“Anyway…” I say, dragging us into safer territory before she sees too much on my face. “Mind if I take a quick shower? I just need to grab the extra clothes I keep in the car.”
“I’ve got clothes. I can doll you up so even Greer can’t say no.”
I let out a laugh. “I’m a bit terrified to sit in a room with her.”
“I don’t blame you. She’ll look at you like she’s trying to peel you from the inside out, but we won’t let her.”
“I hope not.” I grimace. “Anyway, let me go grab some clean underwear from the car. Give me a sec.”
I step back outside, pop the back door, and dig through the duffle until I find a simple white pair, then head inside again, shutting the cold out behind me.
Mandy throws an arm around my shoulders and steers me toward the stairs like I’m a project she’s excited to start. “Come on. Let’s get you dressed.”
In her room, she beelines for the walk-in closet and starts flipping through hangers, talking as she goes.
“I’ve got the perfect jeans that’ll definitely fit, cute over-the-knee boots, and a blouse that shows the exact right amount of boobage to say, ‘I’m competent, but also extremely hirable.’”
I groan and cover my face. “You’re the worst.”
She grins over her shoulder. “And yet you keep coming back for more.”
“I’m starting to think I’m a glutton for punishment.” I plop down on her bed and lie back.
“You sure as fuck are.” She pops her head out. “Alright, here are your clothes.”
Mandy hands them to me as I sit up, then grabs a towel from the hallway closet and tosses it at me. I push up and head for her bathroom, really hoping I can impress Greer.
The second the water turns hot, I strip out of my dress and step under the spray, letting it hit my skin hard enough to feellike it might wash off the memory of his hands on me, his mouth, the way I melted for him until I forgot how to be anything but his.
It doesn’t work. No amount of soap makes me forget the way it felt to be wanted like that, or the way it scared me because wanting it back feels like the first step toward losing my grip on reality. He’ll never be mine.
I shut the water off, wrap the towel around myself, and blow-dry my hair until it’s mostly tame, then pull on Mandy’s clothes. The jeans are a little too long, but I can deal with that.
When I step out, Mandy looks up from the edge of the bed and lets out a slow whistle. “Dayum. Kirill doesn’t know what he’s missing.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I roll my eyes, but my face goes warm anyway. “I’m over him.”
“Sure you are.” Her lips curve.
I ignore her, forcing myself to focus on anything but Kirill while I grab the flat riding boots and slip into them as she laughs.
“You over him or him under you. Either way, you’re not getting rid of that man. Just watch.”
“Yeah, okay…”
But a part of me hopes she’s right.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
SLOANE
We passthrough black iron gates that slowly swing open, revealing a gravel path framed by sprawling pasture and neat fencing. A wooden sign welcomes guests to Blackthorn Ridge Bed & Breakfast, nestled beside a second one that readsMain Officewith an arrow pointing left.
Mandy follows the sign for the office, her fingers drumming the steering wheel while I try not to let my nerves get any louder than they already are. Worst case, I don’t get the extra cash and Camille loses her mind until my first paycheck from the diner hits.
It’ll be okay. It has to be.
Once we arrive, Mandy parks in front of the office, a small house-style building set back from the road, and kills the engine. “You okay?”
