Page 16 of Dandelion Sighs

“I thought you’d want something besides water.” Sheridan stopped when she pulled even with me. “Oh.” She took a step back, furrowed her brow, then stayed in place. Her gaze roamed all over my chest. “Um…Sprite.”

“Sounds good.” I slapped my belly. “Sorry to make it a shirtless Monday, but my shirt was plastered on me.”

“No. No, it’s fine.” A nervous laugh left her. “I’m sure there’ll be no complaints. Explains why Constance has been cleaning the rooms that line this side of the building.”

Chuckling, I accepted the drink from her. She used a to-go cup that the restaurant must offer. I could take some ogling, and if it made Constance more productive, then I wouldn’t feel so bad. I downed half the drink before coming up for air.

Her gaze was still averted. “Have you eaten yet?”

I wiped the back of my wrist across my forehead, hoping she wasn’t terribly uncomfortable. “Nah. I lose my appetite when it’s hot like this.”

Finally, her gaze dipped to my chest and then back up again. “That doesn’t sound good for you.”

I rolled a shoulder, liking her attention and her concern more than a normal employee should. “I’ll have a sandwich when I get home. No big deal.”

“I feel terrible.” Her attention dropped again, then skated away to the property she’d talked about renting.

Was she liking what she saw? “It’s a gorgeous view.”

“It is. I wish the property would get cleaned up.”

“I’m sure they plan to sometime,” I murmured, discomfort knotting between my shoulder blades. Linda would not be doing it, and she wasn’t renting it, though she could. She was probably waiting until she knew for sure whether she would be selling the cabin or signing off on it.

Since my plans were to stay single, there would be no signing off on it.

“I feel terrible about dumping this on you.”

“Don’t.” I slapped my hands on the armrests and pushed myself up before I stiffened more than I was. The groan that slipped out was only because I was comfortable and holding in a belch. My mom would be filled with shame in Montana if I burped in front of Sheridan in Coal Haven, North Dakota. “It’s part of the job, and it doesn’t involve dead animals. Trust me, it’s okay.”

She blanched. “Dead animals. That only happens around here if someone hits a deer. Though there was that one raccoon incident.” She shuddered but didn’t elaborate. “I feel like I owe you a meal or something.”

I wasn’t here for a date. She needed help, not me hitting on her. I needed work and not a broken heart. “Like I said, don’t worry about it.”

“But I will.”

“It’s what makes you a good manager.”

She smiled, holding my gaze, but her cheeks flushed a pretty pink. Sheridan Bishop liked what she saw. I’d have to keep my shirt on after today. The heat in her eyes each time she got a glimpse of my chest was enough to get me to rethink my dating hiatus.

Although it wasn’t a “no women” rule, it was a “mess around only” decision, and Sheridan wasn’t someone who should be messed with. She should be savored nice and slow until the flush that graced her cheeks swept over her entire body. I wouldn’t be the one to do it. Sleeping with an employee wouldn’t get her the respect she needed.

Sheridan

Jasper was out there again today. Each time I’d gone out to refill his water and bring him a Sprite, he’d had his shirt on. Dang it.

No, I couldn’t be ogling my employee. And it didn’t matter. Even with a sweaty shirt painted onto his hard muscles, he was a sight to behold. His frame wasn’t broad, but he wasn’t wiry, and the smattering of dark hair on his chest only made him more real, along with the trail of hair that disappeared under the buckle of his jeans. If he was out there all waxed and shiny, I’d write him off. Those men didn’t go for women like me. They existed on TV and in workout videos. Jasper was practically in my backyard.

I pushed away from my desk. It wasn’t time for a refill, but he’d skipped lunch. He was working too hard to miss a meal. I walked toward the restaurant.

As I passed the front desk, Maria’s voice reached me. “Of course, we can give you a discount for that extra room.”

I almost screeched to a halt, but I continued on my path. Maria could handle it. I wouldn’t interfere with the customer.

Paola was wiping tables. She grinned and nodded toward a cooler behind the counter. “It’s in there for whenever you’re ready.”

“Thank you.” I dug my money out and rang in my order. I didn’t even give myself the discount. Be above reproach, my dad used to say, until I dropped out of college and he quit talking to me.

I dug out the little to-go container, grabbed a few napkins, and went on my way, only I didn’t veer toward the exit door to the back. The man was gone from the desk. Maria clicked away at the computer, ignoring me.