It’s Brett who is first to pipe up, which is good because I need a minute. “I’m pretty sure I mentioned Bailey’s name back in theshed—” he shakes his head and narrows his eyes at Jed. Then lifts his cowboy hat for a beat and runs his hand through his hair.
Zane puts a fist in front of his mouth to hide his laugh, and Brett elbows Jed in the ribs. “Fucker,” Brett mutters.
“Oh, your face.” Jed doubles over, half laughing, half coughing from the blow. “You shoulda heard him, Bails. I think he’s in lov?—”
This time Jed dodges another blow as he ducks backward, out of the line of fire.
“Well, this is fun and games, but I’ve got work to do. Bails, show Brett around. Jed, you’re with me.” Zane pats Brett on the back hard, and I know it’s a warning. My boss may be a grump, but he’s a protective grump. I don’t hear what he whispers, but Brett nods.
Uh oh. Show Brett around? Last night we couldn’t keep our hands off each other, and now he’s… he’s working here?
Zane shakes his head, and Jed finger waves with a double wiggle of his eyebrows. I’ll get him back later, I always have the last laugh. And from the looks on Brett’s face, he will probably have words with Jed too.
“So,” Brett says, recovering quicker than me. “Where would you like me?”
CHAPTER 11
Brett
“You’re working here?” Bailey stammers.
“Well, Zane was mentioning you’re short staffed right now, so I offered to help out. I didn’t know you worked here.”
She nods, a little mechanically. “I’m the stable manager… and… I guess… uh, everything else in between.” Is it just me, or do her cheeks seem to dust crimson? Delicious. I love how this brave, confident woman is stammering because of me. I’d like to think it’s because of where I had my mouth last night, but that could be wishful thinking.
I run a hand through my beard, trying not to think about how I kept her up all night. Then I glance down at her attire… Daisy Dukes? Holy shit. She has the legs for it. Her build is athletic and she has limbs that seem to go forever. My, my. What I’d give to have them wrapped around my face…
I raise a brow as my eyes finally meet hers again. “I guess we didn’t get a whole lot of time last night to talk about everything.”
Her eyes widen slightly. “Right, like these bags under my eyes.” She points to the non-existent space under thosechocolate eyes that capture me. “Someone kept me from my beauty sleep.”
I love how natural she is. Her skin is pretty with no makeup, just a swipe of sheer gloss over her rosy lips. I squint, playing along. “I don’t see anything.”
She narrows her eyes. “So, you know Jed, huh?”
I shrug. “We grew up together in Tennessee. It’s a small world, as they say.”
“How come you didn’t say anything last night?”
“It didn’t come up,” I say. “I was more interested in hearin’ about you talk than me.”
“Huh.”
“What’s, huh?” I smile. “It seems to me you’re not used to a man givin’ you compliments.”
“Well, usually when men give them, they expect something in return.”
“Not me. I don’t expect anythin’.” I step closer and her eyes widen. “But this is gonna be a hoot, you bein’ my boss lady.”
“You can’t work here.”
“Oh?” I grin. “And why not? Are you firin’ me already? Zane said you definitely need the help, so why look a gift horse in the mouth?” Yeah, I think I’m funny. She folds her arms over her chest in that adorable way of hers.
“How long have you been waiting to use that line?”
“A while.”
“Brett, we can’t do this here. It’s… weird.” I take another step, relieved she doesn’t edge back, and I cup the side of her face.
