Semi-Sweet On You (Hot Cakes #4) - Erin Nicholas Page 0,74
are going through it that no matter how much status and money you have, this disease can still hit. We could use it to increase awareness. Do some fund-raising for—”
“No.” Whitney crossed her arms, her chest tight. “No, Cam. We’ve donated money to research. We’ve donated money to Sunny Orchard. We’ve done all of that. We don’t need to make it public.”
“Then just to show some solidarity with other families who are going through shit,” he said. “Jane’s dad has a neurologic condition that has him living at Sunny Orchard. You and Jane could talk about how it feels to watch a loved one go through something like that.”
“No.” Whitney shook her head adamantly.
Jane Kemper was a strong, smart, no-bullshit person. Whitney liked Jane. But they had nothing in common. Jane was, frankly, more than a little intimidating.
“This is private,” Whitney went on. “Didi has always been someone who kept to herself, who kept things within our family, and I don’t think she’s in a state where she can make a decision about going public now. And we can’t make that decision for her.”
Cam’s jaw tightened again and he took a breath. “Did she keep to herself or did your grandpa keep her to herself?”
The tightness in her chest increased and she had to swallow twice before she said, “That’s none of your business.”
“Isn’t it?” he moved around the edge of the counter.
Whitney felt her heart rate increase as he got closer. It wasn’t fear. Her brain recognized that. But that was what the surge of adrenaline felt like.
“Fine. It’s one thing for you to know what’s going on with her,” Whitney said. “You’re my boss.”
His frown was deep and swift. “Stop fucking saying that.”
She lifted her chin. “It’s true. And, yes, eventually you’ll all have to know because things will deteriorate with her health and I might have to miss work and might have to adjust deadlines. But that’s all the more reason for me to get things in place and going well before that happens.”
“Things in place,” he repeated. His voice was low and almost angry sounding. “At work, you mean.”
“Yes. This new product launch and everything,” she said. “And, of course, there will always be more going on but I’m hoping that we’ll be past all of this newness and we’ll be working well together and you’ll all know what I can do and will be able to trust that I can handle my part even if I’m away from the office more at times.”
Cam’s eyes glittered and he looked a little angry now. “That’s what you’re thinking about when you’re working late? How to get ahead now for the eventuality of when your grandma gets sicker and you need to be gone? So we trust that you can handle things and, what, don’t fire you while you’re taking care of your grandma?”
“Yes.”
“Jesus, Whit.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “You think we’re that big of assholes?”
She swallowed. “Of course not. But it’s only fair that I plan ahead.” She could feel the tension coming off of him. He seemed… not angry, actually. Annoyed. And frustrated. That seemed more accurate.
“And for now,” she went on. “I would really appreciate if you could keep my family’s personal business personal. You came into this situation because you and Didi got together and she got a wild hair. You weren’t really invited. Not by anyone who knows every piece of this. But you’re here now. Because Didi wants you to be. But that doesn’t give you permission to bring a bunch of other people into it.”
She saw that he’d noticed her emphasis on Didi when she’d said who wanted him here. His eyes narrowed again. “And you think my family is a bunch of assholes too.”
She sighed. “Cam…” She shook her head. “I don’t know your family. I know what my family felt about your family. I’ve had it ingrained that your family doesn’t like us and wants us to fail.”
“You know me. You fell in love with me.”
She flinched as he put that out there so bluntly.
“You think assholes would have raised a guy you could fall in love with?”
He was closer again. How did he keep doing that without her noticing him moving?
Then she realized that it was her who had moved. Closer to him. Into his personal space. Close enough to feel his heat. To see the gold flakes in his green eyes. To feel his warm breath on her cheek. And lips.