“Scooby, no! Get your ass over here.”
I yank on the beast’s collar and finally manage to move him. Then, I blink up at the vision standing over me. Her fiery curls whip around her head in the wind, cute button nose twitching as she looks down at me with a concerned expression. I didn’t get a good look at her earlier since her bottom half was hidden behind the large reception desk, but of fucking course the rest of her is just as stunning. She’s wearing a form-fitting summer dress that hugs her hourglass figure.
Letting my eyes roam over her looming form, I take in her tapered waist before settling on a set of hips that hint at the kind of well-rounded cheeks that make you want to dig your teeth into the supple flesh. I’ve always been an ass man, and I appreciate a woman with a little meat on her bones. Never really understood the appeal of those model types who look like they’ve been starving themselves since the early ’90s.
The pin-up leans forward, causing her ample breasts to spill over the neckline of her dress, and I can’t hold back the pained groan that escapes me. Thankfully, Tinkerbell puts my sound of discomfort down to her dog coming at me like a freaking wrecking ball.
“I’m so sorry,” she says, holding on to her pet while she offers me her free hand to pull me up. I indulge her, wrapping my palm around her dainty fingers while I use the other to push to my feet. I wipe at the sand caked to the front of my shirt and glance at her behemoth of a dog.
I’m assuming it’s a male, judging by the ridiculous name.Scooby? Really? How unoriginal.He sits next to his owner like a good old boy, tail wagging in the sand, tongue hanging from the side of his mouth. He eyeballs me like treating my face like his favorite lollipop was the most fun he’s had in years, silently conveying that he wouldn’t mind doing it again.Not a chance, Buster.You may have gotten the drop on me once, but I can promise you, it won’t happen again.
I’ve been sloppy since I got here. Assuming the change in location and the fact that I eliminated one of the biggest threats to my life a little over two months ago was enough to let my guard down. But I know better. Criminals are like cockroaches. You take oneout, and a dozen more crawl out of the gutter, ready to infest the world with more of their poison.
“Are you okay?”
I stop glaring at her dog, who seems to have lost interest in the exchange and is now happily gnawing on a piece of driftwood. Dismissed and replaced. Just like that.
“I’m good. Just took me by surprise is all.”
“I’m sorry,” she apologizes again and releases a drawn-out sigh. “I only got him a few weeks ago, and we’re still learning how to get him to behave. Don’t let his size fool you. He’s just a puppy.”
I give her a tight smile. “Like I said. It’s fine.”
When I don’t offer more and the prolonged eye contact becomes uncomfortable, she claps her hands once, and her dog abandons his stick and begins running circles around us.
“Well, it was nice running into you. Literally,” she adds, amusement swimming in her catlike eyes. “And again, if you need anything at all, you know where to find me.”
“Yeah, about that,” I say, just as she’s about to turn away to continue on her walk. She cocks her head and raises a perfectly shaped brow. “I couldn’t help but notice the cabin I’m renting looks a tad more dated than the pictures suggested, which raises the question. When was the website last updated? Was Gandhi still alive?”
She looks taken aback by my bluntness, and I almost feel sorry. But I refuse to sugar-coat things to spare her delicate feelings. You try to pull one over on people; you deal with the consequences.
“Actually, I’m not sure? I only purchased the resort three months ago. I have a long list of things that need to be taken care of, and I’ll admit, updating the website wasn’t my first priority. I sincerely apologize if you’re unhappy with your accommodation. The truth is, I can’t afford to shut the place down while the necessary renovations take place. But most people choosing to stay here don’t really expect fancy lodgings. They come for the solitude and wilderness experience. Some even find the rugged ambience charming.”
I bark out a laugh. “Rugged ambience. Good one,” I say, chuckling at her choice of words. She doesn’t join in. “Listen,” I sigh when I take in the genuine confusion etched across her pinched features and realize she hadn’t been joking. “I wasn’t expecting the Ritz Carlton, but I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to see daylight through the ceiling, and when I tested the bed earlier, the mattress sagged so badly I may as well lie straight on the shag carpet, which smells like an old gym bag, by the way.”
Her eyes are wide as saucers as she meets my hard gaze, a slight blush staining her freckled cheeks a rosy color. Again, guilt tries totake root and, just for a second, I begin to feel bad. But not enough to let her off the hook.
I’m not about to spend three months in a place where I have to catch water in buckets whenever it rains, and not at least try for a discount. I may earn decent money, but I’m on leave. Unpaid leave, I might add. Her financial troubles are none of my concern. And then something remarkable happens, and I watch as the amiable woman in front of me takes a deep breath and draws her shoulders back. Her eyes narrow a fraction, and she gives me a single nod, letting me know she heard me loud and clear.
“I’ll have that taken care of right away,” she says with a smile that doesn’t seem all that pleasant. “We wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable now, would we?”
Call me crazy, but I have a feeling she’s not my biggest fan.
“I’ll be by first thing tomorrow to address your concerns. Would you like me to bring a pillow made from the finest of duck feathers? Maybe a couple of maids to turn you over a few times a night to keep your delicate backside from getting bed sores?”
An honest to God grin tugs at the corner of my mouth. The sensation is so foreign, I shut it down before it has time to fully form.
My little pixie has claws, and that unexpected discovery tells me my stay here just got a whole lot more interesting.
three
Charlie
Iknow I shouldn’t talk to a guest like this. I’m in no position to risk losing one of the only paying customers currently residing at the resort, but something about this guy really brings out my inner bitch. He’s arrogant, rude, and so damn grumpy. Pretty sure if he ever cracked a smile, he’d hurt himself. I have no idea how he manages to walk with that stick up his rear end, but it must be huge, judging by the way he carries himself. Back ramrod straight, shoulders drawn back, chin slightly tilted, so he can look down his perfectly straight nose at you. Stiff is the word that comes to mind.
I’m aware this place is in dire need of repairs. But the payout I received from my parents’ life insurance policy only gave me enough to cover the sizable down payment and about a year’sworth of mortgage payments. If I want this venture to succeed past the first twelve months, I have to be smart about my spending. I need income to buy the necessary materials to whip this place into shape, and this guy’s just given me several weeks’ worth of rent up front. I can’t risk him leaving prematurely, or worse, demanding a refund.
What I should be doing is batting my eyes and blowing smoke up his ass. And man, what a phenomenal ass it is. I mean, you could bounce a quarter off that tight tushy. He may be a complete jerk, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t sneak a peek when he swaggered out of my front office earlier.
