“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
He starts toward Smoke’s stall to talk with the vet, and I head to my truck, feeling like the biggest fraud in Montana.
I respect the McMurray brothers, and they respect me because they think I’m the kind of man who does the right thing.
But when they find out about Tessa and me, respect is the last thing they’ll feel.
Forget keeping my job. I’ll be lucky if I make it out alive.
chapter 15
TESSA
“Pretty please with tequila on top?” Bella pouts through the phone as I pop a couple more gummy bears into my mouth. “We’ve hardly talked at all since the wedding, and I miss you.”
I miss her, too, but after Spencer’s stunt in the conference room, there’s no way I’m going out tonight knowing he’ll be there, too.
“Sorry, babe. I’ve been fighting off a migraine for two days. Alcohol and noise will make my efforts pointless.” Gummy bears will, too, but here I am, shoveling them in anyway.
“Ugh, fine. But promise me we’ll grab lunch next week. Out of the office, too. We can’t gossip in the break room.”
“Now,thatI can do.” We can go out for lunch all week if it means less time in the office with he who shall not be named.
“Yay!” Bella claps. “I’m holding you to that. I better finish getting ready. Oh, and Tess… do yourself a favor and put the gummy bears away. Eat some real dinner instead.”
“Psh.” Who needs real food? It’s officially the weekend, which means I’ll probably survive on gummies, cheese sticks, and Netflix for the next couple of days. I may be going places with my career, but I still have the eating habits of a broke college freshman.
“Anyway, I gotta run. And if you change your mind, you know where to find us.”
Yep. Same bar, same table, same people who have been gathering every other Friday since we graduated from college last year. But not tonight, or maybe ever again, because I am done—D-O-N-Edone—with Spencer and his crap.
Tossing my phone onto the ottoman, I shuffle to the kitchen and stuff the bag of gummy bears as high on the top shelf as I can get them without a chair, and instead of the wine I’d prefer, I grab a bottle of water.
I’m barely situated on the couch again, Roku remote in hand, when my intercom buzzes.
Strange, considering the only people who ever visit are headed out tonight. Bella, Macy, Holly, Britt…
I heave myself up again and pad over to the panel in my bare feet, booty shorts, and tank top. “Can I help you?” I ask into the speaker, but there’s no response.
Hmph. Probably a delivery driver who hit the wrong button or, more likely, Mrs. Collins trying to find someone to let her in because she left her key in her apartment again. Either way, I’m relieved. After today, I’m too salty for company.
And then there’s a knock at the door.
“Seriously?” I grumble. I swear to god if it’s one of the girls, here to demand I go out with them, I’m going to go off and tell them all what a douche Spencer is. I’ve done my best to be quiet about it since he’s T.J.’s best friend, but I can’t be the only one who sees it.
With a huff, I pad back to the hallway, toe up to the peephole, and gasp.
Dean? Dean Langston is in Boulder?
Quickly flipping the locks, I jerk open the door, not caring that I’m wearing itty bitty shorts and a tank top that is probably see-through. “What the heck are you doing here?”
He glances up from beneath the brim of his Stetson, one corner of his mouth curved into a sexy smile. “Is that any way to greet your delivery guy?” When he lifts a bag of takeout—Chinese, if my nose is right—I almost weep.
“I could kiss you right now.”
“I’d be okay with that.”
Giving a soft laugh, I fist the front of his pearl-snap shirt, tug him inside, and press my lips to his. “I had a horrible day, and seeing you is exactly what I needed.”
