“I wasn’t.”
“Really?”
Tessa shrugs. “I mean, sure, I was into it, but it’s music. You’re supposed to be into it.”
“I agree. I love music.” My tastes are pretty eclectic. I love everything from country to rap to certain pop songs. “So, what were you listening to?”
“My brother said that it was his job to ensure that I was well rounded so my playlist is mostly Dr. Dre, Eminem, Biggie, and DMX.”
I grin. “Some of the best.”
“You like rap?”
“I do. I usually go for country, just because it’s what I prefer, but my workout mix is pretty much all rap.”
She smiles. “I love that. I would’ve pegged you for a metal guy for the gym.”
I step toward her. “Nope.”
“I’m sorry if I woke you up. I was trying to be quiet.”
“You didn’t wake me.” Another step. “It’s early—why are you awake?”
Tessa sighs. “My mind never shuts off.” I understand that issue. “I was lying in bed, thinking about everything. I feel like while we’re waiting for some information on Travis, we should reach out to previous buyers in the last year. Maybe we can find a connection.”
She inched forward as she spoke, and her body is now so close. I know she’s telling me what we need to do to work on the ranch’s issues, but all I can do is focus on her lips. How they move as she speaks. The way her eyes widen slightly at the end, when the idea seemed to excite her.
I don’t think she knows how absolutely beautiful she is.
I clench my fists at my side to keep from reaching toward her, touching her when I know I shouldn’t.
Then she tilts her head to the side, letting out a heavy breath. “Killian?”
Right. She was talking.
I lift my gaze to meet hers. “If you think that’s a good idea.”
Tessa crosses her one leg in front of the other and then bites her lip. “I do. I think if we can talk to a few people, find out how their experience was, their process, almost as though we’re doing an internal audit, we might unmask some information to help us. Also, I want us to do some community outreach stuff. The goal is to get some horses sold, right?”
“Right.”
She runs her hands through her hair. “Cool. I’m going to come up with a few more ideas and we’ll try to get something going right away.”
I’m not sure how she thinks that’s going to happen, but I’m not going to argue. I’m much too busy focusing on her.
“You have something…” I say lifting my hand and pulling it back.
“What?”
“Egg. It’s in your hair.”
Tessa runs her hands through her hair and the piece of egg is still there.
Without thinking, without remembering that I’m not supposed to want her, to touch her, to be this damn close to her, I step closer. Her big blue eyes lift to mine as I stare back at her. She’s so fucking beautiful, and I want nothing more than to pull her against me and crush my lips to hers.
But I can’t.
So, I raise my fingers, touching the silky brown strands and pulling it out, but my hand rests on her neck.
