Work For It

by Ashley Bostock

  It would definitely be a game changer.

  And living here in Colorado and being lucky enough to see the Rocky Mountains every day. How exciting. She opened a window in her web browser and began searching for places to rent. Just because she was curious. If she took the job, she’d like to be somewhat close to the complex. She’d hate to fight traffic every day.

  She had been invited to their ground-breaking ceremony, and she knew the main players were Cole Carrington and Michael Vilander, but she hadn’t been able to meet the other men involved as she’d had a health department meeting with the state director that day. She’d literally flown in for the ceremony and left.

  But she vaguely remembered where it was. A quick map search provided her with accurate results which confirmed the location and she began a rental search from there.

  A little while later, after multiple searches and contemplations in her brain, Lina decided there was no harm in meeting with Mr. Carrington. Whether or not she took the job was to be determined, but it was convenient that she was already in state and could potentially meet with him.

  She replied to his email letting him know that she was on hiatus in Estes Park and could meet within the next week as his time permitted.

  He responded almost immediately. The day after tomorrow. Friday.

  The day Dylan’s bet ended.

  She glanced at the recliner. He was asleep. So beautiful. So damn heart-wrenchingly gorgeous it hurt to stare. What was going on between them? Her heart had a lot more to say about the subject than her brain. Her brain said nothing, it’s temporary. Her heart had other ideas.

  She pulled out the big guns and emailed her mother back. I accept your apology. Please forgive me. I’m sorry I walked out with no warning. That was completely unprofessional of me. We have a lot more to weed through, but this is a start. Tell Dad I said hello. And thank you.

  Because Lina knew it had been her dad that had talked some empathy into her mom. Because of that she was grateful.

  She heard Dylan rustling in his chair. She refused to look up. He popped the recliner back into place, and she heard him cough. He cleared his throat.

  “I’m sorry,” he said in a raw voice. “You’ve done nothing to me for me to assume I couldn’t trust you.”

  Lina looked up. She stared at him. He stared right back. His look was so galvanizing it sent a tremor through her.

  “Alright? I’m not good at apologies.”

  “You sound good at them to me,” she said.

  “You forgive me?”

  She glanced out the large window. “Under one condition.”

  “Name it.”

  “Tell me why you don’t trust women.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Oh, anything would be easier than this. Where did he begin? He decided the beginning was best. “I was eight. My mom always promised she’d be there after school to pick me up. For about the first month I believed her excuses on why she was never waiting like the other moms were. I finally gave up hope.”

  Lina’s features softened at his admission, but he kept going. “It went on in that form my entire childhood. Some thing or another she was always promising me or telling me—she was just filled with lies. All the time.”

  Dylan blew out a breath. He’d never told anyone this stuff. The guys knew, yeah, but no one else. Who wanted to know? It made him sad for that little boy who just needed a good mom like the rest of his classmates. He sure as hell didn’t want to tell people. Not only that but he didn’t want pity.

  No one’s pity.

  For this reason, he didn’t look at Lina. He could imagine the look she was giving him. The thoughts.

  “So from then on, that was how it was. I could never trust her. She tries to tell me that she’s changed now, that she’s different. But after being the fool so many times before, do you have any idea how hard it is to forgive her and give her a chance?”

  “I can imagine,” she said.

  “Which is why I do what I do for a living. I didn’t feel like I could be a youth pastor if I could never forgive. That’s what faith is all about, right? Forgiveness.” Dylan shrugged. “It was a wasted Harvard degree. Oh well.”

  Lina squealed. “Wait. Youth Pastor? Harvard?”

  He turned at the surprise in her voice. Her head was slightly turned, her chin up and she almost looked like she didn’t believe him. “I know. We all have dreams and end up doing something else. It was a wasted degree.”

  “Is that like a World Record? I’ve never heard of anyone wasting a Master’s degree from Harvard.”

  “A Ph.D.,” he mumbled.

  “What? I, I, that’s insane,” Lina said.

  He gave her a stern look.

  “I mean, I’m just saying.”

  “What did you always want to be when you grew up?” he asked.

  She gave a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I always wanted to be a teacher.”

  “And you’re not. So see how people’s dreams of becoming one thing change? I love what I do. I was meant to do what I do. I know that. I feel the connection deep inside of me.”

  Had he really just said something so corny?

  “Keep going. You’re not done with your story.”

  Huh? Oh yeah. Trust issues. Starting with his mom. He had to be careful here. He couldn’t say too much without saying too much. “The women in my life have never been stellar. They don’t have moral codes where they are afraid to sell you out to a gossip magazine or try to fuck your best friend behind your back. As long as they get something out of the deal, they don’t care what they have to do to get it.”

  “Why have you dated women like that?”

  He started pacing along the large window. That was a great question. It sounded like such an easy question, but he was finding the answer was much more difficult. So he wouldn’t get hurt. His mom did that enough. He didn’t say that though.

  “Easier to know what I’m getting myself into. What to expect.”

  She stood in front of him, so he couldn’t keep moving. She grabbed his bicep firmly. Yet he didn’t look at her. Couldn’t.

  “What about me?” she asked.

  He looked her in the eye. That feeling was back. His chest felt constricted like it was a boat trying to fit beneath a much smaller bridge. It was like he couldn’t breathe. The truth bubbled in his throat and he forced it out. “You’re the unexpected.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “I don’t want to jinx it by telling you. But if I get the job, I’ll stay in Denver. That would be fun, right? We could still hang out.” Her voice drifted off as she realized what she just said. She was okay with seeing him more outside of Pine Lake.

  Dylan ignored her comment. “Just give me a hint. I thought you were burnt out on this line of work. It’s not the same thing, is it Lina? Isn’t your new motto to live life?”

  She rolled her eyes as she spit her toothpaste in the bathroom sink. Dylan stood next to her talking over his own toothbrush. “Yes, Dylan and that’s exactly what I’m doing by driving down there today. It’s not the same thing but similar line of work. I’d still be helping people. But this is just an initial interview and a time to ask questions about the position and what my salary requirements are. It’s not like I’m taking the job right now.”

  Dylan spit and rinsed his sink then wiped his mouth on the hand towel. He passed it to her, and she did the same, then gave it back. He hung it on the towel rack.

  “Let me go with you. We can spend a good night out on the town.”

  Their eyes collided in the mirror. An undeniable magnetism was building between them. She looked away. Neither one of them were speaking about the bet that was ending today. What she was dying to know was what time, technically, did that bet end? Was it officially tomorrow that he was free or sometime tonight after dinner? Lunch?

  Was their passion still alive and kicking? Ha. She knew hers was. But was his? She met his gaze again in the mirror. His look was feral. Heated. Almost
savage. That answers that question. The passion was still there.

  “I know you are very independent, but let me teach you how to maneuver the curvy and sometimes icy roads going down. I’d feel better if you were in my truck with me than out there in some rental car by yourself.”

  He got her there. As much as she didn’t want to, she nodded. “Fine.”

  He gave a hoot. “Alright, woman. Be ready in ten. I can’t wait to take you into my world.”

  Lina laughed at his excitement. Okay. Whatever that meant. They weren’t going to be there long. All day, but she didn’t want to stay down there any later than necessary. Their time in Estes Park was coming to an end, and she realized she wanted to be holed up in Pine Lake more than anywhere else.

  She hastily put on the best outfit she had brought with her. Thank God she had still been the old Lina when she’d packed. She hadn’t been ready to let go of the business outfits completely as she’d brought her favorite work dress and high heels. She’d also brought a pair of dress slacks and a nice shirt, but with the blue of the dress, she wanted to make an impression.

  She heard Dylan’s low whistle before she saw him as she came down the stairs. “You clean up good, sweetheart.”

  Heat marred her cheeks. She didn’t know why. It wasn’t like she was unaccustomed to his compliments. Maybe it was the not-so-subtle elephant in the room that was getting to her.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  He dipped his head and laid a kiss on her lips. It wasn’t soft and tender this time. It was hard and hasty like he couldn’t get enough.

  “Let’s get this princess to her appointment. Your carriage awaits,” Dylan teased with the crook of his arm out for her to grab.

  “I’m ready.”

  “I do have one question for you that I’ve really been dying to know about.”

  She looked at him quizzically. “What?”

  “What were you using those fresh batteries for? You know the ones you got from your room the night the power went out.”

  The red blush was back even though they’d stepped outside and the chill was anything but hot. “My battery-operated friend.”

  His eyes closed, and he let out a groan. “That’s what I thought.”

  “Congrats, Lina. I’m thrilled that you accepted the position,” Cole said again as he walked her outside. The sun beat down on Lina as she stood outside The Francesca Project. It was almost finished, and according to Cole, everything was right on schedule. The wind blew, and Lina shivered.

  She couldn’t believe she’d taken the job. The old Lina would have never done that. She would have gone home and made a list of all the pros and cons of taking a different job and then compared those with the pros and cons of her current job.

  This new Lina, well, she was starting to love.

  She smiled at Cole and fished out her sunglasses. “Thank you,”

  “I can’t tell you how excited we are to have you on board.” Cole gave her a large, charming smile. She could see where women fell to their knees for the guy. But he was nothing compared to Dylan. Cole’s suit couldn’t be wrinkled if you bent it in half. She much preferred Dylan’s laid-back attire. Even if it was all the same clothing brand.

  “I can’t tell you how unexpected this was. And I’m beyond grateful. I think the new position will work just wonderfully.”

  Dylan had dropped Lina off at her interview, which was at a small mom and pop restaurant, and from there the entire thing had gone so well—she explained everything to Cole—her walking out on her old job as well as no longer living up to the gossip of being a feminist or crusader. Blah blah blah. She truthfully hadn’t expected to make a decision right away, but when Cole explained the position he thought would work for her, she agreed. And she wanted to take the leap. Go big or go home.

  Meet The Francesca Project’s new director.

  The generous insurance plan as well as the matching 401(k) benefits and annual bonus he was offering was way more than she’d expected. It hadn’t taken long for her to size up the whole situation and make a decision on the spot. Glancing to the west at the snow-capped mountains, she knew she was as sure as she’d ever be.

  Cole smiled. “Fate has its way of always working out.”

  Lina immediately thought of Dylan and the way they had been thrown together. “It sure does.”

  “I will keep in touch.”

  Lina beamed. A job! In Colorado! Who would have thought this was going to be her new home. When Dylan’s white truck rolled to a stop in front her, she couldn’t contain her excitement.

  “I accepted. I took the job on the spot. Colorado is officially my new home.”

  Dylan smiled, looking genuinely happy for her. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Congrats, sweetheart. What will you be doing?”

  “I’m the new director of The Francesca Project. It’s this great new partnership between a bunch of guys that are building an apartment complex—”

  “I’ve heard of it. I know exactly what you’re talking about. That’s wonderful. What will you be doing?”

  “I’m in charge of pretty much everything. Managing the employees. Making sure all the incoming clients have gone through the proper intake evaluations. Things like that.” Lina looked out her window, grateful that Dylan had read her mind and was driving them back home.

  Home.

  Only for one more week.

  It shouldn’t hurt as much as it did. She hated to leave the place. Estes Park. Their Pine Lake. She was staying in Colorado. She could go up there anytime. But she knew that wasn’t what the real issue was.

  It was Dylan.

  It meant their time was coming to an end and beyond Pine Lake, she had no clue what he wanted with her. If anything.

  “What’s got you so down? What you just said sounds fantastic. You’re going to be great at it,”

  “Oh no. That’s perfect. It’s just…it’s almost time to check out of Pine Lake.” Her voice quivered, and she hated that. She hated to show him how vulnerable she felt at the idea of leaving.

  His warm hand grabbed onto her cold hand. He was always warm. No matter what time of day or where they were, he was hot. She loved that about him. Loved how comforting he felt when they were next to one another. Loved how she could cuddle into his much larger body and feel protected. Feel like she belonged there.

  “We’re going to make the most of it. Of the time we have left.”

  Still upset, she glanced at him. “We are?”

  He gave her that dazzling cocky smile she was falling too hard for. “Oh yeah, sweetheart. I’m going to fuck you across every surface in that condo every filthy way I can imagine.”

  And that turned Lina from ice cold into a burning hot mess.

  Chapter Twenty

  They barely made it into the gated parking lot of their condo before Dylan hauled Lina across the seat of his truck and into his lap. She tasted even sweeter than usual, and he surmised that was because he knew the time to finally sink deep into her was here.

  He would be gentlemanly enough to wait until they got inside, at least.

  Her hands were all over him. In his hair. Against his chest. Smoothing down the sides of his arms. Along his hairy jaw.

  “This was all I could think about all day,” she said against his mouth. He swallowed her little moans with each kiss. She was wet and hot. One glance down showed him everything he needed to see. Her dress had already bunched up around her waist exposing her pink panties and delectable thighs.

  “It’s all I could think about all day. Every day since I showed up on your doorstep.”

  A loud knocking on his truck window startled them both. He pulled her dress down to a respectable level as he wiped away the steam on his window and tried to peer out into the dark.

  “It’s Martha. Open up.”

  What in the fuck. She was a cock blocker. Why did she seem to always show up at inopportune times? Granted, she was helping him keep a secret and her bad timing was just that, bad t
iming. She wasn’t a terrible person. He’d come across worse. But still. He shifted Lina off his lap and into her seat before he rolled down the window.

  “Martha. Good evening. How can we help you?”

  “I just wanted to be sure it was you out here steaming up the parking lot. You left the ignition running, and I swear it just looked like you’re rolling coal on purpose.”

  Rolling coal? Dylan cocked his head. “I’m afraid I don’t know what that is. But I can assure you I wasn’t rolling anything. Lina and I were just getting ready to head inside. Weren’t we, love?”

  Love?

  “All them youngsters do it with those big beefed up trucks. They step on the gas and let out all that bad black smoke that pollutes the environment. How long have you been sitting out here?”

  Dylan was in no mood to get an education lesson from Martha and one glance at Lina’s thin lips confirmed she wasn’t either. Lina let out one short huff and he steeled himself for whatever sassiness was coming out of her mouth.

  “Martha dear, really? Call a spade a spade. You saw us pull in, and you’re just snooping. You’re the nosiest neighbor I’ve ever met. You’re not worried about someone rolling coal in the parking lot. No one who has access to this parking lot would even do that. They’re all old.”

  Dylan laughed into his hand. Martha stood ramrod straight, and he briefly worried if she’d rat him out because of Lina’s attitude toward her. “Well, poo on you!” She told Lina and without a goodbye, she left them alone.

  They both burst with laughter. Then turned serious. Lina’s eyes were fire in the dim interior truck lighting. He imagined his were too because she was all he wanted. He felt like the world could see it. Honestly, he didn’t care if they did either.

  “Let’s go,” they both said at the exact same time.

  In record time, the two of them were inside the condo and fighting with each other’s clothing. It was almost a contest to see who could rip whose off the fastest.