“Of course not,” she said, placing her hand on his bicep as if truly concerned.
Silas’s gaze dipped to where she touched him, and Raven, realizing her mistake, snatched her hand away.
They were still in a precarious place after their kiss. She could keenly recall the moment-by-moment sensations she’d experienced in his arms, and as she met his dark, smoldering gaze, she knew she wanted nothing more than to feel his lips press against hers again.
She could feel his body heat and see the expansion of his chest with each breath he took. It seemed like they were drawing closer and she’d get her wish, but before the moment could coalesce into something satisfying, Silas said, “Good night, Raven.”
They parted ways, and Raven sat in her car for a while, the thumping of her heart filling her ears.
ChapterFifteen
Silas had nearly madeit to the kitchen during his midmorning break when Raven, from behind the front desk, called him over.
He’d almost kissed her again days ago in the middle of his brother’s neighborhood, of all places. He’d momentarily forgotten his commitment to absolute politeness while studying her under the soft glow of the streetlights. Her lips had been parted, her breathing shallow, and he’d known she’d wanted to kiss him too.
But he’d done the levelheaded thing, the difficult thing, and walked away. God only knew where he’d found the strength.
“Do you have time to talk?” she asked when he reached her work area.
Her braids were styled into a low bun, and the dress she wore, he supposed, might’ve looked casual if it weren’t for the pile of gold jewelry on her wrists.
“I have an introductory class in thirty,” he said.
“Okay, I’ll make it quick,” she said, joining him on the other side of the desk with a file. “Since you know Cedar Lake better than I do, I wanted your thoughts on my ideas for Mountaintop.”
A business consultation.
Silas experienced a mix of emotions. Her request was a reminder that Mountaintop was not his. But it was also validating that Raven was interested in his perspective.
“What do you think about partnership marketing with a hotel or motel in town?” she asked, opening the file detailing her plan. “I know that, for instance, the rodeo does something similar to great results.”
Silas scanned the documents. “So it would be a long-term referral partnership? We’d have to pick the right hotel to fit our brand.”
“Yeah, and maybe we can develop a program that benefits us both,” she said, stepping closer to flip the page. “I once worked closely with a product manager for this startup that made watches, and they collaborated with a marathon organizer to design a special watch for a major race.”
“It sounds like a really good idea to me,” he said, feeling a thread of excitement over the potential of her plan.
“Awesome, thanks for your help,” Raven said, and as she returned the papers to her file, she asked, “How’s your morning been so far?”
“Good. Nothing unusual,” he said. “You?”
“I knocked out a few admin tasks,” she said. “Also had some guy come in who was convinced this was a shooting range. Claimed Google told him it was here. Then got testy when I showed him otherwise.”
She laughed, but Silas tensed.
“Do you get people coming in here getting rude with you?” he asked carefully.
The question seemed to surprise Raven, but she waved her hand and said, “Oh, rarely ever. And it’s never anything I haven’t seen before.”
“You know if anyone is giving you a hard time, you can call me over on the walkie-talkie,” he said, still disturbed by the thought of her confronting angry clients. “Not insinuating that you can’t handle yourself, obviously.”
“Sweet offer, but honestly, it’s not necessary,” she said before chuckling. “I just pictured you shooting an arrow from all the way in the field and pinning a rude customer by their shirt like a cartoon character.”
She looked so beautiful when she laughed.
“I don’t know if I’m that good,” he said with a smile.
As their mirth faded, silence took its place. He thought of leaving for the break room but felt anchored to that spot. She didn’t move either, and the longer they remained still, the more convinced Silas was that they’d never leave. But then Raven’s eyes fluttered to his mouth, and the next breath they took was while their bodies converged.
