Page 16 of Flint

His eyes light up the moment he sees me. Excitement flickers on his face, like a kid seeing gifts under the tree and I am Christmas morning. “Veronica, how did you…I kept looking…and now you’re here.”

“I’m here to start my new job,” I tell him, my heart pounding. He just said he was looking for me. He was looking for me! Wait, engage professional mode first. Giddy, happy feelings can be indulged later.

“Bronco didn’t mention hiring anyone.”

“I’m the new ranch manager.”

“There’s been a misunderstanding. I already hired a guy.”

I put my hands on my hips, prepared to fight for this job. My boys need the stability this is going to bring. My baby needs it. “Well, you call him up and tell him the position has already been filled.”

“I’m not going to—wait, Ronnie isn’t short for Veronica, is it?”

I realize it at the same time he does. I’m used to people being surprised when I show up for an interview or for the first day on a new job. But seeing Flint again has scrambled my brain. I explain, “My father didn't have a son, so he gave me his name, Ronald Davis Hunter.”

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but definitely not the grin that spreads across his face. He gets to his feet, charging across the room to hold out his hand. “Welcome to your new job at Valor Ranch.”

I take his hand, feeling his strong fingers wrap around mine. It sends tingles down my arm, and I’m instantly thinking about the motel and how I’m pregnant. I need to tell him before I lose my nerve. “About last month⁠—“

“Those were the best nights of my life,” Flint interrupts.

I pull my hand from his, swallowing hard. I'm not about to admit that it was the same for me. Nothing good will come from focusing on the things we can't be. “Well, now we're co-workers.”

He does his best to hide the disappointment in his expression but not before I see it. He jams his hands into his pockets and says, “Officially, you're my boss. And you know how I like taking orders from you.”

I remember the way he looked at me when I defeated that guy at pool. There was nothing but admiration in his gaze. Still, some men need to be in charge at work. “Is this going to be a problem?”

He gives me one of his flirty grins, the kind that makes my breath catch in my throat. “Your job will never be in jeopardy because of me. But if you want to harass me, I won’t object. You can even grab a handful of the good stuff whenever you want.” He pats his jean-clad ass. The same ass that had my fingernail marks last month.

I clear my throat and gesture to the desk. “You need a different hinge for that.”

He grabs up a handful of hardware and holds it out to me. “This is what I’m working with. It’s an old desk, great wood. Not unlike⁠—“

I pluck two pieces from his hand. “Let’s use this set, and everything will attach just fine. Got a screwdriver for me?”

He passes me one and within three minutes, I have the desk finished and all the hinges attached so it’ll be easy to use. There was nothing more my dad loved than puttering around his workshop, and I loved hanging out with him. “Should be good as new now.”

He pats the desk, admiration evident on his face. It doesn’t make me feel warm and gooey inside. I won’t let it. “We have a laptop. It’s old, but it’s what we’ve been using. Bronco and I thought the manager might need newer equipment. But we figured you’d order what you need when you got here and expense it to the ranch.”

“Okay, show me what you’re working with right now, and I’ll let you know about upgrades we’ll need,” I answer.

Flint talks me through the basics, hovering over me the entire time as he shows me which programs the ranch uses and which icons to click. It’s hard not to be distracted by him the entire time. He smells so good, and his breath is hot on my neck. I glance up and suddenly realize that I’d only have to angle my head and our lips would connect.

I see his eyes darken as he realizes it at the same moment I do.

“A tour,” I blurt out. “Can you give me a tour of the farm, so I know what to expect here every day?”

He steps back, the spell between us broken. “Yeah, a tour, Sounds like a great idea.”

The tour of the ranch takes us a little over an hour. Flint is patient especially when I explain that I've never worked on a farm, but I know how to run a business efficiently. The look he gives me tells me he remembers exactly how efficient I can be.

I point to the stable. “I don't think I've seen that yet.”

The stable has a symphony all its own. Soft nickers, quiet munching, and clacking hoof steps. An earthy mixture of fresh hay and feed greet my nose with something distinctly more pungent underneath that.

“That’s Princess in that stall. She’s an older mare and gentle as they come. Do you want to give her a rub? Reach over the gate. Yeah, just like that. Go slow. You never want to spook a horse.”

“Her fur is so silky,” I murmur as the magnificent mare stares at me, letting me touch her. The boys would love getting to meet her. I wonder if Flint will let them when they come to live here.