All color had drained from Sandy’s face. Apparently she wasn’t used to being called out on things, but Astrid had no reason to be anything less than up front about it. “I know. It wasn’t my finest moment. I got pulled away by a second job. I didn’t want to tell anyone, but I was moonlighting a bit at the time. San Diego can be so expensive.”
“Yes, it can be. Weren’t you being paid well at Sterling?”
“I was. I definitely was. It’s just that my other employer and I have a long history.” She shifted back and forth on her feet, seeming uncomfortable. “I owed my boss a favor, and he wanted me to work on a project and wouldn’t take no for an answer. It’s a long story.”
Astrid nodded, realizing this might be as much as she’d ever learn about this. “I see. Well, I hope it all got straightened out.”
Sandy shrugged. “I ended up getting let go, actually.”
“So you left Sterling for nothing?”
Sandy nodded sheepishly. “It was so stupid.”
Astrid drew a deep breath in through her nose. “We’ve filled your position, but do you have my number? Call me if you don’t end up finding anything. Maybe there’s something we can do.”
“Thank you, Ms. Sterling. I’ll do that.”
“Sandy, do you mind me asking you what your other employer does?”
“Just more real estate development, but nothing in California. They’re based in Seattle.”
Seattle and real estate development made Astrid think of her ex-husband’s estranged brother, but surely there were a lot of companies like that in Washington state. “Well, good luck with everything. And call me if you find yourself still looking for a job.”
Astrid strode out of the bakery and made her away across the street, taking the elevator up to the Sterling offices. As was always the case, especially on a Monday morning, it was buzzing with activity. She bid her good mornings to coworkers as she filed through the maze of halls to Clay’s office. His door was open, but her heart still flipped at the thought of looking inside. Just the idea of seeing him and offering a pastry made her nervous. It wasn’t right. This was a professional setting. They were adults. She had to stop acting like a fool.
When she peeked inside, she realized that seeing him wasn’t the problem. Not seeing him was. Dammit. He’s not here yet. She stepped inside his office and flipped on the light. It wasn’t like Clay to be late for work. Astrid really hoped he hadn’t decided to resign over the weekend. He didn’t like her much, but he didn’t really hate her to that extent, did he?
She drew in a deep breath, weighing her options. She didn’t want to wait too long and appear truly desperate. The only answer was to leave the doughnuts and a note. At least if he wasn’t pleased by the gesture, she didn’t have to witness his reaction. Grabbing a piece of paper from the credenza, she scribbled out a note.
I thought you might enjoy some of your favorite doughnuts.
—Astrid
She stared at what she’d written, realizing it was all wrong. Only someone who had been very carefully watching him would know what his favorite doughnut was. This was quite possibly the stupidest idea ever. She folded up the paper, stuffed it in her pants pocket and plucked the bakery bag from his desk. Just as Clay walked in.
“Uh. Good morning?” He looked as confused as could be.
If Astrid thought her heart was misbehaving earlier, it was now up to no good, thundering away in her chest. “Good morning.” God, he looked good in his charcoal-gray suit. It was well-cut for his broad shoulders and towering stature, but Astrid had always noticed that it was a little snug on his arms. That suit couldn’t hide whatever glorious muscles were under there. It could only flaunt them.
Clay cleared his throat and walked behind Astrid to his desk. “Is there something I can help you with?”
Astrid realized that she had no choice but to come clean. “I brought you doughnuts. I know you like them.” Dead silence followed her admission, which made her feel even more stupid.
“I forgot to eat this morning, so thank you.” He set down his laptop case.
Astrid hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath, waiting for a blip of positivity from him. Finally, she could exhale. She presented the bag, then remembered that they weren’t all for him. “Actually, one of those is mine.”
The smallest of smiles crossed his lips, which sent zaps of electricity through her. She immediately began conspiring, wondering what she could do next to bring about another grin. “You don’t seem like a person who would like sweets,” he said.
She opened the paper sack and fished out one of the doughnuts, then handed the bag over to Clay. “Are you kidding? Anything sweet is fun. I’m fun.” She peeled back the parchment partially wrapped around the pastry and took a big bite. Chocolate custard oozed out at the corners of her lips, but she was so overcome with how delicious it was, she didn’t care. “Wow. That is so good.”
“I know. Right?” He went in for his own taste, his eyes drifting shut for a moment.
Astrid had to steel herself as she watched the blissful look cross his face. First a smile then this. She might start buying doughnuts every day. “Did you oversleep this morning?”
“Huh?” He licked a bit of custard from his thumb, making her light-headed.
“You said you didn’t have time for breakfast.”
“No. My daughter. She wanted her hair a certain way for school and she’s not quite able to do it herself.” He wiped his hands with a napkin, then held them up. “Obviously these things aren’t good at braids or whatever it
