“So I have to have a reason to kiss you? I can’t just think you’re seriously hot?”
Hope ignored the little jolt his words gave her, and nodded. “We both know that’s not true. Now, I have work to do. Let’s just forget this happened.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
She looked up at him. Noted the clenched jaw, narrowed eyes. His hair was no longer slicked back but standing off his head, and she realized her hands had done that, just as they’d made the creases on his shirt.
“Of course you do. For heaven’s sake, Newman, this is me. You don’t even like me.”
“What’s this then, if I don’t like you?” He took her hand and pressed it to his groin. There was no mistaking his erection.
“That was crude.” She snatched her hand back. “Stop it. You don’t behave that way. You’re always the gentleman.”
“Not always,” he muttered, advancing on her again. The look in his eyes told her he meant business, so Hope did the only thing she could think of, and ran.
Reaching the Howler, she wrenched open the door and sprinted inside, and straight into someone.
“See, I told you she had the hots for me.”
And that was all the night needed to really piss her off. Although if she was being honest, what she and Newman had just shared hadn’t pissed her off, it had transported her to a place she’d never been before.
“Excuse me, I need to get back to work. Let me go, Brodie.”
“Aww, come on, Hope. Just having a little fun. You’ve filled out nicely since you left. How about you and me dance a little?”
“Let her go, Brodie.”
The steel in Newman’s voice gave the Finlay brother second thoughts, enough so that Brodie eased his grip on Hope long enough for her to kick him hard in the shin.It’s a damn shame I’m not wearing my boots,she thought, watching him grab his leg.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Youwant another tea, Hope?”
“Sure, thanks, Willow.”
Hope had been back in town two weeks today. Surprisingly she’d settled into a comfortable routine and was happy being back here, even considering that Wildlife were still only four miles away, and this business between her and Newman was still festering.
She’d kept out of his way where she could. If he was coming down the road, she ducked into a store. If he came into the Howler and she was working, she let Faith or Noah serve him. In fact, she hadn’t spoken directly to him since the night of his birthday. The night that had her hot just thinking about it. She’d woken so many times aroused because of him, it was really starting to annoy her.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks.”
She was in the Hoot this morning because HRH had come to discuss town business with her mother. They’d made it plain that she wasn’t to eavesdrop, so Hope had left with her laptop. She was making herself go through her photos. The ones she had left from her time with Wildlife. Those, Jay had not bothered to steal.
She’d had a surprise phone call that morning from one of the staff at Wildlife, Daisy, who she’d often worked with. She’d told Hope that she missed her, and that she hadn’t believed Jay’s lies. Hope was surprised by this, as she hadn’t thought anyone cared about her dismissal. Daisy had then told her she hadn’t said anything at the time for fear of losing her job. Casey Rae Linear, their boss, was not known for her rational behavior, so Hope had assured Daisy she understood. It had been a revelation, and a pleasant one. Especially now she knew that someone from Wildlife was actually on her side.
The team hadn’t come to town again. This she knew because Mac told her he’d delivered them an order just yesterday. Which was just fine with her.
She’d worked in the Howler, so she had some money. Taken long walks, swum in the lake, and spent time reacquainting herself with Howling. She’d taught Mikey a few tricks, and worked on the boat with Faith and him, because she had nothing else to do.
“I come in peace.”
Hope looked up as Buster pulled out the chair across from her and sat.
“What?”
“You had this shit-kicking look on your face.”
