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What? I’m just tszujing it. He nudged her hand, and Penny instinctively rubbed behind his ears.
You miss her, don’t you?
I miss my dinner. Penny stopped and glared at him. George sat and looked at the floor. I miss Maggie, too. I like it better when you both serve me.
She’ll be back soon.
Will he?
Why? Penny grabbed a can of cat food and George trotted over. His interest in Bash was disconcerting.
Because he made you happy, and you haven’t been happy since he made you cry.
Since when do you care if I’m happy? She laughed. George looked wounded and offended.
I always care. You take much better care of me when you’re happy. If this offer makes you happy, take it.
Because a happy Penny means a happy George? He smiled at her as if he was proud she’d figured it out.
Win-win, right? See? I’m a team player. Now that everything was right in his world, George focused on his dinner.
The question, though, is do I want to be a team player? Penny asked herself as she loaded the dishwasher. If she said no, her life would go on as it was. There’d be an awkward blip when Bash returned to Cascade City, but once they moved past that, things would be fine. Ugh, I hate that word. Fine. She slammed the dishwasher door and George jumped before glaring at her.
Penny wanted more than fine for her life. She wanted travel and adventure. Bash’s open-ended deal with the obscene billing rate meant she wouldn’t have to worry as much about the store’s finances. If she didn’t need to beat sales goals for her bonus, she could relax. Maybe take some long weekends away, or if she was dreaming big, reduce her salary for more vacation time and a part-time employee could cover for her. Something like that would be more than fine.
She wanted to use her brain and skills. Penny was on autopilot for a good portion of most days. The consulting gig would be challenging, but not difficult. A bit like the man himself, she thought as she reheated her dinner in the microwave. She usually recommended books to the clubs, but she’d never created questions for them. How hard can it be? Penny poured herself a glass of wine, eyeing the small, pathetic frozen dinner and promising herself she’d make popcorn later.
She wanted her gifts back, but Bash’s proposition wouldn’t help with that.
She wanted love, too, but his proposal had killed that option. There’s other fish in the sea, right, George?
He smacked his lips, pushed his bowl away, and strutted toward her. Yes, but most are inedible.
At least we agree on that.
Don’t be a chicken. Take the offer. His good eye stared at her. Speaking of chicken, I want that next.
Chapter 26
“Are you planning on working or hanging on your phone all day?” Cal asked, leaning on his shovel. Penny stuck her tongue out at him and pocketed her phone.
“For your information, I am working.” Arguing was more accurate. The questions Bash wanted to include with their fall mystery club book pick were pretentious. He argued the reader would dig deeper and his questions would spur interesting discussions. She argued it would cause them to quit.
Penny wiped her face with the hem of her ragged T-shirt, the one she relegated to farm work. Maggie had convinced everyone that this was the year they were installing the flagstone path from the farmhouse to the fire pit. Cal and Lucas cut the path while the sisters prepped it for the stones. Three and Four played horseshoes near the still and the clank of the metal shoes hitting the steel stakes punctuated the air. Nanna, Alison, and Elspeth sat under a nearby tree, supervising the activity, while Tiny lounged near them.
“The work must agree with you,” Nanna said, looking ridiculous with the sparkly birthday crown on her head and the scarf Penny had bought for her in France draped around her neck.
“I do. It’s worked out better than I thought it would.”
“And how has it been working with Bash?”
“Fine.” Penny shrugged off the lie. There were moments when she wanted to duct tape his mouth shut, but once she called him on his behavior, he stopped. It was a bit like an unruly dog who forgot they could do better until you reminded them.
“Well, I think he’s sweet hunting down Tanya and hiring her for you,” Alison said, looking thoughtful.
Cal and Lucas laughed. “He is sweet,” Maggie insisted, lightly elbowing Lucas.
“You won’t be saying that next month when he’s back,” Cal said, dropping his voice.
