He simply dips his hat to me. “I’ll go take a look then.”
“Ginger,” I whisper when he’s gone. “I don’t want to get in any more trouble.”
She gives me a stern look. “Flower, how old are you?”
“Twenty-two.”
“And it doesn’t bother you that you’re being treated like a teenager?”
I sigh. “It did, but then my first night out, I got into trouble with—”
“Bonesisn’t a place for you to be going on your own—they prey on city girls and tourists. But there are other places in town I think you should check out this weekend.”
“Like what?”
She shuffles around her desk. “Here are some brochuresfolks drop off for things to do in Blue River Springs. Take a look. There’s a farmers’ market, antique shops, a bookstore, museums .?.?.”
I take the pamphlets from her with some interest but notice she doesn’t say much about nightlife. And I’m growing tired of staring at the ceiling all night.
“What about a placelikeBones? You know, I met the Callahans while I was there.”
She shakes her head. “Those two are as much trouble now as they were when they were kids. I babysat for them one night. Frightful children. And I’m not answering your ‘place like Bones’ question. That’s a recipe for disaster, and I’m not getting involved.”
I chuckle. “Thanks, Ginger, I’ll check these out. Good night.”
“Night, dear.”
I step out into the warm evening. Exhaustion consumes me when I realize I have towalkback. I’ll barely have enough energy to walk up the cabin steps, much less the distance from here.
I’m looking forward to the shower in my little cabin. It hasn’t been half bad. Wilder thought I wouldn’t last a day, but the joke’s on him. I’ve managed four nights just fine.
My cheeks heat at the memory of him catching me this morning. OK, so maybe I fell on top of him, right between his legs—but he still caught me.
I’ve come in contact with that broad chest a few times now and it still makes my skin sizzle.
What is wrong with me?
I’ve never been a complete klutz around men. But Wilder brings out the crazy in me. And did I really call myself stupid when he wouldn’t let me fix payroll?
That’s not like me.
I think it plenty, sure—but I never say it out loud. Thisattraction has got to stop.
A wind chill runs through my bones, and I fold my arms as I walk, glancing around the familiar road, but not certain where it leads.
“Great,” I mutter. Every path seems to split off into more dirt trails winding into the distance. It’s dark now and everything just looks the same.
“How hard can this be, really?” The ranch is quieter now, save for the chirping of crickets. Where the hell are those little critters coming from?
I inhale deeply as I keep walking, my feet ready to give out. “Some reset this is turning out to be.” Although, despite the blisters, there’s something satisfying about the simplicity of it all. No buzzing phones, no broken elevators or crowded subways, just work that feels real. Important. Appreciated.
Inevitably, my thoughts circle back to Wilder and those eyes that seem to see through me, reading me like an open book.
I wonder if he feels what I feel when we touch.
Touch?Morelikegropehim.
Although, if I’m honest, I’ve yet to feel unwelcome. He might try to act like I’m a nuisance, but I’m not picking up that vibe. The way his mouth twitches into a faint smirk whenever I fumble. The way his whole body stiffens when I press mine against his.
