Now this is another view of her I don’t mind.
“Damn it. Should’ve known,” she says, scooting out from under the desk and pushing herself up to her feet. She turns and gasps, clasping her now heaving chest. “Mr. Faraday, you startled me.”
Of course, Jameson waddles around me and over to her. He whimpers at her until she coos at him and scratches behind his ear. She laughs when he rolls on the floor exposing his belly for a rub.
I take a step toward her. “Is there something I can assist you with?”
She swallows after her eyes take a walk up and down my body. “I … I can’t get my charger to work.”
“Oh, apologies, that outlet in the floor runs to this switch.” Her eyes never leave me as I back away and flip the light switch by the doorway. “Try plugging it in again?”
Her expression shifts and she turns back to the desk. “I’ll try in a moment. Thank you.”
“I’ll get it then.” I slowly lower myself down to all fours, my eyes never leaving hers until I’m under the desk. Once the charger clicks into place, I crawl out and push myself up. “How’s it working now?”
“I’m sure it’s fine, Mr. Faraday. Thank you.”
“Please, I insist youcall me Duke.”
She turns to the desk, flips through some papers, and tries to hand me a clipboard. “Oh, since you’re here.”
“What is that?” I ask.
“Your interview consent form.”
“Not signing it,” I say, shaking my head.
She tilts her head. “Why not?”
“I can tell you anything you want to know about the ranch, just leave my story out of it.”
“How can I leave you out of it? You’re the owner. Your story, the story of why you wanted to build this place … it’s everything.”
“This place isn’t about me, it’s about the vets it was designed to help.”
“I can’t tell the story of Firebird without you.”
This makes me smile as does the glint of fire in her eyes.Stand down, Faraday,you’ve sworn to be professional, remember?
“I appreciate that, but I’m not signing.”
She purses her lips and sets the clipboard down on the desk. “Fine. Hopefully, you’ll change your mind by the end of summer.” She sits down and opens her laptop. “Is there something else I can help you with, Mr. Faraday?”
My eyes narrow. I find myself wanting to test her and to see if Allie and Leo were right about the fact that she would rather sit here than venture out into the wilderness. “I was thinking about organizing a sunset hike to the lake, if you’re interested.”
She doesn’t meet my gaze and begins to type. “I’ve got a lot of work to catch up on tonight.”
“Well then, I’ll see you at sunrise yoga before breakfast?”
“Might have to skip that. Going to prep my interview questions.”
“So I guess a midday rafting trip tomorrow is out of the question?”
She glances over her laptop. “No. I don’t think I’m up for that so soon.”
“That’s what I thought. You know, I agree. It’s probably better if you sit this one out.”
When I say this, it finally gets her full attention.
