“We’ll figure it out.”
He pulls up to his house and walks me to the front door. His hands cup my face, and he plants the sweetest, most gentle kiss on my lips. We linger in the doorway, our still-warm bodies pressing against each other. When we part, his eyes are bright, but dreamy.
“I’ve got to admit, Trouble, didn’t expect you to talk that dirty back there.”Duke’s smirk stretches from the house back to the lodge. “Mercy, I had no idea you had that in you, Miss I Like To Keep Things Professional.”
I laugh, cheeks still flushed. “You didn’t seem to mind.”
“I’m still recovering.”
“Guess you bring out the worst in me.”
“Oh, I think that’s your best,” he murmurs, brushing his lips against mine. “I want to take you upstairs right now.”
“Then do.”
He presses his forehead to mine for a moment, then lets go. “Can’t. Too much shit to do before I leave tonight, but I’ll make it up to you when I get back.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
“See you at dinner, beautiful.”
I float through the rest of the day like someone lit a candle under my ribcage and forgot to blow it out. The rush of the morning hasn’t left me … the sauna, Duke, the way he looked at me like I was something holy and forbidden all at once. I can still feel his rough hands and still hear the catch in his breath when I blurted out my command.
Shit, I can’t believe that was me.
Is this how it’s supposed to feel? The fever of it all? The endless butterflies and consuming thoughts?
One thing I can confirm—this isnotindigestion.
the outsider
ROXANNE
We all helpset up the dinner in the Nook that evening. Georgia arranges wildflowers in mason jars. Millie’s organizing the s’mores station. Topper and Rusty are still arguing over who caught the biggest fish at the camp out while they set the table. Leo fiddles with the Bluetooth speaker that’s always a little too loud or too quiet. I take a step back for a moment, soaking up the way everyone pitches in to make the night so special.
The only thing missing is Duke.
“Where’s your man?” Allie asks leaning in and nudging me.
I jab her and she giggles as she helps fill glasses with water. “He should be here any minute.”
“How are you going to function while he’s gone?”
I roll my eyes. “Please, you’re the lovesick one around here.”
“Am not.”
Topper then breezes by us and kisses Allie on the cheek before disappearing into the kitchen. “Okay, so what if I am?”
We both laugh, but I stop when a figure in the shadows catches my eye. The silhouette alone tells me it’s Garrett. In the weeks before, he was engaged at these dinners. After the campout, he’s stayed to the periphery more. I shake off a shudder as I lay out water glasses on the table. When I glance up again, he’s gone. My thoughts don’t linger on him long because someone else steps out of the shadows.
He’s wearing a navy suit that’s tailored within an inch of its life. His crisp white shirt is open enough to hint at the man underneath. His hair is damp and tousled like he ran a hand through it on his way here. He’s all dressed up and seeing him in this new polished form makes me want to rip the clothes from his body and tumble around with him in the grass.
Keep it together, Roxanne!
“Oh … my God,” I whisper.
Allie turns, follows my gaze, and gasps softly. “Whoa, he certainly puts the dude in dude ranch.”
