Page 56 of Make-Believe Match

A few hours later, Rian Richman got back to me and said he’d heard that there might be bad blood between me and my former boss, but he thought Harvey Hotchkiss was a first-class dipshit and wouldn’t have asked for his opinion in the first place. He said the start date might be an issue, but he was going to send me some potential interview dates anyway. I responded and said thanks.

In the back of my mind, I wondered what Lexi was going to say when I told her about the job interview across the country. If she’d worry. If she’d think I was abandoning her. In my head, I heard her say,I always seem to choose leavers.

But it wasn’t the same, was it? She hadn’t really chosen me. And she certainly didn’t love me.

Still, I decided not to mention it right away.

ELEVEN

lexi

I’d takenmy ring off this morning before work, but all day long I caught myself looking at the finger where it should have been. Was it strange that I kind of missed it? I knew the whole entanglement with Devlin was just for show, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so happy.

In fact, when Tabitha strolled in at three o’clock, she took one look at me and asked, “Did you go to the spa or something on your days off?”

“No. Why?”

“You just look different. You’re glowing.”

I shrugged. “Must be the crisp fall air. It’s beautiful today, isn’t it?”

She made a face. “Whatever. I’m just waiting for my money so I can get out of here. Do you know what’s happening with the sale?”

“There might not be a sale.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? Gran says there has to be. And I got a phone call from some guy wanting to talk to me about it.”

A chill snaked up my spine. “What guy?”

“I don’t know. He left a message for me yesterday.”

“What was his name?”

“I don’t know,” she said dismissively. “Rob? Bob? He said he represents some company that wants to purchase Snowberry and he’d like to talk. Evidently, Gran isn’t returning his calls.”

“How did he get your number?”

“I think my dad gave it to him.” She studied her manicure. “He must have taken a break from being a complete shithead and remembered he had a daughter. Funny, since he completely forgot my birthday last month.”

“What was the name of the guy’s company?”

“Something about diamonds?” She shrugged. “I haven’t called him back yet.”

“Don’t,” I said firmly. “I mean it, Tabitha. Don’t call him back. We’re not selling to that company.”

“I don’t take orders from you,” she said indignantly. “And why wouldn’t we sell to that company, if they give us the best offer?”

“Because we’re trying to figure out a way to prevent this place from being demolished.”

“As long as I get my money, I don’t care what they do with this place,” she said, looking around with distaste. “We’re lucky the land is worth something.”

Grabbing my bag from beneath the desk, I slung it over my shoulder. “I have to go.”

* * *

Ten minutes later, I burst into my condo and slammed the door behind me. Devlin was sitting on the couch, his laptop open on the coffee table, a notepad and pen beside it.

“What’s the name of the guy who screwed you over at your company?” I asked him. “The one who’s on the Black Diamond account now.”