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“Jenni’s my girlfriend. There’s nothing Amanda can say that I wouldn’t want her to hear.”
“I know. But your relationship is still new, and I’d hate to have Amanda ruin things between you.” Mom continues knitting.
“I’m not worried about it. Jenni and I are rock solid,” I lie. Well, maybe it isn’t quite a lie. Ourfakerelationship is rock solid. Because Jenni wants the protection I can offer from her mom’s scheming.
Mom looks over at the east-facing windows. “Speaking of, it looks like she’s pulling up right now.”
I glance down and see her red sports car parked in the front drive from my second story view. “I’m going to go talk to her.”
“You go see your sweetheart. I’ll just be up here, watching for Amanda to arrive.” Her knitting needles click together as she speaks.
I head downstairs to see the butler, Gregory, opening the door for Jenni. My parents keep a full staff, just like our ancestors have for many years. They’re old fashioned like that, and they’re proud to provide the jobs for their household.
“Hey.” I rush toward her across the white marble floor and take her into my arms, aware of Gregory’s eyes on us. She feels amazing in my arms as her body melts against mine like she’s always belonged there.
She pulls away from me. “You’re acting like you haven’t seen me in days.” She smiles at me with love in her eyes. It pummels me in the gut, and I have to remind myself it’s not real.
“It’s been too long,” I say, laying it on thick. “I can’t stand to be away from you.”
Gregory doesn’t comment, which is typical for him. He’s not exactly the warm, fuzzy type. He takes his job very seriously and is strictly professional around the family.
Jenni and I head into the living room together and settle on the couch next to the grand piano. Tall windows overlook the backyard and the stables beyond.
“You ready to see Amanda?” Jenni asks. She takes my hand in hers and it’s warm, soft, and small in mine. Most of the time Jenni seems strong and impenetrable, but seeing how small her hand is in mine gives me a protective feeling that I’m not used to having toward her.
“Honestly? No.”
Jenni’s expression is soft, and I get the impression that she’s not faking it this time. She squeezes my hand. “Everything will work out.”
“What can she possibly have to say that’s so important that she has to come all this way to tell me in person?” I breathe in Jenni’s lavender shampoo, and it’s comforting.
“Either she wants money, or she’s interested in getting back together.”
“Maybe she wants a job.” The idea just popped into my head and it’s something I haven’t considered before.
“It would be smart for her to come out here to your parents’ house to work her way into your family’s hearts,” Jenni says.
Would it be though? “I’m not sure I’d want to hire her based on that. And wouldn’t she have said something about wanting to be hired over the phone if that were the case?” She really has me stumped.
“Maybe we should talk about something else to get your mind off of this until she comes.” Jenni looks up into my eyes, and they’re full of tenderness that I’m not used to seeing. She’s beautiful this way. Soft instead of her normal hard exterior.
“What did you have in mind?”
She traces her fingers down the bare skin of my lower arm. I have my shirt sleeves rolled up because it’s gotten warmer as the day has gone on.
“What’s your favorite childhood memory?”
I have to think about that. “When it snowed here back when I was ten. We all went sledding together and had this giant snowball fight with snow forts and everything, and then we came inside and had cookies and hot chocolate.”
Jenni’s face lit up with a big smile. “I remember that. I made snow angels.”
I can’t help smiling back at her. “We didn’t get as many snow days as I would have liked as a kid.”
“No we didn’t. We had to rely on trips to Utah for snow skiing to see the real snow.”
My parents love snow skiing and have a house in Park City that we like to visit every winter. They keep properties all over the world. We’re big on traveling in the Keith family.
“I’m absolutely terrible at skiing,” Jenni moans.