When she bumped into me from behind, she steadied herself with a firm grip on my arm, and it felt .?.?.goodto be that anchor for her.
I growl, dragging a hand down my face. It’s bad enough having Wes’s sister working for me. I don’t need to complicate things by noticing how soft her skin is. How her breasts felt pressed against me. Or the flush in her cheeks when they had.
Work. I need to work.
My boots thud against the hardwood as I pace my office. I could march up to her cabin and bang on the door. Give her a piece of my mind.
Except the thought of standing face to face with her, especially when she might still be in her pajamas .?.?. or worse, some city girl nightie, makes me rethink that fast.
Before I can make up my mind, the sound of an engine outside breaks the morning quiet. Peering out the window, I find Wesley’s truck pulling up in front of the Saddle Room. I yank the door open and march out.
Ofcourseshe asked her brother for a ride. Heaven forbid she walks a little more than a city block.
Wait. There’s no one in the passenger seat.
Wesley steps out with a large to-go cup and brown paper bag, his grin as easygoing as ever.
My jaw is tight as I weigh my options. Take out my frustration on my best friend. Or play it cool.
I swallow, taking my time as I walk over. “You bring me somethin’?”
“Rose didn’t stop in for breakfast this morning. Figured you got her starting early, so I brought it over.”
I clench my back teeth. Wesley’s quick to notice, his grin dropping.
“Oh boy, what’d she do? It’s her attitude, isn’t it?”
I shake my head, forcing a laugh as I choose to play it cool. “Nah, she’s fine. Just settling in, I think.”
Wesley’s brows furrow as he looks past me to my office. “Shouldn’t you be prepping for the tour group comin’ in later, instead of delivering coffee?” I ask, noticing how my tone is laced with annoyance.
I never said I wasgoodat playing it cool.
Wes blinks at my unexpected brush-off. Thankfully, he doesn’t confront me about it—not at work. Though it’ll catch up with me later over beers, I suppose.
“Just wanted to check on her.” He hands me the paper bag and hot coffee cup. “And maybe make sure she doesn’t hate me for draggin’ her out here. I may have made a cappuccino muffin batch this morning, extra chocolate chips.” He winks for good measure and turns back to his car without another word. But his mood’s changed, and I feel like shit.
“Hey,” I call back. “What’s a guy gotta do to get one of these? ’Causemybrother ain’t bringing me anything but more work.” I chuckle.
Wes is unamused, watching me for a long moment. Then glances at the door to my office. “She’s not here yet, is she?”
I rub the back of my neck. “Probably still getting settled.”
Wes shakes his head. “I’ll swing by the cottage and check on her.”
Panic flares in my chest. If he finds out Rose spent the night in the drafty old cabin—one I took her to in order to prove a point—he might just deck me for messing with her.
“Actually, I was just about to head that way,” I say quickly. “And hell, she’s probably already on her way.”
Wes gives me a long look, then shrugs. “All right, just .?.?. keep an eye on her for me?”
I look away, acting bored. “You got it.”
I watch him drive off, my stomach knotting tighter with each passing second. If this is any indication of how my summer is going to go—I’m putting a stop to it.
It’s nearly nine when I storm back into the Saddle Room and pick up the phone. I don’t bother with small-talk when the familiar elderly voice answers. “Ginger, I need you to do me a favor.”
The door to my office bursts open and a brunette flies in like there’s a blizzard outside.
