Page 36 of Broken Boundaries

Me and my big stupid mouth. “Well, it doesn’t smell like you anymore.” Oh, god. What is wrong with me tonight? I need to stop talking.

His hand stops moving under the water, and his whole body goes rigid. “And it’s important to you that it smells like me?”

“I guess it’s just kind of comforting,” I say quietly. It’s the truth. Putting on his big shirt with his scent enveloping me makes me feel like I’m getting a hug from someone. It’s been awhile since I’ve been held. I guess it’s my imagination’s way of telling me that someone cares about me. It’s pathetic, really. And now I’ve just made myself look like an idiot in front of Brooks.

“Keep it.” He starts moving again. “It looks better on you anyway.”

I smile at that, but let the conversation drop before I say something else stupid. Brooks packs a Tupperware full of lasagna for me to take back to my place, and then he walks me out and watches me while I make the short trek to my cabin.

I climb into bed and watch TV for the rest of the night, trying not to think about what Brooks is doing in his big house all by himself.

In the morning, once I’m up and ready for work, I open my door to find a bag sitting on the little mat in front of the door. I look around, but there’s no one in sight. Carefully, I bend down and pick up the bag, taking it inside. I open it up to find two oversized T-shirts. My heart races thinking about who left these for me.

I pull one shirt out of the bag and bring it to my nose, taking a large inhale. It smells just like Brooks. He’s given me two new shirts that smell like him.

I don’t know whether to feel incredibly embarrassed or really, really happy.

CHAPTER 14

Aspen

Brooks and I don’t mention anything about the shirts he left for me. We don’t even mention our dinner together. As soon as I step into his office with his morning coffee, it’s business as usual. I emailed him a few things I needed him to respond to, and he asks me to check in on one of our guests to make sure they are satisfied after a raccoon snuck into their cabin yesterday afternoon.

After our morning roundup, I head to the front desk to work for the rest of the day. I knock out some paperwork and finalize a few bookings for the fall. I’m finishing that up when Harper stops by the desk to check on me.

“Need any help with anything?” she asks.

I smile at her. “Nope. I’m all good.”

Her blonde hair is pulled back in a clip today, and her Moonlight Ranch shirt fits her body so well it’s easy to tell she’s in shape. I know Brooks said they weren’t interested in each other, but it’s hard not to recognize what a beautiful couple they would make. It almost makes me feel a little jealous of her, knowing that she would be a better girlfriend for Brooks than I would be. Not that I could or would ever date him, but still. After last night, my head is all over the place.

“We’re really glad you’re here, Aspen. I hope you know how much of an asset you are to the Moonlight family.”

Gah, she’s so nice, too. “Thanks, Harper. That means a lot.”

She nods and walks past me, probably to Brooks’s office. I hope they aren’t talking about me. The last thing I want is them both laughing at me behind my back because of the stupid shit I said last night. I can only hope they’re not the kind of friends who tell each other everything.

Despite my internal embarrassment, the day runs pretty smoothly. I realize I actually enjoy meeting and talking with new guests as they check in and out. When I worked in Atlanta, everyone was always in a rush, and there was never time to chat with anyone. Things move so much more slowly here. I never realized how badly I needed that. I always thought being busy and on the go go go was what I wanted, but I’m starting to love this slower way of life.

I’ve just finished up some checkout paperwork when Jazz saunters up to the desk with a huge smile on her face.

“If it isn’t my new best friend,” she says, coming behind the counter and hoisting herself up onto the desk.

“Hey! How’re the cabins looking?”

“Good now. You wouldn’t believe how gross some of these people are. Sometimes I feel like I have to wear multiple pairs of gloves and a hazmat suit just to walk inside.”

I cringe. “Gross.”

“Yeah, tell me about it. At least bossman pays me the good money though, you know?”

I laugh. “Yeah, I guess that’s good.”

“So, how’s your new little love shack?”

“It is not a love shack. But it’s nice. I’m all settled in. Actually…” I look around to make sure we’re alone. “Brooks invited me over for dinner last night.”

Her eyes go wide. “You went, didn’t you? I will kill you if you didn’t.”