“Missed you too. So much.”
I pull back so I can see her expression, and she gives me that breathtaking smile that makes me feel like a goddamn king.
“If my kids weren’t awake in the other room…” I groan, hating that I need to stop.
“I know.” She heaves out a pained sigh as I put her down, but before I can drop my hands, she pushes up on her tiptoes and whispers against my lips, “But I’ll let you tuck me in bed tonight.”
“Promises, promises.” I smack her ass as I move past her. God, she’s fun. With her around, I almost don’t mind having to organize this pigsty.
* * *
“Doyou want me to add this to your federal tax folder or do you have a separate place for your property tax bills?”
I look up from my desk and study Tori, who’s tied up her hair on top of her head with a number two pencil. She’s so sexy, I want to fuck her right now on my desk.
After a quick adjustment to my jeans, I motion for the bill.
“There should be a separate folder for this somewhere.” Rubbing my chin, I smile sheepishly. “Not sure where it is, though. Maybe check the second drawer?”
I’ve been feeling stretched so thin lately, the office was the first to fall into disarray. Because it’s not like I can ignore my children, or the horses, or my employees. But having Tori here to help me get this under control has made such a huge difference, I feel a weight lifting off my shoulders.
Logan strolls in, drops onto the couch, and covers his face with his forearm. “Your kids exhaust me.”
I ignore his whiny ass and continue paying bills. We’ve worked through the bulk of the mess. Tori rearranged the filing cabinet so it’s easy to find the business bills versus the house bills.
Eventually, the fatigue of working my butt off all damn week catches up to me, and I close my eyes, wishing I could sleep into next year, but as soon as the sun goes down, I need to get back out to the barn to finish up in there.
“You guys ready for Friday?” Tori asks quietly as she walks behind me, pausing to massage my shoulders.
Jesus, that feels good.
Grunting, I let my head hang down while she works her magic. Would rather forget about Friday, and this back massage is the perfect way to do that.
“I can’t do this for long.” She whispers in my ear, “You have big muscles.”
I smile to myself, feeling like a puffed up peacock.
“So Logan, I have a question for you,” she says, still working over my shoulders. “Are you and Joey… you know?”
This I have to see. I crack my eyes and swing my head to the side. My mother has always wanted those two to end up together.
He’s shaking his head, confusion written all over his face. “Just friends.”
Tori snickers. “Like ‘just friendswith bennies’ or ‘just friendsbut you wanna bang’ or ‘just friendsand you’re both in denial’?”
I laugh, reaching back to scoop her into my lap. “So many options.”
“Right? I’ve been trying to figure them out because Joey is really pretty, and she obviously cares about him, but I’m thinking he’s in denial.”
“Like the river in Egypt.”
“I’m right here,” Logan points out. “And I swear Joey and I are really and truly platonic. Nothing has ever happened between us. She’s like a little sister. I would never corrupt her. I mean, we grew up together, so she knows what I’m like.”
Joey is kinda sheltered. I can understand my brother’s reluctance on some level. He loves to play the field, but he’d have to be ready to settle down to consider doing anything with Joey.
“Maybe she wants to be corrupted.” Tori coughs. “Just saying.”
“No way, dude.” Logan rubs the back of his neck. “She might read too many romance novels, but she knows we’re only buds.”
