to desert the family business, I should at least be a lawyer or a doctor. He resents me because he took over the family business.
“You wouldn’t understand,” I grumble.
“I understand he’s an asshole.”
I nod for us to walk, and she falls in line with me. “It’s like you and Elsie. Can you tell me you don’t resent her even a little? That she can go to college and get a degree and do what she wants with her life while you’re stuck at The Bagel Place?”
She says nothing, so I know she gets it.
“Still, he shouldn’t act like that,” she says in a quiet voice.
I shrug. I would resent him too if the tables were turned. “He’s been involved in the business for over a decade. As soon as he couldn’t handle it and I had to step up a bit, I manipulated a scheme involving a fake engagement. What does that say about me?”
She slides her arm through mine and lays her head on my upper arm. “I’m sorry. And if it makes you feel any better, I know I got the right brother.”
I look down and she’s fluttering her eyelashes at me. “At least for three more weeks, right?”
She doesn’t laugh. She stops fluttering her eyelashes and just looks at me. This is the perfect time to tell her I want more, that I want what we have to be real. Three weeks is going to fly by and I’m not ready to end what we started.
But instead I smile and turn us around so we’re headed back to the house, ignoring the twisting in my gut that says I should tell her how I feel.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Evan
All I can think of is Seth’s hands on me last night. The way his fingers glided over my skin sent shivers erupting along their path. The best thing about working here for so long is that most of my work is mindless and gives me a lot of time to think about being in Seth’s bed. It took extra strength to slide away from the warmth of his body this morning.
I’m still annoyed with Trevor’s behavior and the fact that Seth has to deal with his bullshit so as not to send Trevor over into using again. The entire family walks on pins and needles for Trevor. Then again, I’ve never known an addict either. Maybe when you love one, you’ll do anything to try to keep them free of any triggers.
The door chime rings, and I wipe my hands, peeking out to the front. Nick Klein and another man in a suit walk up to the counter. I wash my hands and step out from the back.
“Evan,” Nick says and rounds the counter, pulling me into a hug before he kisses my cheek.
Okay then.
“This is Cliff Daniels. He owns Daniels Foods.”
I shake the hand of the man who’s wearing a cowboy hat, slacks, and cowboy boots.
“So we need an everything bagel with plain cream cheese. Then if you could do a sampling of different cream cheese flavors with plain bagels, that’d be great.” Nick smiles.
“Sure. Give me a minute.”
I’m not in the back for more than a second before Nick joins me.
“Evan, this is huge. I’m sorry I didn’t explain more, but Cliff likes to surprise people so that the items are authentic. He wanted to come by himself and be a secret shopper, but I convinced him to meet you and try your product in an official capacity.”
“Why is he here?” I ask, obviously the last one on the train here.
He laughs. “To see if he wants to invest in your product. Maybe produce the cream cheese to sell to grocers. Could you imagine The Bagel Place cream cheese in grocery store fridges across America?” He puts his hands in the air and stretches them out as though it would be in lights on Broadway or something.
I have to admit the idea is exciting. “I didn’t think that’s what was happening today. I thought we had to wait for the show.”
He shakes his head. “You’ll still do the show, but if he likes what you have to offer, we need to get your parents in on this ASAP. This could free you of this place.”
His smile says he’s way more excited than me about the possibility.
“Okay, let me get the stuff together.”
Nick puts his arm around my shoulders and tugs me into his chest. “I’m so damn excited. This is huge. I hope that is extra special.” He points