Something I couldn’t explain.
I glanced over to see his back to me as he rinsed off the dishes. His broad shoulders strained against the black long-sleeve henley he was wearing. My gaze moved down his long, lean legs covered by dark denim, leading to a pair of brown work boots.
Why does he have to be so sexy?
I moved to my feet abruptly. “Okay, I’ve got to go. I forgot I have a meeting. Tell Harps I’ll see her tonight to go over the party plans.”
He turned around, grabbing a towel to dry his hands as he studied me. “It’s nice of you to do this. It’ll make her happy to be included.”
I’d basically taken over Harper’s birthday party, as she and I had been discussing it for a while now.
“Not a problem. We need to go over the balloon design for the swag anyway.” I cleared my throat, as it was getting more difficult to be around this man. “And you have the key to the guesthouse to install the new oven today, right?”
He had a slight smile on his lips, as if he found the question comical. “I do, Firefly. I’ll take care of it.”
The words rolled off his tongue like butter.
Melted butter.
Melted hot butter.
I’ll take care of it.
My God, what was happening to me?
I walked backward and tripped over the leg of the chair before righting myself and rushing out the door.
Air.
I needed air.
I took a few deep breaths once I was outside and decided to walk to work, seeing as the sun was shining and the weather was warming up. I needed to clear my head.
My phone vibrated with a text from Brayden. The man was relentless. It was clear the way the date had ended weeks ago that there weren’t any sparks between us, yet he was a persistent guy.
Brayden: I’m leaving town tomorrow and thought I could buy you dinner tonight and maybe enough drinks to convince you to come home with me?
The comment rubbed me wrong, but it wouldn’t have mattered if he was a complete gentleman, because my mind was on one man, and one man only.
Getting hung up on Charlie Huxley was not the norm for me. He was admittedly not looking for a relationship, and he aggravated me more often than he didn’t—not to mention the fact that I’d have to be around him often due to our mutual friends.
This is why we both knew it was just a bad idea to even go there.
I promised Harper I’d draw the balloon swag design for her and we’d work on the final details for her big day, and I was actually looking forward to it. She had so many ideas, and I wanted to make this seven-year-old’s birthday wishes come true.
Me: Sorry I can’t make it tonight, but I appreciate the invite. Safe travels home.
I came to a stop when I spotted Clifford Wellhung walking down Main Street. He had his back to me, his unusually large balls dangling between his legs as he swayed from side to side. He stopped in front of the Blushing Bride and stared in the large front window. This was a daily routine for him.
And who was I to rush an alpha moose with big balls?
“Hey, Violet,” Brit Hansen said as she walked up to stand beside me. She owned the mobile spray-tan business in town, which was a huge thorn in the side for Montana and me. She’d spray-painted more brides neon orange than she hadn’t.
“Hi, Brit, how are you?”
“Good. Just heading to the Brown Bear Diner for some breakfast, but I sure as hell don’t want to get in Clifford’s way.” She chuckled.
We both waited until the giant moose decided to move on.
