‘Nor any other part of their anatomy,’ Jenny said dryly. ‘I see Matt occasionally, but it’s Brent I’m worried about,’ she added with a frown.
‘What’s the matter with him?’
‘Just lately he’s become almost impossible to work for. He’s like a bear with a sore head all the time.’
‘Perhaps he has woman trouble,’ Helen suggested.
‘No woman at the moment. I always know when there’s a woman,’ Jenny explained. ‘He gets me to order the flowers for them.’
‘Then he’s suffering from frustration,’ Helen said with certainty.
Jenny spluttered with laughter at her cousin’s cool explanation. ‘You could be right, although it isn’t something I would have expected you to say.’
‘After living with Leon for a few weeks you learn to read the signs. He’s been positively explosive most of the time.’
‘Poor devil,’ Jenny sympathised. ‘Brent hasn’t been explosive, he just keeps making snide remarks.’
‘Directed at you?’
‘Mm,’ Jenny confirmed.
‘I see,’ Helen said slowly.
‘What do you see?’
‘I think Brent fancies you.’
Jenny blushed. ‘Don’t be silly! Of course he doesn’t.’
‘But you like him too, don’t you?’
‘Of course I like him—I work for him.’
‘I didn’t mean that.’ Helen gave her cousin an understanding smile. ‘How long have you been in love with him?
‘I’m not—’ Jenny sighed her defeat. ‘Ever since I went to work for him,’ she admitted.
‘Why didn’t you ever tell me about it?’
‘I started to a couple of times, but unrequited love can be so boring. I didn’t see the point in talking about it when I managed to enjoy life without eating my heart out for him.’
’Perhaps that’s your trouble,’ Helen said thoughtfully. ‘If you’ve managed to keep your feelings hidden from me then you’ve probably hidden them even more successfully from Brent.’
‘I should hope so! I could never work with him if he knew how I felt.’
‘But that’s where you’re wrong. If I’m any judge, which I’m probably not, Brent is jealous.’
Jenny gasped. ‘He can’t be! You must be mistaken.’
‘How long has he been off with you?—since you’ve been dating Matt, I bet.’
Jenny frowned. ‘Well, I— Yes, I suppose it
could be. But I can’t believe he— No, it can’t be true, Helen. Before he started being nasty he used to treat me like his kid sister. It really used to annoy me.’
‘Change your tactics, Jen,’ advised Helen. ‘Come on strong. See what results you get then.’
‘I couldn’t suddenly change from being his sister to asking to be his mistress,’ Jenny denied. ‘That would be too much of a turn-about.’