“I found his parents and my aunt and uncle much more tolerable. I think Stanford suspected something, so good.”
The same interest I saw in the storeroom flares in his eyes, and the corner of his mouth tips up. “When do you have to deal with them again?”
“He wants riding lessons. Given by me. January will be there though.”
“She won’t let him out of sight around you.”
I shake my head. I’ll take small ego strokes where I can.
“When?” he asks.
“When what?”
“Riding lessons.”
“Tomorrow after dinner. They’ll do dude ranch stuff all day, have an evening meal, then riding lessons.” For acting like they’re so much more sophisticated than rural Montana, the Baldwins sure want all the rural Montana experiences and adventures. Probably to laugh about them with their social circle when they return to Seattle. “The riding will be just the couple.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.” He spins on a boot heel.
“Wait—what?” I admire his ass while attempting to process what he means. Because I have to be wrong.
He doesn’t turn back around; he just speaks over his shoulder, his profile strong. That mustache of his makes me wonder things. Same with the whiskers. How much would I feel them... down there? “You’re going to make it through these next few weeks as stress-free as I can get you.”
“But...” Does he mean what I think he means?
He does a half turn, brow cocked.
A full-body shiver racks me. I don’t have it in me to say no. I don’t want to. I want his growl back in my ear. I want his hulking frame over me. I want to be an unbothered hussy when I’m taking orders from Stanford and January.
It can’t be a smart idea. I’m trying to get taken seriously, and if anyone finds out, I’ll be humiliated. Satisfied, but embarrassed.
“No one can know,” I finally say, succumbing to the siren song of how he can ease my pressure. “I don’t want my reputation worse than it is.” Even if I earn it this time. “And I’m not risking the land deal my uncle made with Daddy.”
“Your sister would have my balls if she thought I wasfucking around with you. Both of them. Your parents too. I don’t want to tarnish the relationship between the distillery and your family ranch.”
“What about Natalie?”
“What about her?” Confusion ripples over his face, but hurt still shines strong from his eyes too. “There’s nothing there.”
There was a short window where I hurt so much after Stanford dumped me that I would’ve opened the door to him had he shown up full of remorse. I’m not proud of it, and I don’t want to be in that window with Durban if it happens to him. “Not even when she gets her shiny degree and realizes she was too stressed and made a mistake?”
“Probably not.”
Probably? Does that mean he still wants his brilliant scientist? That if she showed up at his door, he’d dive right in like he hadn’t talked me through the best orgasm of my life?
“I’m a single guy,” he continues. “That’s that.”
Even if he did ghost me for his ex, he’s single right now, and I’m in the throes of wedding festivities. It’s an offer I don’t want to refuse. “And we’re just going to... mess around? You don’t like me.”
“I never said I don’t like you. Besides, you’re not my biggest fan, but you still came for me.”
My cheeks burn hot. “That’s not— It’s just—” Pressure smashes against my ankles. Patches. I pick her up, needing an obstacle between me and the guy who’s offered to continue getting me off. “What about you? Aren’t you going to want something in return?”
I’d tremble if it wasn’t for Patches. I want to touch him. Put my hand on that bulge— Oh God. Is he hardright now? If he’s not, then how big is he when he’s erect?
Why do I want to know so bad?
He scratches the back of his neck and avoids my gaze. “If you think I got nothing out of hearing you climax, then you don’t know what I like.” He shifts to look at me. “We do whatever you’re comfortable with.”
