There's a secret part of me that likes that she's calling this place home already.
I don't answer right away. I take a long, unhurried sip of coffee, watching her over the rim of the thermos, then move past her toward the front door. I catch the faint smell of her fruity, juicy shampoo.
Why does she have to smell so good all I can think about is taking a bite?
I drop down onto the bench by the door and pull my boots on one at a time, taking my time with the left one like the buckle's giving me trouble.
“What kind of emergency would that be?” I venture, eyes still down. But I can't resist the chance to turn the tables on her after she taunted me. “One where you're playing all by your lonesome, and get a little too lonely?”
I look up to see her glaring at me, arms crossed over her chest now, hip against the doorframe.
“A work-related one,” she says. “That's the only reason I would come to you in desperation.”
Immediately, she realizes just how that sounds. I watch the color climb her neck, all the way to her ears.
I'm way too fucking delighted, but I keep my expression neutral as I rise from the bench and lift my Stetson off the hook by the door. I settle it on slow,adjusting the brim.
I lift my chin and gesture down the hallway. “Bedroom's down there. In case you desperately need to come.”
Then I tip my hat, reach past her for the door handle, and step out into the morning.
If she's gonna send the blood rushing to my cock all summer, least I can do is send the blood rushing to her cheeks.
Chapter 7
Salty
SADIE
Despite my insufferable, if undeniably sexy boss, I'm starting to think I lucked out into the sweetest gig in town.
I get to live in a beautiful farmhouse on a wide-open ranch, hang out with an awesome kid, and all I have to do is survive one grumpy cowboy who gets my heart racing.
Once he clears out, I spend the next few hours unpacking my things. Then I tidy the house a little bit, putting toys back in their bins, collecting stray puzzle pieces and legos to be sorted out later. When I’m finished, I make myself a peanut butter sandwich with a glass of lemonade for lunch.
This house is clean and airy. Perfectly air-conditioned, with no hint of the summer heat coming through the triple-paned windows. No TV blaring, no smell of cigarette smoke. It feels heavenly.
I take the opportunity to explore a little more, staying far away from Walker’s bedroom. I don’t need to know what thatlooks like. Don’t need to see any evidence of women he might bring back here, the idea of which makes me feel oddly, unpleasantly jealous.
But I poke my head into the other rooms. There’s an office, a playroom, and a music studio that looks unfurnished and untouched. Only a guitar in the corner.
There’s a thin coating of dust on it. It’s the only dusty thing in this whole house.
Weird.
Outside, there’s a custom cedar playground set, along with a gated swimming pool. It’s got deep blue tiles all around it and sparkles like a Montana sapphire in the sun. I stare longingly at it. Maybe if I ask nicely, Walker will let me swim laps.
Although knowing him, he’ll probably find a way to lecture me about swim safety, so maybe I should just stick to the community pool.
By the time I go pick up Jonah from camp, I’m feeling good about my decision to accept this job. Walker is a handful, but I can handle it.
At the camp pick-up, Jonah runs up to my Explorer. To my surprise, he gives me a big hug, which I happily return. He’s getting comfortable with me already, and I love that.
“How was your day?” I ask.
“Good. Except it’s my turn to bring snack tomorrow, and I have to make it good.”
He buckles himself into the booster seat in the back. I straighten out a kink in the seatbelt for him before heading back behind the wheel and starting up again. “I can help with snack,” I tell him. “Got any ideas for what you want to bring?”
