“This didn’t look like working on a motor,” North retorts, his tone icy.
Saylor releases a terse breath. “I’d say get that stick out of your ass, brother, but I know you enjoy it being there.”
I have to stifle a laugh, covering my mouth with my hand.
“Do you think this is funny?” North seethes, his eyes spewing fire at me.
“It was fun before you showed up,” Saylor replies nonchalantly, earning a side-eye from me. North catches my glance, and our eyes lock for a tense moment.
“If you were working just now, it shouldn’t be a problem to have that boat done and on the water before lunch, right?” North challenges, obviously counting on me not being able to do that.
I nod, biting back a retort.
Fuck, this is going to be a race against timeagain.
As North glares at me, his disdain evident in his eyes, he adds with a hint of condescension, “You better get back to work then…Blue.” His gaze travels down to my overalls with a look of distaste.
“My name is Sloan,” I state firmly, crossing my arms over my chest, refusing to let his disrespect slide.
His gaze comes back up to meet mine, and we lock eyes for a moment longer, a silent battle of wills. Then, without another word, he turns and heads up the stairs, shutting the glass door to his office behind him with a little too much force.
“I never had the urge to strangle someone before, but he has my hands itching to wrap around something and squeeze,” I mutter to Saylor as I turn the radio back on, albeit at a more subdued volume.
She’s sittingon the ground while working with her back to me as if she wants to shield her beautiful face from my eyes.
Who works sitting on the ground?
When she pushes one of her braids behind her shoulder, I could swear I saw her talking while she turned slightly.
Is she talking to herself?
Why am I even surprised? The girl is crazy.
I try to focus on my work, but my eyes keep drifting to where she is reassembling the motor parts. Half an hour passes, and I give in, canceling my meetings and everything else that should have been done today.
She needs a fucking babysitter.
I told Hunter that all she would do was mess up or hurt herself, but he wouldn’t listen. So now it falls to me to watch out for her.
I had been on the phone yesterday when I glanced out the window and saw her dangling from that rope. My heart nearly stopped. The memory of that moment alone sends shivers down my spine. I can’t help but wonder how close she would’ve come to killing herself if Nash hadn’t gotten there in time.
I rushed down the stairs the second I saw her, letting my phone fall to the floor and leaving our overseas partners on the line like idiots, but I still would have been too late.
Always too late.
I can’t stop watching her. It’s as if I’m compelled to keep her safe, to make sure nothing bad happens to her on my watch. It’s frustrating, making it impossible to focus on anything else. I can’t get any work done like this, and it’s driving me insane.
She has to go.
I pick up the phone and call Hunter, who picks up on the second ring. “What’s up?” he asks absentmindedly.
“Shedanced,” I complain, nearly hissing it through my teeth.
“What are you talking about? It isn’t even eight a.m.” There is some shuffling on his end before he mumbles away from the phone, “Lio, please, I told you we’re gonna do that later.”
I sigh a heavy sigh. “Hunter, I need your focus for a second.”
“Don’t get your panties twisted. I’m here. Who is dancing where?” he asks, and I feel like I’ve finally got his attention.
