Bristol lifted her chin but didn’t press further. Instead, she walked to the table and placed a closed pitcher of orange liquid in the middle. Her lips twitched, but not quite a smile.
“Well, this should be interesting,” she muttered. “Good thing I made the mimosas extra strong.”
But she didn’t take any, which meant maybe she didn’t feel the need.Idid, however.
I poured myself a glass and then faced the room. “I’ll be right back,” I announced, trying to keep my voice even.
“Anna, wait,” Chase called.
I gave him a withering look, stopping him in his tracks. A commotion at the front door distracted him, and I took the opportunity to push past him.
Back in the kitchen, the scent of cinnamon and honey from my secret recipe, normally comforting, felt hollow. I yanked the biscuits from the oven with more force than necessary. Golden brown. Perfect.
Unlike the scenario Chase had put me in.
How could he not have told his family? How could he throw me to the wolves like this?
He knew how hard this day was for me. How vulnerable I felt facing his entire family, knowing they were hurt and angry with me.
Anger simmered inside me, tangled with the sharper sting of betrayal and disappointment.
Fine. If an employee was what he wanted, I could be that. Polite. Distant. I’d worn that mask before.
Chase came into the kitchen. “Anna,” he began, reaching out a hand.
“Sorry,” I said briskly, sidestepping him. “I need to get these biscuits out while they’re fresh. That’s my job, you know.”
He opened his mouth, but I ignored him and stepped into the dining room. Several pairs of eyes followed my movements. Some I knew, others I didn’t. I ignored them all.
As I slid the biscuits into the awaiting basket, a feminine voice sounded from the hallway.
“Chase, what is that soap in the bathroom? It’s incredible. I’d love to put it in the hotel?—”
Cameron stopped mid-word as she stepped into the dining room. Her eyes locked onto mine with the sharpness of a knife. Her hands flew to her hips as she glared at me. “I heard you were back in town,” she said bitingly.
I straightened my shoulders and tried to meet the bear in her den. “Hello, Cameron. It’s lovely to see you again.”
She wasn’t having it. Instead, she drew herself up like she was ready for a fight. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here like you never left.”
A man I didn’t know nudged her arm. “Cam, don’t start,” he muttered.
“Listen to your husband, Cameron,” Chase warned.
She ignored them both. “Oh, please, Chase. You want us to get along? Fine. Let’s just clear the air. Everyone’s wondered why she ran off so quickly with Mason.” Her eyes narrowed, the venom in the air palpable. “Were you already seeing him before you dumped my brother?”
“Cameron,” Chase barked. “Enough.”
But she wasn’t finished. “Or was he just the shinier prize with a bigger house and flashier life? I mean, he sure swept you off your feet, didn’t he? Just like that.” She snapped her fingers.
I’d had enough. Of Cameron. Of this meal. Of this day.
“Don’t talk about things you know nothing about,” I answered, my voice tight with anger. “Don’t pretend this is about curiosity orclearing the air.” I used my fingers as air quotes. “You’re trying to humiliate me.”
I took a breath. My hands trembled, but I pushed through.
“I didn’t come back for seconds with Chase. And I didn’t come back to make anyone uncomfortable. But I also didn’t come back to be your target.” My voice lifted. “Especially not after I finally stopped being someone else’s.”
The room stilled.
