There wasn’t time to run home for a shower before opening Good Beginnings. She scribbled a note to James, telling him to meet her at the café when he woke and felt decent enough to drive, then hurried out the door. She might not have time to shower, but there was no way in hell she would show up to work in the same clothes she’d worn the day before. She’d much rather deal with a little extra rushing if it meant avoiding the questioning looks and rumors that would swirl around town if someone found out she didn’t go home the night before. By the time the story made the rounds and finally got back to her, people would believe she was pregnant twice over and sleeping with half of Bliss.
She flew around her apartment, pulling on clothes and brushing teeth while questions about just what the hell she was doing with James filled her head. As quick as she was able, she left her apartment in a whirlwind of thoughts and activity. If their plan was going to work—if she was going to make it all the way to December in a fake relationship with the James Moore without winding up attached and being hurt when it was over—she was going to have to lay down some ground rules. It wasn’t her job to mend his broken heart and it wasn’t fair of him to ask.
She had to be strong enough to withstand the hurt in his eyes. Strong enough to say no when he asked her to stay. Strong enough to keep her lips away from his. She couldn’t let another man use her to prop himself up. No more parasites.
Ben was waiting for her at the front door of the café when she arrived, cupping his hands to the glass and peering into the darkened interior.
“Sorry,” she said as she juggled her keys in her hand. “Running late today.”
Ben jumped and bumped his forehead on the door. “Whoa,” he said, rubbing a hand into his sandy hair. “Scared me.”
Ellie laughed. “I see that.” She waited for him to move aside before unlocking the door. “Sorry again.”
They lost themselves in a flurry of work, trying to ready the place to open in time. And then, as if everyone in town felt bad for not coming the day before, the café was absolutely slammed from the moment she flipped the sign in the door until just after noon. She didn’t have time to think about James and that was perfectly fine with her. She lost herself in casual conversation with customers and keeping up with orders and restocking the counter and whatever else came up.
These were the good days.
The kind of days she—and her ever-dwindling checking account—needed.
Another surge of customers after lunch kept her busy until she flipped the closed sign over at three. As she walked around, wiping down tables and gathering bits of trash, she finally started to wonder what the hell happened to James. Surely, he wasn’t still sleeping. And surely, he wasn’t going to stand her up.
And if he did stand her up?
Well, he had another thing coming. He might be used to people letting him get his way, but she wasn’t one of those people. Their deal was a partnership. Her needs mattered every bit as much as his, regardless how much money she had.
Or didn't have, as the case may be.
Ben left just after three and Ellie stayed behind to tackle some paperwork then stuck around, pretending to be busy for the next twenty minutes, killing time in case James showed up. She gave up waiting for him as the hour hand crept past four o’clock.
And there goes another item on the con list, she thought as she flicked off the lights in the office and kitchen, gathered her purse, and headed toward the exit, digging for her keys. She looked up and jumped, startled to find James waiting at the door.
“Sorry,” he mouthed and pulled on the door. “Can I come in?”
She put her hands on her hips and stared. He held his helmet in one hand and ran the other through his hair. Ellie watched the muscles in his chest and shoulders flex with the movement and tried not to let him see her shiver with delight.
She pursed her lips and shook her head. “Nope.”
James pouted and stepped forward. “Please?”
Ellie shook her head again and pushed open the door. “Nope,” she repeated and stepped outside. “But you can follow me home. We need to talk. If this is going to work, we’re gonna need some boundaries.”
“And you want to set boundaries by inviting me into your home?”
“You’re the one who slept all day and took the time to shower before leaving the house. Probably had a leisurely breakfast, too. Maybe even lunch. Me?” Ellie shook her head. “Not so much. My day started at the crack of dawn and I’m ready to kick my feet up and turn off. But we really need to have a discussion about our little arrangement. So, with that in mind, will you please follow me home so I can sit down before I fall down?”
Chapter Eleven
Ellie
James looked horrified as Ellie laid out the difference in their days. “Of course. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Lead on.”
She climbed into her car and waited for him to strap on his helmet and back the bike out of the space before leading him through Bliss on the short drive to her apartment. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him in her rearview. His strong forearms gripping the handles of the motorcycle, the tendons standing out like cords when he rolled back on the throttle.
She watched him lean into the curves, swooping and dipping
