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“Somehow I doubt that, but I do trust you.”
“So about that bet,” he said, looking smug. “I haven’t heard any tales of your exploits. Can I assume you’re going to be here six months, then?”
“You shouldn’t hold me to a bet I made when I was drunk.”
“That’s the only way I get you to agree to them.”
I sighed. I considered telling him about Harper just to shut him up, but it felt wrong. I wasn’t dating her, and… Well, something about last night felt like it was more important than some stupid bet with my brother. I didn’t want to cheapen it. It was still just casual, but I didn’t sleep with her to win the bet. “We’ll see,” I said. Maybe I could sneak in a date with some random woman before my three months were up. Harper and I hadn’t sworn to be exclusive, after all.
“What’s that look?” Zack asked. He was watching me with narrowed eyes.
I realized I was frowning. I’d been imagining Harper finding some other guy in town to fool around with during our casual arrangement. I didn’t like the thought of it. I guess I needed to toughen the fuck up. “It’s nothing.”
“Seen Harper around lately?” he asked. “You seem less pissy than you were at my place yesterday. Did you two hash it out? Have a quick fuck to clear the air?”
“No,” I said. “Well, she came over to play board games with the kids last night. But it was just for them. They really like her.”
Zack got a shit-eating grin. “I see. Just for the kids. And tell me, did she go home as soon as the games were over?”
“She helped me put them to bed, then she went home.”
My brother laughed, tipping his head back like he was really enjoying this. “Oh, man. So this not-girlfriend of yours helped put your kids to bed after family game night? And you hired her to work in the restaurant, right?”
“Yes,” I said through clenched teeth.
He shook his head and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “I’m not even going to say it. I don’t need to. But I will say this. If you two aren’t official and open, it doesn’t count as dating. If it’s not dating, I still win the bet and your ass is here another three months.”
I watched him go upstairs to get the kids, feeling myself fume. Making that bet was an idiotic decision. Sticking to it was even dumber. I could simply tell him I wasn’t playing along anymore, but I’d never backed out of a bet before, and I wasn’t about to start. I just needed to find some way to unfuck the situation, save Gramps and his inn, and navigate hiring a 23-year-old girl as an employee while trying to casually sleep with her on the side.
And I thought small town life was supposed to be simple.
Harper came by the inn after Zack took the kids for her first day of “work.” Of course, the kitchen was still under construction and the inn was a mess, but I wanted to go over details with her. She’d given me some rough estimates already, but I needed an exact plan to move forward.
She showed up in a gray skirt and a white button-down with black heels. She looked like she was dressed for a day at the office. Her short red hair was even pulled back in the world’s smallest ponytail. I drank in the sight of her, then remembered I was supposed to be her boss. I needed to draw a line when we were working, or I’d be letting Gramps down.
“Sorry,” Harper said, gesturing to her outfit. “I spent like an hour trying to figure out what to wear. I didn’t want to look like some kind of hobo, but I didn’t want to over-do it. I know we’re just–”
I held up my hand. “It’s fine. I appreciate you making an effort.”
She smiled, and the shy flicker of eye contact was enough to make my dick throb. Get it together, Greyson.
“Did you bring the full produce list?”
She nodded. “I went around town yesterday and talked to some people. We’ll be able to get all of this fresh daily as long as I’m able to spend about an hour before work. Some of them would deliver, but it will save on food costs if I go pick things up myself.”
I nodded. “That’s good. What about employees? Have you decided what sort of help you’ll need?”
“Well,” she bit her lip. “It’s okay if you say no, but my friend Farrah is between jobs. She was actually going to apply for work with your Grandfather before–well,” she shrugged. “Lin also has a ton of experience helping me cook. They’re not formally trained, but I’ve worked with both of them, and we have a comfort level.”
