“You shouldn’t play favorites, you know,” she said, wagging a finger at him. “It’s not fair to the others.”
“Stuff the others,” Cody said. “I’ll give you a free lunch if I feel like it.”
Jessie rolled her eyes at that and she took a bite of quiche, moaning a little. Cody swallowed and tapped the table with his fingers. It was the sort of noise Jessie might make when she...
“How’s your day going?” Jessie said. “Because I am exhausted.”
“My day’s fine,” Cody said, shrugging. “I run the kitchen too well. Half the time I have nothing to do. At least in summer. Winter is busier. And you work too hard.”
“All the other maids work just as hard as me!” Jessie said. “Except Marcie. She is so lazy-” Jessie clapped a hand to her mouth, her eyes comically large, like startled dinner plates. “Oh my gosh! Pretend I didn’t say that! I forgot I was talking to one of the bosses. It never feels like I’m talking to a boss when I talk to you. But I wouldn’t want Marcie to be fired. Otherwise, I’ll have no one to talk to about The Bachelor.”
Cody barked a laugh and raised his hands defensively. “I’m not going to say anything. We’ll keep Marcie’s lack of work ethic between us unless it’s a real problem. Besides, I’m not really one of the bosses, am I? I don’t feel like one. We share chef-maid confidentiality. I’m no boss.”
“Oh, please.” Jessie pointed a fork at him. “You are a Strauss brother. You own a quarter of the place just like your brothers even if you just run the kitchen. You have a vested interest and all that.”
She looked very proud of herself for making her point as she dug into her salad.
Cute, Cody thought. He felt something like a sigh if the heart itself could sigh.
“So I’m a quarter boss,” Cody said. “But not one hundred percent boss.”
“Okay fine,” Jessie said, chuckling. “Fair enough.”
Cody sat back in his chair and tried not to stare at Jessie while she ate, she had teased him about it before. Instead, he chewed his lip and wondered if now was the time to ask her out.
It was funny that Connor was encouraging him to do it really. He used to have problems with them going out with other staff or with guests. Things could get dicey that way. But Cody supposed that after Eric and Nathan had found their mates, maybe Connor was feeling more positive about that kind of thing. And Connor trusted him to make good decisions after all.
But Cody found himself hesitating.
He had an overwhelming hunch that Jessie was going to say no if he asked her out. It made no sense to him either. They flirted and chatted quite often and Jessie found excuses to go down to the kitchen to visit him just as often as he went looking for her. But though she had never mentioned a boyfriend or mate, she seemed like someone who was going home to something. She often mentioned needing to get home or being very busy but would never say why.
It was a mystery and it bothered Cody.
On the other hand, his brother was in his head, eyeing him skeptically and calling him a pussy under his breath. He might as well give it a shot, if only to shut up that stupid voice.
“Oh!” Jessie put down her fork and slapped the table just as he was about to ask her out. “I forgot to tell you. I read The Great Gatsby.”
“Did you!” He rubbed his chin to hide his smile. He’d brought it up. It was one of the classics on the bookshelf in the lobby that had always made him feel guilty for not reading more so he’d read it a few months ago and then he’d read it again and declared it his favorite book. “What did you think?”
“It was sad,” Jessie said. She reached out and grabbed his wrist and his heart raced as if he were a teenager again.
He thought he showed an epic amount of restraint in not kissing her right then, but he only raised an eyebrow and just as quickly she moved her and. That was disappointing.
“You told me you saw the movie?” Cody said.
“I did, but the book is much more... sad.” She narrowed her eyes. “You told me it was cynical and dark-”
“Well, that’s kind of how I read it, I guess.”
“Maybe you’re cynical and dark-”
“I am not!”
Cody opened his mouth, the invitation to a date on the tip of his tongue. But just as quickly he stopped himself. It wasn’t the right time. Maybe it was some sixth sense telling him not to risk it. He didn’t want things to get weird between them.
“What will you read next?” He asked instead.
He thought he might go ahead and read whatever she happened to be reading. He wondered if she had more to say about The Great Gatsby. He wanted to hear her every thought.
“Oh, I dunno,” she said. She ducked her head, looking shy, as if it was such a crazy thought that she could be reading a book. He thought that was strange. “I really loved Gatsby even if it was sad. The writing was so beautiful and I cried at the end, how he just wanted to erase his past but at the same time he couldn’t let it go?’
“Yeah,” Cody said. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Jessie never disappointed. She was absolutely fascinating to him. “It’s painful but beautiful.”
“Exactly!” She grabbed his hand and squeezed it and he felt caught in that moment, wanting it to go on and on. She let go of it again and sat back, the spell broken. “Anyway... I don’t get a lot of time to go to libraries or bookstores these days or... to read. That book wasn’t even that long and I only had time to read it over lunch.”
“Are we keeping you that busy?” Cody said, frowning. “Jessie, have you been working overtime? Because-”
“No, um... ” She shook her head. “Nothing like that. I just have um... other responsibilities?”
“Oh, pfft.” He raised his hands as if in defense. “Sorry, that’s none of my business at all-”
“No no!” Jessie said quickly. “It’s okay. Fair question. Anyway, I’d like to read more. I always feel better after curling up with a book for a while. I just wondered if you knew anything else I might like.”
Shoot. His mind was blank. He wished he had thought of something. He imagined the two of them starting their own little book club. He wondered if he could get her to meet him in the lounge sometime. They could drink whiskey and talk about books and one thing would lead to another...
“I’ll think of something,” he said smoothly. He winked at her and he could swear she blushed. He checked his phone and winced. He needed to be getting back to the kitchen and he was clearly holding Jessie up. “I’ll find you.”
“Okay.” Jessie pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. He wished he could twirl it around his finger. She got up from the table, having finished just half her food, and he stood there, leaning as she wrapped up her leftovers for later.
“Hey, Jessie,” Cody said softly. “It really isn’t my business but... if there’s anything you need help with? I mean, whatever it is that’s keeping you so busy, you can talk to me. I mean, I’d... help you however I can.” He couldn’t quite hold back the way his voice lowered. Something was wrong. He had a strong suspicion. But he couldn’t help if he didn’t know.
“Thanks, Cody.” She smiled and just as quickly looked away. He felt immediately like the boss again, or at least the quarter boss.
He wished they could just be two people, two bears, and not boss and employee.
“Right,” he muttered. “Alright, I’ll see you later. I guess.”
“Thank you for lunch,” she said, meeting his eyes once more. “Really.”
“Any time,” he said.
He left before things could become awkward and felt as if their friendship had taken a step back when he wanted it to take about ten steps forward.
Goddammit.
He left her there and out in the hall, his aggravation came out in the form of a low growl and he glared at employees passing by, who quickly skittered out of his way because Cody Strauss in a bad mood was bad news.
He was frustrated. He felt as if he could have something special with Jessie but
something was holding them back and he had a feeling it was a problem that Jessie wasn’t willing to share.
And he wasn’t going to be able to drop it until he found out what it was.
* * *
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About the Author
Brittany White is the author of hot paranormal romance. She began writing short stories for family and friends. Her vivid imagination and love of mysteries and romance eventually led her to follow her dreams to become a published author.
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Brittany White
Connor (Strauss Bear Shifter Brothers 0f Colorado Book 4) Page 14