With cutlery in hand, I followed him over to the dining table. It was still odd to be here. I knew I shouldn't. I should have gone up to the ski resort and put as much distance between us as possible, but here I was, sitting at his table and eating dinner with him.
The man I was insanely attracted to.
The same man who owned the farm I was going to have to fuck over.
I just couldn’t see a way out of it. I couldn’t let Preston ruin me.
"This is really good," I said as I took a bite. The vegetables were so fresh, better tasting than any I'd ever had.
"Thanks. The carrots are coming in really well this year."
We didn’t really do much small talk. I figured he was tired, and so was I. We simply ate, and being full and clean made me feel refreshed. He took both plates before I could blink and washed up as I took the chance to admire his toned ass.
"Do you want to do your laundry?" he asked, snapping me out of my gawking. “I noticed your suitcase was wet when I picked it up, which was why I left you some clothes.”
I looked away quickly, glad he hadn't turned around to ask. It was all just so… thoughtful. I didn’t know how to react. "That would be great, thanks."
He dried his hands and gestured for me to follow him to the laundry room, with a quick stop for me to grab my stuff.
He opened the washer so I could throw everything in, and when I checked the backpack for any clothes I might have thrown in there, I noticed the vibrator.
I looked back at Brooks, whose eyes snapped up to my face, his cheeks slightly pinked.
Did he see it in there? And had he been... checking me out too? No. I had to be imagining it. And even if he had, we couldn't go there. There was too much at stake. I was here to do a job and leave. That was all.
He added some soap and started the washer, the whirling sound filling the space.
I didn't realize how small the room truly was with the two machines. And Brooks was larger than he had any right to be, taking up most of the rest. He gazed down at me just as I gazed up at him. It was as if electricity was in the air. It sounded absurd, itfeltabsurd, but it was so real.
Quack, quack, quack.
I jumped as flat feet slapped the floor beneath us, and Chicken stepped between our feet. It broke the spell, and I could think straight again.
Brooks seemed to feel the same as he flicked his gaze down and picked him up like he was a cat.
"Can you just lift him like that?" I asked.
He nodded. "He likes it. Go ahead and pet him if you want."
I held my hand out like you do to dogs to let him smell me, but he didn’t seem interested, so I rubbed my hand over his head. His feathers were soft, and he ruffled a bit, preening under my touch.
"He really likes you," Brooks said.
"You think?"
"Yeah. He likes people, but he seems to really like you."
Something about that made me feel warm, and it was better if I kept some distance. So I pulled away and stepped back.
"I think I'm going to go to bed," I said.
"Of course. I'll be up for a little while, so let me know if you need anything."
I nodded and left, retreating to the spare bedroom and snapping the door shut. I crawled into the bed and snuggled up, trying to push this day and whatever this was between us out of my head.
I was here to do a job. Nothing else.
Chapter nine
