Page 13 of Pretty Desperate (Pine Village #6)

KAMERON

“ Y ou okay?” I ask, noticing how fidgety Jillian is. When she doesn’t respond, I ask, “Jillian?”

“Huh?” Her green eyes widen as she stares up at me.

“Are you okay? You seem…nervous.”

She huffs out a long breath. “Yeah, no, I’m okay,” she reassures me, but I’m not certain I believe her.

If she’s about to back out, I’m screwed.

We are ten minutes away from meeting Mrs. Krokus, and if the old woman shows up and I no longer have a girlfriend—fake or otherwise—I’m in a world of trouble.

We’re standing in my office, ready to go into the dining room to meet Mrs. Krokus, but I can tell something’s bothering her. Taking her hands in mine; I shift our positions so we’re facing each other. “Talk to me, Jilly.”

“Well, I had to tell my parents about us, but I left out your name.”

Confused, I ask, “Okay, but that’s ultimately what we’re going to have to do, so I don’t see the issue.”

She shifts from side to side, those green eyes dancing with worry. “I told them I was dating someone, because they sent their accountant to the bakery to meet me.”

Okay, now that has my attention.

Holding her hands, I work at keeping my voice even and my heart rate down. This wild feeling creeps into my chest, one I refuse to acknowledge, even though I’m very much aware of what it is. “They sent someone to your bakery? Why?”

She nods. “Like a date or something, but they didn’t tell me. So this poor guy—George—shows up to have coffee with me, and I have no idea what to say or do. We sat at the table, and when I tell you it was awkward, it was awkward . I was so embarrassed.”

I can’t help but crack a little smile. She’s adorable as hell when she’s flustered and rambling. “What did you tell him?”

“That I was dating someone,” she informs me, pulling her hands from my gentle grip and throwing them in the air. “What else was I supposed to say?”

I go ahead and grab her hands once more and bring them to my lips.

“You did the right thing, Jilly. I’m sorry your parents sent someone to your business and made you uncomfortable.

” And I don’t know why I add a second kiss to her knuckles.

Her skin is soft and smells like sugar, and I’m enjoying this way too much for someone in a fake relationship.

A throat clears at the doorway of my office. “Excuse me, Kameron, but the rest of your party is here.”

I nod without looking at Veronica. I’m certain she witnessed the kiss to Jillian’s knuckles, but she’d never comment on it now.

Instead, she’ll wait until we’re alone and ask me what it was all about.

“We’re on our way.” I hear Veronica step away and keep my focus on the beautiful woman in front of me. “You good?”

She exhales slowly and nods. “Yes. Sorry. I’m not usually this dramatic.”

“It’s fine, and I want you to tell me if something has you rattled, okay?” When she nods, I continue, “Now, let’s not keep Mrs. Krokus waiting. The future of my potential expansion rests in her hands.”

I place my palm against her lower back and gently guide her out of my office, pulling the door closed behind me. We walk down the hallway toward the table where we’ll be having dinner. “Don’t be nervous,” I whisper just as we reach the dining room.

“Right,” she replies with an uncomfortable chuckle.

As soon as we step into the dining room, my eyes scan the room before landing on the small table in the back. It’s the same one Jillian and I used on Wednesday, the one that offers the most privacy in the room.

Leaving my hand on her back, I escort Jillian to the table, where a beaming Mrs. Krokus waits. “Well, look at you two,” she greets.

“Mrs. Krokus, it’s lovely to see you again,” I reply, bending down and placing a kiss on her cheek.

“Dorothy, please.”

I nod. “Dorothy, this beautiful creature, I’m sure you know, is Jillian Kirby.”

“Good afternoon, Ms. Dorothy,” Jillian greets, stepping forward and shaking the woman’s aged hand.

“Well, Kameron is quite the charmer, but he’s also correct. You are beautiful, Jillian. Please, won’t you both join me?”

I pull out Jillian’s chair, seating her directly to Dorothy’s right, and then I take the seat directly across from the woman I’m hoping to charm into selling me her building. “Have you heard about today’s specials?” I ask, hoping Veronica took good care of my guest when she seated her.

“I have,” she confirms, reaching for her water glass to take a drink. “They all sound delicious, but I think I’ll go with the crab cakes. They’re my favorite.”

I nod proudly. “An excellent choice,” I assure her, knowing Marlin will take great care of our food. “How about you, love?” I ask Jillian, the term of endearment rolling easily off my tongue.

Jillian smiles and I give her credit, she doesn’t so much as flinch at my question. Though, I suppose it would be more about the word I used than the question itself. “The crab cakes sound amazing. I think I’ll have that too.”

“We’ll make it three,” I reply, gathering the menus that weren’t used and setting them aside.

“I brought the plans with me,” I tell Mrs. Krokus as I reach for my phone. I have a digital version, as well as paper copies in my office. I don’t know why I didn’t think to bring those.

Dorothy holds up her hand. “Business can wait, can’t it?” she practically beams at the two of us. “I’d love to hear about your love story first.”

I’m silent as the server, Della, arrives to ask us for our drink orders. We all decide to stick with water, even though I’d rather have a shot of something hard and very strong right about now. “I believe we’ll all have the crab cakes,” I tell the server when she completes our drink requests.

“That comes with our homemade macaroni salad and roasted corn on the cob, and either a garden salad or bowl of soup. Today’s soup is clam chowder, which you already know,” Della replies with a chuckle.

I glance at the two ladies at the table. “Clam chowder is one of our specialties,” I inform with a wink.

“I’ll have the chowder,” Dorothy requests.

“Salad for me,” Jillian orders, “with ranch dressing.”

“I’ll also take the chowder,” I state, handing the menus over before she walks away. “Now, where were we?”

“You two were just about to tell me all about falling in love.” The old woman is practically batting her eyelashes in anticipation.

“Oh, yes,” I reply with a chuckle. “Jilly, why don’t you share that one?”

She looks at me, and without batting an eye, jumps into the story. “Well, we’ve known each other practically our whole lives, thanks to growing up in this town. We had mutual friends, but I would probably consider us more acquaintances than friends ourselves,” she says, glancing my way.

“I’d agree with that. I’ve been friends with Gabe Rhodes my entire life, and Jillian was friends with Blair O’Connor. Their relationship brought us together, really,” I add, offering her a warm smile.

“Oh, I love a good friends-to-lovers tale,” Dorothy coos.

I can’t help but wonder what the hell that means, but I don’t ask.

“So, one day, out of the blue, this guy comes over and asks me to be his girlfriend,” Jillian states, a wide smile stretched across her lips. “How could I refuse?”

Realizing she’s sticking to as close to the truth as possible, I add, “It was one of those moments I decided just to take the leap, and fortunately, it worked out for me.”

“You two are adorable,” Dorothy states. “So, how long have you two been dating? Kameron said you’ve kept it quiet.”

Jillian nods. “It hasn’t been too long, but I admit, sometimes it feels like we just started,” she says with a chuckle that borders on uncomfortable.

Reaching over, I place my hand on top of hers.

“I think what she means is every day feels brand new.” With a cheeky smile of my own, I bring her hand to my mouth and place a kiss on top of her knuckles.

I can practically feel the eyes of the room zero in on my action, and if there was any question as to the status of our relationship moments ago, I think the question is answered now.

We’ve gone public—as public as you can in a town like Pine Village.

There’s no going back now.

Mrs. Krokus claps happily. “This makes me so happy. I adore new love. It’s so fresh and fun, not that it can’t be that way after years together,” she says sternly. “That love grows so strong over the years, and eventually, the bond is unbreakable. That’s what I had with my Louie.”

Jillian reaches over and places her other hand on top of Dorothy’s. “I remember Louis from when I was younger. He was always such a happy, caring man. Always had a smile on his face.”

Dorothy nods and smiles fondly. “He was, dear. Such a classy, hardworking man. He valued his family and respected my desire to work outside of the home early on. It was one of the key ingredients to our successful marriage. I’m sure it’s far too early for you two to start planning a trip down the aisle, but I see a lot of the same qualities in both of you.

It’s important for you two to spend time together outside of work. ”

Jillian and I glance at each other. “We try, Mrs. Krokus—Dorothy.”

“Good,” she states with a decisive nod. “It’s not easy, I know. And you two have extra challenges in front of you, because you both own businesses that hold different hours.”

“We do,” Jillian confirms. “Kameron has stopped by for coffee in the mornings, and I’ve enjoyed dinner here a few evenings.”

“Perfect,” she says before leaning in, her eyes bouncing between Jillian and me. “And be sure you make time for other things, if you know what I mean. That’s an incredibly important part of any relationship.”

Oh, I know instantly what she means.

Jillian must too because she blushes a deep shade of red. “Thank you for the advice,” Jillian chimes in, clearing her throat. “There’s tremendous value in talking to people who have worldly experience and success, such as yourself.”