Page 54 of A Little Bit Engaged
“I knew there would be consequences, but I never expected Caitlin to go this far.” Straightening, Cara squared her shoulders. “I’ve managed since being laid off. I’ll survive this.”
“You deserve better than that.”
“So do you.” Her gaze softened, and the tenderness in her expression left him breathless. “You deserve a lot better from Caitlin, too.”
Yes, but his only concern was Cara. Seeing her so hurt gutted him. His only hope was everything would be back to normal soon. It had to be. Or he would end this.
No matter what the consequences to him and Caitlin.
♥ ♥ ♥
Entering Cassandra’s Attic on Friday morning was almost cathartic. Cara felt as if she’d gotten back a piece of herself—her life. Rizzo and Kai had agreed to her request to keep their distance and not shadow her every movement. Right now, they were stationed inside the front door, watching everyone who entered. She appreciated that and having some space of her own. This was where she belonged, surrounded by books and her coworkers, who greeted her with hugs.
Moe, a tall, thin guy with cropped black hair and a multicolored Mohawk down the center, hugged her. He leaned close to her.
“The boss said we’re not supposed to ask questions, but when you’re ready to talk about this,” he whispered, “I’m buying because I want to know everything.”
Typical Moe. She laughed. Maybe this charade was getting easier to handle. “We’re on.”
Renee, the bookstore’s barista who was a bubbly redhead, ran down the stairs from the attic portion of the store. She hugged Cara. “When you take a break, come up and see me.”
“I will.”
After Cara placed her coat and purse into her locker, she went behind the counter and logged into the computer. A sense of contentment, something foreign to her over the past few days, flowed through her. The university library might not want her, but she had a job here—one where she excelled and had friends who cared about her. That counted for a lot.
Ponytail bobbing, Cassie hurried toward her. Today, her boss had traded a long skirt for a pair of jeans and a sweater topped off with a colorful scarf. “How are you holding up?”
“I’ve been better.” Cara reached into the inbox for the customer request forms. Only two were there. Weird. “Not many requests. Were the past two days slow?”
“Not really.” Cassie’s forehead creased. “We had a couple of cancellations.”
That was strange. Until the truth slammed into Cara. Her shoulders drooped. “It’s because of me.”
“No one mentioned you.”
The timing was too coincidental. “I’d heard this place wasn’t mentioned online, but I’m listed on the staff website, aren’t I?”
Cassie nodded.
Cara forced herself to stand tall and not hunch. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Except it was. She’d agreed to pretend with Brody. Granted, she had no idea her sister would become a sociopathic liar, but Cara had only herself to blame. A landslide of rocks filled her stomach, weighing her down with regret for agreeing to this charade. “Let me fill these two requests and then I’ll go before the paparazzi show up. I don’t want my presence to hurt business.”
Cassie shook her head. “It hasn’t.”
Yet was implied but left unspoken.
The rocks in Cara’s stomach shifted. She nearly doubled over. “It’s not a chance I’m willing to take.”
“I don’t want to lose you.” Cassie’s voice cracked. Her eyes gleamed. “You’re a big reason profits are up this quarter and last.”
That still didn’t change what Cara needed to do. She wouldn’t allow the bookstore to suffer because of her. “Maybe after things settle down, if you want me back…?”
“I do,” Cassie didn’t hesitate to reply. “I just hate seeing you hurting.”
Cara thought she was better at hiding her emotions. She touched her boss’s arm. “I’ll be okay. Honest.”
