“About?”
Am I crazy for feeling like this? More to the point, will he think I’m crazy? He has made it clear that he’d rather not complicate things further, but his words and his body language… they don’t align. And I have to know for sure.
“I had fun with you in Vegas. What I remember of it, anyway.” I shift uncomfortably on my stool and force myself not to look away from him.
One corner of his mouth kicks up. “Yeah?”
“Yes. But when people…end things, they usually go their separate ways. You know?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Is that what you really want? To never…” I wave a subtle hand between us, acutely aware that we’re not exactly in a great place to have this kind of conversation. “For me, the thought of never kissing you again kinda sucks.”
That unnerving crooked grin spreads wide before he lifts his beer to his lips. “You’ve been thinking about kissing me?”
Red hot frustration—and maybe a little lust—flames in my cheeks. “You are seriously the most infuriating man I know.”
I just want an answer. Going into Jeff’s office this week was humiliating enough. I’m not going to throw myself at a man who’ll just string me along on top of that.
“Come by my cabin later, sweetness. I’ll show you exactly what I want.”
Yes, sir.
chapter 10
DEAN
She better not show up.
Fuck that. I hope she does. So we can get this shit out of our systems once and for all.
Who do you think you’re kidding, man? You touch her tonight, and you’re only gonna want more.
“Fuck!” I rub the heels of my hands into my eyes and spin away from my kitchen window. I’ve been watching for headlights for the past twenty minutes like a goddamn lovesick puppy when what I should be doing is locking my door and going to bed.
Tessa and I don’t need to make this more complicated, that’s for damn sure. But I’m going to drive myself mad if I don’t do something about it.
Should’ve stuck to your guns, Langston. You knew this would happen if you gave in.
A knock sounds on the front door, and I damn near jump out of my skin.
“Dean?” Tessa calls through the door. “It’s just me. I walked over—”
I sprint to the door and jerk it open. “You walked? All the way from the main house?” It’s after eleven. There are wolves and coyotes and mountain lions out there.
She clasps her hands innocently and shrugs. “I snuck out. Didn’t want my brothers to hear my car.”
“Shit. You’re right.” I hustle her inside and quickly close the door.
Her brow creases as a suspicious smile tickles at her mouth. “You okay? You seem a little nervous.”
Nervous? Try freaking the fuck out. There’s no way to go about this situation with her and come out unscathed. And there’s a damn good chance I’ll lose my job, too, if I’m not careful.
“You just walked a mile in the dark, sweetness. Alone.”
She reaches into one of the pockets of her sweater and pulls out a container of pepper spray. “I grew up on a ranch, boss man. I would’ve brought my Glock, but I left it in Colorado.”
Holy shit. I guess I should’ve expected her to own a gun. She’s a McMurray, after all.
