It comes out as a small plea. Her words might as well have been acid, though. No longer do they hold the love and adoration they once did. Not that I deserve it. I remember what I did, how I ended things between us all those years ago. I release the grip on her arm, pulling my hand back slowly.
“How are you here?”
She smirks. “Your ears must be clogged. Or maybe you took one too many hits in school playing football.” Holden laughs behind us, and until then, I forgot he was there.
“I hired Eloise to do the designs based upon pictures on the website and conversations I’ve had with her. I had no idea you worked there.” It’s the truth. When I began my search, I never in a million years thought I would find Lana. I wanted a company that would make what I wanted.Quill and Smith Designshad designs exactly like what I was looking for.
“The designs on the site are mine. She gave your account to me because she knows how much I want to venture into something like this.” She looks down to the ground, and for a second, I see the shy girl who was here ten years ago. “I tried to talk her out of sending me here.”
“Why?” I ask, alarmed. Now that she’s here, I can’t imagine anyone else working on this project. She’s like a breath of fresh air I’ve been waiting for, for so long. I didn’t even know I needed her until now.
She clamps her jaw shut and snorts. “Because I have some really shitty memories of this place.”
Chapter 3
Lana
He flinches at my words and straightens his spine. They did come out a little harsher than I meant them to, but at least he stopped looking at me like he wants to devour me whole. Not that I would mind—let me be clear about that. It’s been way too long since I’ve had a good dicking. I’m in way over my head here. I should have put my foot down and told Eloise she needed to find someone else for the job.
“You’re overdressed for a day on the ranch, don’t you think?” he sneers.Ah, there’s the Tristan I know and hate.I’d rather him be mad at me. It will make it much easier to get this job done and get back home.
“Yes. I was expecting to go to the hotel and unpack, and then change into some jeans and boots or sneakers. I wasn’t expecting car service.” I turn my attention to Holden. “You said you were taking me to the hotel so I could change.”
Holden smirks, and I know I’m not going to like the next words out of his mouth. “You’re staying on the ranch while you’re here.”
“No,” Tristan and I yell out at the same time. My heart rate spikes, and my hands are clammy. I can’t stay on the ranch. There are too many memories of this place. I need to keep some distance between us if I want to survive this trip.
“Holden, we don’t have any available cabins for her to stay in,” Tristan says sternly. I watch him narrow his eyes at Holden. A silent conversation happens between them.
As if Holden doesn’t care, he says, “Bullshit. You know cabin seven is open.”
Cabin seven.Seven has become my least favorite number over the years. It holds too many memories—good and bad. It’s the same cabin I lost my virginity in when I was here ten years ago. Seven is the number of boyfriends I’ve had throughout the years. Seven is the max amount of orgasms in one night.
Well, I guess there are some good ones.I’m still not even sure how that last one happened, but if I remember correctly, it was done with my vibrating friend and my imagination. I’m sure Tristan had something to do with that. Thinking of him is when I come the hardest. I blush as I remember that night.
Fucking Tristan.
I shake my head. “No. I don’t want to put you out. I can’t expense a stay like this to the company anyway. I’d much rather stay in town. It’s a better option for me. I needreliableWi-Fi to get my job done.” My head spins as I think about having to stay here longer than necessary. I want to go to my room, change, and pull my big girl panties up to make it through this client meeting.
As it is, looking at Tristan is bringing back all the memories I’d rather forget. My body, on the other hand, has a different idea. The longer I stand here in his presence, the wetter I get. Listening to his deep, sultry voice and seeing the hard planes of his muscles moving under his clothes is almost enough to make me orgasm right here—almost. I shift my weight, trying to discreetly ease some of the pressure forming between my thighs.
Tristan scoffs and nods. “Good. I think it’s better for you to stay in town, too. Holden, take her to her hotel. She can change into something where she won’t break an ankle and then come back so we can get some real work done.”
I start to respond but bite my tongue when the screen door opens. I look over Tristan’s shoulder to see his mom walk out. She’s hunched forward, and her hair holds more gray than it did last time I was here. She looks so frail, and her clothes seem to swim on her. Even from this far, I can see her bright blue eyes. The same eyes Tristan has. I glance back at him, but his face is unreadable.
What happened?Holden mentioned her being sick, but I didn’t think it was that bad. Her face lights up when she sees me.
“Lana Robinson? Is that you?”
I smile and push past Tristan to greet her. “Hi, Mrs. Ellis. It’s wonderful to see you.” I pull her into a gentle hug, afraid I’ll hurt her. We pull back, and I look into her face. She’s beaming at me. Her smile is reassuring.
“Oh, honey, what are you doing out here? You look lovely.”
“Thank you. I’ve been hired to redo the cabins.”
She looks over my shoulder at Tristan, and I follow her gaze. He’s watching us like a hawk would watch its prey. His arms are crossed over his chest defensively, and his eyes bore into the back of my head.
She pulls me in for another hug and whispers, “I’m happy it’s you. You’ll make the cabins look amazing.” I’m happy to have her vote of confidence. She places her arm around my waist and holds me against her side. “Tristan, why don’t you let Lana get settled in?”
