Our 100,000 square foot facility was beyond the woods, hidden by tall Florida pines and centuries-old oaks with one narrow sandy road giving access to the grounds from my property. One way in, one way out—by vehicle, anyway. I watched the entrance of that path while tossing hay bales from the bed of my truck, waiting for Jamie to emerge so I could spend time with my plants away from him. Sweat beaded along my forehead as the last bale thundered to the ground.
The whirring sounds of a small vehicle pulled me from my peace. “Ay cowboy, when are you gettin’ to work?” My horse snorted as I opened the last stall and shooed her out toward the pasture, turning my back to my business partner.
He didn’t need to shout this time as he hopped out from the UTV and walked over to me. “Jesus, what’d you do, jump in the river?”
I jerked my chin toward the sprinklers that watered the small herb garden. “No need.”
“Ah.” He arched a brow, scanning the hay bales. “Facility is all yours. Know how you like your space and all.” He snorted, then spit right by my fucking herbs. My fist clenched at my side. “Oh, forgot to tell you this mornin'—that girl is comin’ on by again tonight.” He shrugged, letting a smirk spread. “Guess she likes me.”
Unlikely. Only thing Lyra gave a shit about was where her next dollar was coming from and calculated ways to lie about everything she possibly could. I knew her like the back of my hand, but Jamie had no clue that we had a past. It was better that way.
“What time?”
Jamie lifted his hat and swiped a hand through his hair before fitting it back on his head. “Around 8.”
“Early.” He nodded, and right as he turned to go back to the UTV, I asked, “She your girl now?”
Jamie halted, then turned his head over his shoulder, eyeing me from head to toe. “You askin’ me questions now is scarin’ me. You interested in her?”
“Nope.” I shrugged, reaching for my shirt to pull it back on. “Just need to know if she’s comin’ around my house more.”
He finished walking to the UTV, then sat and started it up. “Guess that depends on if she’s any good.”
As he drove away, I grabbed a joint from my truck and sparked it, unable to keep the smirk off my face. That little vixen was still the same—still my little Ly. She hadn’t even slept with Jamie yet and already had him wrapped around her finger.
Too bad he didn’t know how fast that finger could turn the tables.
I finished collecting clippings from several dozen mother plants, using the tedious process as a distraction. By the time I left, it was already nine o’clock. I stopped by the barn once more, eyeing the beat-up Crown Vic with the same Florida plate in my driveway as I locked up the stalls. With all the money she must’ve pilfered by now, she hadn’t replaced the damn thing. I bet she used it to empty pockets to the fullest, making men take pity on her. Men like Jamie who were clueless when it came to smarts that couldn’t be obtained from books and numbers.
What a shame.
I debated sitting in my truck and waiting for the lights inside my house to turn off. I thought about it all the way up my drive as my boots scuffed against sand and rock. As my hand reached for the door to pull it open, I let my presence alone do the talking because, clearly, my brain had lost the battle over my body.
Hiding from her on my own damn property wasn’t going to happen.
Jamie stood in the kitchen, palms down on the counter while Lyra sat on a barstool facing him as I stepped through the door. Jamie’s laugh pushed one of hers to the surface—a fake one. I smirked as I put my keys on the rack, letting the metal and fob clank together as much as I could.
“You doing the crew’s work now?” Jamie joked as Lyra’s blonde head of hair—also fake—swished with the swivel of my chair her ass had found. As the chair came to a stop, her brown eyes fell to me, and that soul-sucking smile of hers went flat.
“Doin’ what I do best,” I replied, keeping my eyes on hers.
“This guy.” Jamie cleared his throat and threw his hand up, pointing to me. “Lyra, this is—”
“Car,” she let out faintly. So faint, I wasn’t sure Jamie had heard it clearly. But I sure as shit did. “Excuse me, my car, I meant. I left something in it. Be right back.” She stood and adjusted her skimpy top and short-shorts, her eyes now boring into the front door she was trying to leave through. I stepped in front of it and smiled down at her, blocking the exit she so desired.
“Carver,” I finished for her, cocking my head. Her brown roots were more visible this close up. More irritating, too. “Lyra, was it?” I rubbed my knuckles along my jaw. “My, that’s a pretty name.” I let my gaze roam over her chest since clearly that’s what she wanted Jamie to look at this entire time. Might as well partake in the free things she dished out.
Lyra glared back up at me, her expression no longer hiding how she really felt—a little scared, a little shocked, but mostly pissed. “Move,” she murmured, only loud enough for her and I to hear.
“Lyra, Carver is my roommate and business partner. He’s a bit of an ass though. Probably best to stay out of his way.” My smile spread at Jamie’s words.
“Ya don’t say?” she replied louder for Jamie to hear, but didn’t blink from that angry stare she gave back to me.
I smacked my teeth, popping a toothpick between my lips and flipping it with my tongue. “Coyotes out there are hungry. Best hurry up.”
Her eyes darkened as she glanced at my mouth. I grinned and stepped to the side, making it so she’d have to squeeze by me to leave. Lyra huffed, slamming her shoulder into my arm, forcing a chuckle from me. “Listen for that howl!” I hollered over my shoulder right before the door shut.
Jamie shook his head. “You're gonna make her run before I can get my dick sucked.”
