The knock at my door causes me to yelp. I’m thankful Allie and Leo are so quick to get here because I’m starving.
“I hope you brought me something good,” I say, opening the door.
Seeing who is waiting in the hallway, I gasp and slam the door. It’s not Allie and Leo, but Duke Faraday, the last person I expected.
“Roxanne?”
What do I do?
“I’m sorry to bother you, ma’am, but I’m hoping I could come in and apologize.”
I tilt my head. He … he wants to apologize? Topper and Rusty must have scolded him if he’s coming to my room with his peacock feathers between his legs. This I have to see. I tuck my still-wet hair behind my ears and pull my robe tighter around my neck.
I open the door.
He takes off his cap and fidgets with it, then rakes his hand through his hair before meeting my gaze.
His cocky smirk? Gone.
His confident posture? Nowhere to be found.
Instead, he’s completely still and staring at me again. Heat coils in my stomach, threatening to betray the indifferent resolve of my exterior, and I suddenly become too aware of the damp robe clinging to my skin.
I swallow hard and turn my nose up.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Faraday?” My voice comes out sharper than I mean it to, but I need to cut through whatever this is.
He clears his throat. “You wouldn’t rather call me Duke?”
No, because that’s personal, it humanizes you and I need you to remain behind this nice little wall I have built between us.
I shake my head.
“May I come in? I can wait if you’d like to get dressed.”
“It’s fine. Come in.” Part of me is anxious to hear him out and part of me … likes how he’s looking at me.
He rotates his cap in his hands before finally tucking it into the back of his jeans.
“Uh, listen, Sunshine…” his voice trails off.
Damn. That voice. Thicker, lower, and rough around the edges. Like he’s dragging his thoughts back from somewhere they aren’t supposed to be.
“Did you come here to stare at me, or do you have something to say?” I say, folding my arms across my chest.
He runs his fingers over his stubbled chin. “I’m trying to … say … something, damnit.”
“Rusty and Topper sent you here, didn’t they?”
“No,” he says, looking past me out the window. “Yes.”
“Well, you’re doing one hell of a job.”
He frowns. “Listen, I’m sorry for my intensity at the lodge before we left for the tour, but I meant what I said and for thatI’mnotsorry. I realize you’ve not been here that long, but the people here … the vets … I can’t stress enough how we’re making a difference. I hate to think of our chance at funding going away because you don’t even want to be here.”
Heat, subtle but present, threads beneath my collar as I take a quiet step forward. “I thought I left Colorado in the rearview mirror a long time ago, and now suddenly I’m thrown into this assignment, and it’s been a lot to take in. I never thought I’d be back here, and it’s stirred up some painful memories for me. I’m trying to adjust, but it’s going to take some time. That doesn’t mean I don’t care.”
One of his dark brows arches. “What happened to you?”
