When was the last time that thing saw a mechanic?Probably a decade ago. I shake my head again, get up to the deck, and hit the button to close the garage.
I hear the cowgirl shout something, but I’m entering the house before I catch more than just ‘hey’.
Scrubbing a hand down my face, I stop in the open plan living, dining, and kitchen. As much as I like to pretend I’ve given up the comforts of the modern world, my cabin doesn’t really reflect it. Not with the giant windows overlooking the mountain, or the comfortable space I’ve carved out for myself, or the expensive generator that’ll keep the power on here when the snow really hits.
The light above the stairs leading down into the garage turns on, and I’m reminded once again abouther, especially as she starts stomping up the stairs, cursing under her breath.
I cross my arms when she appears, anger and frustration burning in her dark eyes. “What the hell was that about?” she asks, slamming her bags down without stopping. “What the hell is your problem?”
Amusement swells within me as she stomps towards me. “You,” I reply, “are my problem, cowgirl.”
She comes to a stop in front of me, cheeks flushed. “Cowgirl?” she scoffs, hands going to her hips. “I’m not a cowgirl, you jackass.”
Maybe getting her to quit will be easier than expected if telling her to park in the garage is all it takes. But the way she calls me jackass has my lips twitching with a smirk.
I haven’t had someone this open with cursing me out since…well, never. Not a single person other than my aunt or my closest friends. Those who worked for my aunt never would have dared, and not even the women I’d dated before would have tried.
I’ve fired people for a whole lot less.
But her? For some reason, I don’t think it’ll be that easy.
The challenge is too fucking nice, and that’s something I hate to admit.
After a moment, she throws her hands up in frustration. “Why am I here, then? If you’re just going to be…a jackass?”
I snort, shaking my head. “You signed the contract, cowgirl.”
She points a finger into my chest. “Yes, I did,” she hisses. “A contract that’s supposed to make you desirable to your board, future investors, and this town for some reason. And now I’m starting to see why you had tohireme because you are so freaking frustrating!”
“I didn’t hire you,” I growl, pushing against her finger and entering her space. Once again, all I can smell is honey and lavender, and it’s too fucking overwhelming it makes my heart clench. “My lawyer did. He seems to think you can change me. But we both know you’re not capable of that.”
The flush of her cheeks deepens, and once again I can’t help but admire how it snakes down her turtleneck. “The problem,” she snaps, matching my step so we’re flush against one another, “is thatyou’rethe one incapable of change.”
I can feel every part of her; the swells of her breasts as they press against my lower chest, her soft stomach against my hardening cock.
“Maybe I don’t want—or need—to change.”
Lydia raises a brow. “Clearly you do,” she replies swiftly, dropping her hand. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been hired. I wouldn’t have had my resume picked because I’m the one most likely to give you an image boost. I’m not naive, I have a pretty good idea why out of everyone else I was chosen.”
Finally, she takes a step back. I should be relieved to have her out of my space, but I miss her immediately. And it should make me anxious to know she’s not as blind as Tobias thinks she is.
She gives me a once over, eyes narrowed. “I will not let some asshole billionaire be the reason I lose a damned good job opportunity.”
She has no idea how badly my aunt needs her influence, and I still can’t figure out why. Why this girl? Why now?
I blink hard at her, any words I might have had lost as she turns on her heel and struts to her forgotten bags. “Now,” she says, glancing over her shoulder at me, a challenge playing in her stormy eyes. “Are you going to show me to my room?”
My teeth grind together, but what else can I do? She’s just shown me she has no intention of running away. Her stake in this working is a lot higher than the money Tobias offered her. And I’m not quite sure how to feel about that.
I’m not sure how I feel at all about the curvy young cowgirl tapping her foot waiting for me to show her to the unofficial guest room.
And now, I’m not sure about this lie Tobias wants me to spin. Because it’s a lie that could hurt her more than I actually want it to. Especially if what my aunt planned could do more damage than I ever did to this town.
FOUR
LYDIA
Ican’t tell if today was a success or a total nightmare.
