She’s completely unaware. “No, let’s still do wood. The carpet doesn’t work.”
For some reason, a wave of protectiveness hits me. Partly because I am a territorial motherfucker when it comes to a woman that I shouldn’t pursue but probably will anyhow.
Clearing my throat, carpet guy looks at me and meets my warning glare. He adjusts his posture and slides his eyes away from Lexi.
“Lexi.” Saying her name seems to surprise her, and she looks over her shoulder from the samples that the man way below her league is observing.
“Oh, hey.” She stands up to greet me with a smile.
I crook my finger to gesture her over. “A word.”
Lines form on her forehead. “Excuse me for a second,” she tells the guy. Her saunter to me is nearly in slow motion. “Yes…” she leans in quickly, “Master,” she whispers her taunt.
My face remains stoic, trying not to let her have the upper hand. “The moose is gone.”
“Yeah, because you said it could go.”
“Where is it?”
“A closet, why? Does it deserve a ceremonial funeral or something?”
I’m being absolutely ridiculous. “No…”I just need a reason to bother you. “Let’s just save it for sinking it to the bottom of the lake or something when the Dizzy Duck is all remodeled.”
She nods. “A good idea. We could even get a special buoy to mark his resting place.” Is she teasing or is she serious? I can’t tell.
“The room warm enough for you? Enough bounce to the mattress for your special time? The drawer the right size for your supplies to get you through the moments when you have some frustration to work out?”
Lexi’s face flushes red, with her eyes blazing as I stand in front of her casually drinking my coffee.
“Uh…”
“The old first-floor guest room of the inn for your designing stuff, of course.” Absolutely not. “You wanted to keep your supplies and samples there. I can imagine you just use the bed as a shelf and probably tuck some scissors and tape measures in the drawer. Naturally, being a good boss, I wouldn’t want you to freeze in there. Why? What did you think I mean?”
She attempts to avoid my gaze, but I only step closer. “Do I make you nervous, Lexi?” I speak so only she can hear. The tension between us causes a shiver for us both, but we try to keep our bodies in check.
Lexi partly opens her mouth but only a croak escapes, then she gathers her thoughts. “No.”
My voice turns rather chipper. “Thought so, considering you were spying on me yesterday when I went to take a shower.” I get to enjoy a second of her jaw dropping before I turn to leave on that note.
Because yeah, I’ve been holding onto that fact.
My phone dings with a reminder, and I swipe my screen while juggling my coffee. Lucky me, each of my kids are at a sleepover with friendstomorrow.
Oh, look at that. Seems to mean I’ll be alone with my house guest.
5
LEXI
My nails thrum against the desk in the large bedroom at the Dizzy Duck. Most definitely, I’m going to refurbish this. I’ve surveyed the inn to see what pieces of furniture we could keep and revamp with a new look. I’m really going to bring in the elements of history from around Lake Spark and tie it into a mix of farmhouse and cabin feel, using whites and painted wood to keep it bright. There is a park nearby, literally called Pioneer Park.
But my fingers change their beat because of a lightbulb moment of finalizing my plan forward. Instead of celebrating, I have irritation. With certainty, Holden is now adding me to his flavor-of-the-month list, or at least, that’s what it feels like. Every word that slides off his tongue is a torturous taunt where it feels as though he has the upper hand.
It’s fun, sure. Doesn’t mean I want to give him a piece of my mind any less.
I breathe to myself, trying to inhale a relaxing breath as I straighten my shoulders, before I glance at my phone lying on the desk to see the time. It’s nearly two, which means it’s time for a break.
Leaving the room, I walk down the hall then the stairs to find myself in the lobby, but instead of heading to the table that offers refreshments for guests at all times, my feet plant down, unable to move. I tip my head back to get a glance of the office near the hall and the private party room, I guess because I’m subconsciously thinking of what to do with the fact that the door is ajar, and it’s Holden’s office.
