?”
She blinked and looked at him. “How?”
He smiled a little, deciding that it might just work. Reaching across the table, he picked up her hand and leaned a little closer. “Cassey, I want you…physically. I know you want me, too.” He watched heat replace the weariness in her eyes. “This way, I can be there to help you out. I want to be there for you.”
“I…” She sighed and he could see her mind changing. “I just don’t know.” He had to do something quick, or he’d lose his chance, lose her. He didn’t want to lose her.