by Erika Kelly
“I don’t know what that is,” Rosie said. “But if it’s not too far from the hotel, I’d love it. Thank you.”
“Sure thing.” He glanced between the notebook and the dress. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
“Run, Brodie,” Knox said. “Run. You don’t want to catch wedding cooties.”
“I should get out of your hair,” Rosie said.
He looked up from his laptop. “What?” She’s leaving?
“Did I say it wrong? I thought that was an American expression?” She wiped her hands on a kitchen towel, surveying the rows of baking pans she’d laid out on every counter in the kitchen.
“No, it is.” He’d come home a few minutes ago with a head full of ideas for the Outfitting business, and he wanted to write them down before he forgot them.
But he didn’t want her to leave.
“My roommate at university was American, and her dad used to say these really corny things. He’s from the Midwest, and he was absolutely the sweetest, most down-to-earth man you’ll ever meet. He’d rub his hands together and say, Okay, girls, let me get out of your hair.” She reached for her black leather tote bag.
It was her first day in the bunkhouse, and they hadn’t considered how it would work with him living there. “You don’t have to go.”
“It’s late, and you’re home, so...”
“Well, wait.” He headed into the kitchen, taking in her work. “Are you done?”
“I’ll come back in the morning.”
“Go ahead and finish up.” He didn’t know why he was pushing. Let her go. Except…she only had a couple more days left.
“Well, I mean, if you’re sure you don’t mind, I’d like to replace the petals in these last couple of pans. As many as I can do before I leave will make me happy.”
He nodded, aware of an uncomfortable tension between them. But he couldn’t figure out the source. It wasn’t like they were at odds with each other. She understood she couldn’t have an exclusive on his meadow; she seemed fine with it. So, why did he feel this strange push-pull?
The slant of light from the lowering sun hit her hair in a way that made him notice the different colors within the strands—copper, mahogany, even a hint of bronze. It accentuated the feminine slope of her shoulder and landed at just the right angle to spill into the V-neck of her dark red blouse, highlighting plump cleavage. “Stay.” His voice came out funny, and he had to clear his throat.
“Wonderful. This space is a thousand times better than the suite. I can create a much larger sample.”
Even her voice struck a chord in him, like hearing a song from his childhood that took him back to a particular place and time. Confused, he broke away, reaching into the refrigerator for a bottle of water. “Want one?”
“I’d love one, thank you.”
“So, what’s the plan? You still leaving the day after tomorrow?”
“Ah, don’t remind me.” She reached for a mason jar. “I’m going to transfer the petals into these jars and ship them home. They’ll need to soak in oil for several weeks. After that, I’ll add pure ethyl alcohol to separate the scent from the lipids. That’ll take another few weeks. Once I’ve got the essential oil, I’ll send it to you, and you can let me know if you like it.”
“Assuming I do, what then?”
“Then we’ve got a really special perfume.”
“Which I’m not handing out to hotel guests.”
“No, but remember I said I can use the essential oil to make bath and body products?”
“Which means you got the okay from your parents?”
“Uh, no.” She tilted her head, not looking too hopeful. “It’s not the right time to bring it up. I’m actually waiting to hear back on another idea I’m proposing to them.” She hunched a shoulder. “Truthfully, I’m ninety-eight percent sure they’ll reject the idea of adding this perfume.” She gave him a hesitant smile. “But I live in that two percent zone, so I’m comfortable there. But even if they do…well, can I tell you a secret?”
“You can.” He shouldn’t feel so interested, so turned on by a simple conversation. Nothing she could say would rock his world. He certainly didn’t care about her essential oil the way she did. If this product didn’t work out, he’d hire someone to develop a signature scent for his spa products. This one in particular didn’t matter. He’d do it more cheaply, anyway, using synthetic materials.
“Between you and me, I’ve been trying to convince my parents to expand our product line for ages, and they’re just not interested. So, even if they say no to this, I’m still going to make it for you. What do you think about opening up a store? Most spas sell their own products, right? What if you sold our perfume, along with body lotion and wash?”
“I like the store idea a lot.” And, just like that, he had another one to add to the shopping arcade in the lobby.
“Oh, good. I’m so glad. Then, after I make the perfume, I’ll start working on the lotions.”
“And what’ll you get out of it?” He knew her well enough to know she’d have given the idea some thought.
“I’d like fifty percent of the sales.”
“You got big plans for all that money?”
She grinned. “Well, yeah. I’m going to start my own company, so I can be the decision-maker.”
“Knock, knock.” Vanessa let herself in.
Irritation flashed through him. He didn’t want anyone interrupting his time with Rosie.
And yet you invited her here so she could be surrounded by people, instead of alone in a hotel room.
His architect headed toward him with a big smile, which faltered the moment she reached the kitchen and found him with Rosie. “Oh. Hello, I’m Vanessa.”
“Rosie. Nice to meet you.”
Vanessa looked to him for an explanation, so he said, “She’s using one of the indigenous plants on our property to come up with a signature scent for our spa products.”
“What a clever idea.” Vanessa set her briefcase on the counter. “I didn’t know you were working on that.”
“Yep. Looking for ways to finish out Owl Hoot.”
“Well, she’s definitely going to need a better space to work in.” Vanessa took in the crowded counters. “Actually, I might have a place for you. School’s out for the summer, so we might be able to get the Home Economics kitchen.”
“Oh, I’m not staying in town,” Rosie said. “I’m going to bring everything back to my lab and work on it there. This is just temporary.” She reached for a kitchen towel and wiped her hands. “I can finish up tomorrow. I’ll leave you two to this lovely evening.”
“No,” he blurted.
Rosie jerked to a stop.
“Finish what you’re doing,” he said. “And then I’ll drive you back to the hotel.”
“That’s a great idea.” Vanessa rubbed his arm, and it made him uncomfortable. “I’ll go with you, and then we can try that new restaurant in Jackson.”
Rosie looked uncertain, so he took the towel out of her hands. “You’ve only got a few days to get your work done. Stay here and finish.” He turned to Vanessa. “I can’t go out tonight. I’m having dinner at the main house.”
He didn’t like Vanessa’s disappointment, and it made him wonder what had changed between them. When had her expectations shifted? “It’s my night to hang out with Ruby.” His half-sister, only three years old, was a handful, and he and his brothers took turns giving Will and Delilah a break.
Vanessa melted. “You’re such a sweetheart.”
Her softness hardened him. “So, what’s up? You came by to see me?”
“I sure did.” She tapped the tube sticking out of her briefcase. “I want to show you the changes I made.” She got up on her toes, her hand sliding down to the small of his back, and whispered in his ear, “And I’m in a mood, so let’s go to your room, get some privacy.”
He didn’t want to leave the kitchen. He wanted to go back to his conversation with Rosie. But when he looked her way,
he found her focus on Vanessa’s hand, where it rubbed circles on his back.
It made him step out of Vanessa’s reach. Which made no sense. Why should he care about Rosie’s reaction? She was leaving the day after tomorrow, and his life would go back to normal.
Except, he no longer knew what was normal. Not since he’d discovered Vanessa was hurt about the wedding. Right. They needed to have a conversation about that. Not in front of Rosie. “Yeah, let’s go.”
It occurred to him that he’d learned more about Rosie in the past eighteen hours than he ever had about Vanessa. In the six months they’d worked together, they’d never talked about anything other than their projects. He didn’t know about her family dynamics or any of the things a man should know about the woman he was dating.
As he headed toward the hallway, Vanessa jammed her fingers in his back pocket. Brodie couldn’t help glancing at Rosie. He found her focused on the point of contact and looking oddly unhappy. When she noticed him watching, she broke out in a shy smile.
A pop of excitement rocked his nerves.
How the hell could one little smile have so much power over him? Fuck.
Brodie saw the world pretty much in black and white, so this riot of emotions made him uneasy. Rosie was a houseguest. He shouldn’t care what she thought of anything outside her project. He certainly shouldn’t be reacting to her smile.
At the end of the long L-shaped hallway, he turned left into his master suite. Vanessa closed the door, giving him a seductive look. She reached for the top button of her silk shirt.
“Hang on a second. We need to talk.” But not in his bedroom. He led her out the French doors onto his small, private patio. A warm, sage-scented breeze rustled the tall grasses of the surrounding meadow. Twilight turned the granite mountain range purple.
The moment he turned to face her, she sidled up to him, running her palms from his stomach to his collarbone. “Mm, I’ve missed you.”
He caught her wrist. “Wait. I want to talk about the wedding. I didn’t mean to hurt you by not inviting you.”
She dropped her arms to her sides. “Well, you did. I mean, did it even occur to you to bring me?”
“No.” He could probably be less blunt. “We’re not dating, so if I had, it would’ve changed our relationship.” Created expectations. “We’re not…” He couldn’t say “in a relationship,” because friends with benefits was one. Probably best to ask her. “Let me start over. Where do you see us?”
“Honestly? I like what we have. It was only the wedding that made me start thinking about what we’re doing. We might not be dating, but we’re in a relationship, right? Have you been seeing anybody else? In the six months we’ve been working together?”
“No.”
“Neither have I. And we’re obviously a good fit. We’re both at that stage in life where we care more about our jobs than romance. And I’m not one of those women who wants you calling and texting all day long or sending me flowers. You know how hard I’m working to start my own firm, and I don’t need anything more than what you’re already giving me.”
He didn’t know that he was giving her much of anything. They’d never even gone on a date.
“But I wouldn’t mind doing more with you, you know? We get along. The sex is good.” She shrugged. “Like tonight, you’re having dinner with Ruby. I’d like to tag along, get to know her a little better. Why not, right?”
“Nah, that’s my time with her. She needs my full attention.”
His patio had a view into the kitchen. Rosie sat on the counter, laughing at something her bodyguard said. The other, younger, guy dumped a load of supplies beside her. Which meant she didn’t need Brodie to drive her back to the hotel. And he didn’t like that.
He watched her for a moment, thinking about what her friends had done to her. The tug in his heart surprised him. Rosie didn’t deserve that. She was a good person. Open, smart…she obviously cared deeply about her business. Who would fuck her over like that?
“You like her.” Vanessa’s voice tore him out of his thoughts.
A hot rush of embarrassment swept through him. “Sure. She’s got great ideas for Owl Hoot, and she’s doing something I’m not familiar with...something I find interesting. But she’s only here a few more days, so I want to make sure she has all the materials she needs and the time to get her work done.”
She reached for his fingers, grasping them loosely. “I like what we have, Brodie. Nothing needs to change, but I want you to know that if things were to change, I’d be open to it.” She got up on her toes, lips softening for a kiss.
But he wasn’t about to kiss Vanessa, not when the scent of Rosie still clung to his T-shirt.
This is bullshit. He liked what he had with Vanessa. As long as she didn’t expect more, it worked just fine. And, anyway, Rosie was leaving. She had nothing to do with it.
So, just make things clear. “I’m not looking for more, so if you’re not good with what we have…” He gauged her expression.
“No, I am.” She stepped back. “Let’s just focus on the house, okay? Forget I said anything. I want to show you some changes I made.”
“Are you sure? Because I didn’t like seeing you hurt about the wedding. I want us to be on the same page.”
“You’re sweet. I was hurt. Actually, I was a little embarrassed, frankly. We’ve been working pretty closely for six months, so…yeah. But I’m glad we talked about it. Consider us on the same page.” She seemed anxious to move on.
“Okay, well, then I need to tell you I’m moving my building site.”
“You’re what?” For a moment, she just stared at him, as if waiting for the punchline. “You’re not building in the meadow?”
“No.”
“Where, then?”
“Don’t know yet.”
“Of course you don’t know. Because we spent months looking for just the right spot. We flew around in a helicopter, we mapped out the entire ranch. Brodie. You love that meadow. It’s perfect.”
The strength of her argument made him think she had an emotional investment in the location. “It is, but it turns out there’s a special plant that grows there. It’s the one I’m using for the spa products.”
“So, this is her idea? She put this in your head?”
“She’s the one who brought it to my attention, yes.”
“How did she even find it? What’s she doing here?”
He didn’t usually lie, but to protect the princess’s identity he would. “She found it by walking the property. The point is that I need to find a new site.”
“Okay, we can do that.”
“In the meantime, I’m going to be working on finishing out Owl Hoot. I’ve got a bunch of ideas.”
“Tell me what you’ve got in mind.” And just like that she slid right into business mode, just the way he liked it.
“I’m going to build an Outfitting business. It’ll be a store that sells camping, survival, hunting, and fishing gear, but it’ll also have an office where we’ll book expeditions.”
“Oh, that’s good. You’re amazing, Brodie. This is going to be great. I can’t say I’m not disappointed about the house. We’ve worked so long and hard on it, but it’s your show.” Her expression turned heated again, and she pressed her hand to his chest. “I’m going to have to head out, but I still have time for a little fun.”
He should want that. He had a good thing with her.
She was beautiful, smart, ambitious…
He glanced out the window to find Rosie laughing, head tilted back, and he felt awareness trip across his skin. “Sorry. Not tonight.”
“Okay, well, another time. I’ve got to get going.” Vanessa opened the French doors. “Let me know when you want to get started on the Outfitters.” She hesitated, like she was giving him one more chance to take her up on her offer.
But he didn’t want to hook up with her.
He wanted to get back to Rosie.
And that was just all kinds of fucked
up.
Chapter Seven
Brodie parked his bike in front of The Boneyard. The main building was a tunnel of corrugated steel, housing dozens of red motorcycle lifts. Bright tubes of LED lights lent the place a bluish tinge, giving the repair shop a space-age feel.
When he pulled off his helmet, the sounds of soldering and hydraulics filled the air.
One of the mechanics who’d worked on his bike a couple times came out wiping his hands on a rag. “Hey, man, what’s up? She giving you trouble?”
“Nope. My beauty’s running just fine.”
“Too bad. I’d like to get my hands on her.” He gave a lascivious smile. “I’ll treat her real good.”
Brodie laughed. “That’s what scares me.”
The owner of the Boneyard, Griffin James, sauntered out and shook Brodie’s hand. “What’s going on, man?”
“I’ve got some artisan stalls in Owl Hoot I’m looking to fill. It’s just a summer gig, but it’ll give exposure to artists, maybe drum up some business for them.”
“Nice idea.” His guarded tone said, What’s this got to do with me?
“So far, I’ve got a glass blower, a leather tooler, and a jewelry maker. I’ve been thinking about Jinx. Don’t know if he’d want to work in Owl Hoot, but people might be interested in watching his custom paint jobs. I wanted to bring it up with you before I talk to him.”
“I don’t need him on-site, so if he’s interested, it’s cool by me. Not sure he’s got the personality to work a crowd, though.”
The mechanic chuckled. “Unless you want kids crying, women cussing, and men flipping him off.”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m going for.” Brodie smiled. “I want the artists to make it interesting for the tourists, but it’s up to each person to run his business however he wants.”
“Let’s ask him and see what it says. At the very least, it’ll be entertaining.” The big, burly dude cupped the side of his mouth. “Jinx.”
A man at the other end of the shop, wearing a protective mask and thick, black gloves, glanced over and waved him off.