Pulling her phone out of her handbag, she checked her client’s email. “Santa Fe Botanical Garden, Wetland Preserve, The Plaza, and Bandelier National Monument. You’ve got ‘em. Thanks for taking care of this.”
“Feel any better?”
“Not really, but I’ve stopped shaking.” She held out a steady hand.
“I’d forgotten what a ball of energy Debby is.”
“More like a cyclone.”
He chuckled. “Do you accept my apology?”
“Of course I do,” she replied. “Thank you for having my back. No one has stood up to her like that.”
“Are we good?”Please say yes.On impulse, he stroked her leg. Had to touch her again.
“We should probably talk about last night.”
His chest squeezed.Dammit. Here it comes.
She slid on her sunglasses. “What we did was wrong.”
“Very wrong.”But it felt so damn right. Come on, Savannah, gimme something good.
“I…um.” She paused, shifted in her seat. “I’m not sure…I mean…we—you and me. We had a good time. It’s just that we’ll be working together on the inn…and the land. You know what they say about mixing business with pleasure. I’m thinking we should keep things chill.”
Ah, hell. At the moment, he didn’t give a damn what “they say”. But he did care about her thoughts and feelings. Shoving aside his bruised ego, he removed his hand from her thigh. “Right. Of course.”
At least he knew where he stood with her.Gotta hand it to my stepsister. She doesn’t leave a guy hanging, that’s for sure.He’d been an idiot for thinking this could turn into something. They’d had a few drinks. Gotten caught up in the moment. Two consenting adults having a good time. She’d been an escape from reality, nothing more.
That’s total bullshit.
He wanted to challenge her. Confront her. He’d spent his entire life following all the damn rules. Rules were designed for a reason, but he’d tossed those out the window when it came to Savannah.
He knew how easily she could undo him with her smile. Or the way her eyes lit up when he took the time to help her out. Or how sexy she was when she stripped him out of his clothes. When he’d awoken in the darkened room and felt her clamped around his shaft, he relented all the power.
He’d connected with her in a way he didn’t know existed. She’d plucked him out of his comfort zone and shoved him into a pair of cowboy boots. He’d spent the day traipsing around outside and the evening getting to know her in the most intimate way. And he’d do it again if given the chance. Frustrated by rejection, he grunted.
“You okay?”
Of course he wasn’t okay. But now wasn’t the time to get into it, especially in light of how their day had started. “Absolutely. How ‘bout some tunes?”
As she raised her phone from her lap, it buzzed. “Damn,” she muttered, after staring at the screen.
He glanced over. “What is it?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
“If it’s work related, lay it on me. You’ve got me for one more day. Better make the most of it.”
“It’s from Tilly, but I don’t—”
“Savannah. Read me the text.”
“I’m soooo sorry I gave your mom the hotel info,” Savannah read. “She told me she was having some kind of emergency. Now I’m thinking she was lying. I hope things with your bro are going well. I’m trying to get myself together to meet you in time for the shoot. Not sure it’s gonna happen.”
The rosy color in Savannah’s cheeks had drained and she dropped the phone in her lap. “Unfortunately, this is the end for Tilly and me. What a bummer. She’s a great person, but her head isn’t in the game any more. I’m going to have to let her go.”
“Why?”
